Margao basking in festivities

MARGAO, NOV 19
A festive atmosphere gripped the Commercial Capital on Friday as the traditional Dindi festival, the Dandiya Blast and the 10-day shopping festival got underway in the city this evening.
The entire city wore a festive look as the traditional Dindi festival attracted thousands of devotees from far and wide this year. People lined up at the Hari Mandir area to seek blessings of the deity, while outstation artists performed near the Temple as part of the 101 year old tradition.
The Goa police maintained a strict vigil as the men-in-uniform were deployed in strength across the city, especially along the procession route, against the backdrop of last year’s bomb blast on Diwali eve.
The palki procession commenced from the Hari Mandir area around 9 pm and will wend its way along with traditional route to the Vithal Mandir. The Dindi festivities will culminate at Hari Mandir on Saturday evening.
Just before the commencement of the Dindi procession, Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat declared open the 10-day shopping festival organized by the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with the ESG to coincide with the ensuing IFFI festival.
The Chief Minister released colorful gas balloons to mark the commencement of the 10-day event in the presence of MMC Chairperson Sushila Naik, Chief Officer Prasana Acharya, City Fathers, GCI President Cesar Menezes and others near the Lohia Maidan.
In his brief address, the Chief Minister said the 10-day event will be organized on a larger scale next year and hoped the festival will become a success with people taking advantage of the discounts and offers from the shopping centres.
Before the shopping festival got underway, around 40 traditional Dindi revelers accompanied by the Fire services brass band came in a procession from Big G centre to the Lohia Maidan.
Meanwhile, the Dandiya Blast 2010 organised by Samraat Club of Margao got underway later in the evening at the Nagesh gardens, Borda, Around half-a-dozen groups participated in the Dandiya blast, the organizers stated.