Some arrived late Friday night; police deployed for crowd control and safety
The long queue to purchase donation coupons of Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Quepem on Saturday.
SANGUEM
The excitement was palpable as people queued up along a staggering distance of about 3 kms to purchase donation coupons released by the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Quepem on Saturday.
With as many as 20 premium cars along with cash amounts ranging from Rs 4 lakh to a staggering Rs 35 lakh on offer for the winners, it was no wonder that people from across Goa and neighbouring states were eager to grab their hands on the prized donation coupons.
Although sales of donation coupons began at the Government Sports Complex at Borimol-Quepem at 8 am, many had been in a line since the previous night, with sources saying that the people had been waiting near the venue right from 10.30 pm on Friday.
By Saturday morning, the line stretched to an incredible 3 kms as people patiently queued up to purchase the donation coupons from the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal at Quepem, which are among the most-sought donation coupons in the State,
To ensure wider distribution given the extensive demand, sources indicated that only one book of donation coupons was issued per individual.
People travelled from distant areas like Vasco and Bardez, arriving as early as 6 am and enduring queues until well past noon to acquire the highly valued coupons.
A sizeable police presence was maintained within the government sports complex, tasked with crowd control and to prevent any untoward incidents.
This year’s sale location marked a change from the previous two years, when the coupons were sold at the Government College Campus in Quepem. The shift to the Government Sports Complex was a deliberate move to facilitate better management of the large influx of people.
This year marks the 38th anniversary of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal at Quepem, and the donation coupons are widely recognised across Goa and beyond, considering the high reputation of the Mandal, the transparency in selecting the winners, and the bumper prizes on offer.
Inquiries have revealed that a total of 1.2 lakh donation coupons, each priced at Rs 500, have been made available this year.
According to sources, all tickets were virtually sold out on Saturday.
