VASCO
Hundreds of people, especially from North India, celebrated the traditional Chhath Puja, a festival revering the Sun God at Baina beach on Wednesday evening.
The puja was celebrated with great religious fervour with several colourfully and traditionally dressed women carrying the puja thali along with the men carrying fruit-laden baskets and stalks of sugarcane before sunset to offer prayers at the beach.
The festival is celebrated every year by the North Indian community at Baina beach and many devotees thanked Urban Development Minister Milind Naik and former MPDA chairman Krishna Salkar who have been participating in the festival every year and for helping in the illumination and other arrangements for the puja since the last six years.
Speaking to reporters, Urban Development Minister Milind Naik said Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun God and his wives, Usha and Sandhya.
“The festival is celebrated to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth. The port town of Vasco is very cosmopolitan in nature and many communities who have settled here over time celebrate Chhath Puja every year," said Naik.
Former MPDA chairman Krishna Salkar said while people worship the rising sun, the Chhath Puja celebrates the rising and setting sun as well.
“The puja is now not restricted to North Indians, but many Goans also participate in the festival and this is the perfect example of unity in diversity," said Salkar.
