PANAJI
An air of festivity spread across the State as Goans are all set to celebrate the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi from Monday.
Hectic last-minute preparations were underway with Chaturthi sweets being made at homes while markets were abuzz over the weekend as several Hindus were seen taking home statues of Lord Ganesha. Some were busy buying fireworks, fruits and flowers.
While most of the Hindus celebrate the festival for a day and half, many others will celebrate it for five, seven, nine, eleven and even 21 days.
Migrants hailing from the Konkan region have already left for home and buses ran packed in view of the festive rush.
The celebrations begin with haritalika or ‘tay’, the previous day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. On this day, Lord Ganesha’s parents, Shiva and Parvati, are worshipped and women in the family observed fast. This is followed by the Chaturthi wherein people perform pooja of the Ganesh idol.
The next day after Chaturthi is the Panchami, also known as ‘navyachi pancham’ or the harvest festival. Here, pooja of the freshly harvested paddy is performed. The same paddy is also used in preparing ‘payas’, sweet prepared using milk.
Another attraction during the Chaturthi is the ‘matoli’, a wooden canopy comprising of seasonal as well as wild fruits and flowers, which is installed right above the idol of Lord Ganesh. Aartis and bhajans too fill the air in villages and towns alike with the members of other religious communities partaking in the celebrations by visiting their neighbours and close ones.
During the festive season, foodies can feast on various traditional delicacies like mugachyo gaathi, khatkhatein, purnachyo nevryo, among others. Delicacies like laddoos, modaks and nevryos, which are considered to be favourite of Lord Ganesha are also prepared.
