Salcete locals racing against time to set up immersion facilities in villages
Inauguration of Ganesh immersion facility at Dramapur by Velim MLA Cruz Silva and Dramapur Sarpanch Avita Pereira.
MARGAO
Goa’s rich communal amity is on display ahead of the state’s biggest and popular festival, Ganesh Chathurti.
Even as the Hindu brethren across the state is bracing up to welcome Lord Ganesha in their homes, minority Salcete is racing against time to set up immersion facilities in many a village for devotees to bid adieu to the Lord of Wisdom and intelligence.
That’s not all. Christian-dominated tourist village of Cavelossim played host to a day-long Ganesh Chaturthi bazaar on Sunday, ahead of the festivities, thanks to the initiative by the Cavelossim Panchayat body, in a bid to facilitate their Hindu brethren to purchase the Matoli and other sweet items right at their doorsteps.
Goa’s shining example of Hindu-Christian brotherhood was seen at Dramapur village during the weekend. The local village panchayat led by Sarpanch Avita Pereira together with Velim MLA Cruz Silva fulfilled the long-pending demand for Ganesh immersion set up at the Jackniband culvert, but with a difference. The Ganesh immersion site stand by the side of the Holy Cross, which also received a facelift at the time of construction of the immersion facility. Take note, after the inauguration of the Ganesh immersion facility, members of both the communities offered prayers and light candles at the Cross before retuning home.
Ganesh immersion facility was also inaugurated at minority Velim village on Sunday initiated by the Zilla Panchayat member Julio Fernandes. Davorlim village headed by Sarpanch Herculean Niasso also saw the inauguration of a new immersion site under the works taken up by the Water Resources department.
Says Dramapur Sarpanch Avita Pereira: “Both members of the Hindu community and the Christians have come together to put up the Ganesh immersion facility at Dramapur. Since this was a long pending demand of our Hindu brothers. We took up the matter with local MLA Cruz Silva, who was quick to take the project to the logical conclusion”, the Sarpanch said.
MLA Cruz Silva said people of Dramapur have maintained the rich communal amity between the two religious communities. “This tradition of brotherhood existing over the decades has been handed over to us by our ancestors and we have to take it forward . We have seen recently attempts made to divide the people of Goa on communal lines. Here at Jacknibandh, a Ganesh immersion facility has been set up next to a Cross. We all live in harmony. Let his maintain this tradition for the good of Goa and its people”, Cruz added.
Since last year, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas has tried to revive Ganesh immersion tradition at Christian-dominated Benaulim village, discontinued due to the sewage water entering the water bodies around Margao and Benaulim. This year too, the Ganesh immersion facility at Benaulim has been given a face lift ahead of the festivities.
The day-long Ganesh Chaturthi bazaar at Cavelosssim was yet another example showcasing the rich community bond between the two communities. If Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz is to be believed, the coastal village plays host to around 200 families, including outsiders staying on rent. “Amongst the 200 families, around seven families welcome Lord Ganesh to their homes. We just thought to have a Ganesh Chathurti bazaar so that the matoli items used to decorate the Ganesh mandal, besides the sweets are made available at the doorsteps of our brothers”, Dixon said.
The Cavelossim Panchayat, he said, is also giving final touches to the Ganesh immersion site in the village to facilitate the devotees to bid adieu to the Lord after the two day festival.
