MARGAO
Ganesh Chathurti festival is mostly celebrated along the country's west part, especially along the Konkan region. The festival may not be prevalent in north India, more particularly in the northern Indian state of Bihar. This nomadic tribe family from Bihar, which moves from state to state, engaged in harvesting honey, has been celebrating Ganesh Chathurti for the second year in succession near the Margao railway station as thanksgiving for the favours granted by Lord Ganesha.
Though their counterparts from Bihar may not celebrate Ganesh festival, the Rajiv Mondal's family makes it a point to descend in Margao right on time for the Ganesh festivities. Reason: Rajiv's son Akshay had fallen seriously ill around three years ago and doctors had left the fate of his son in the hands of God. That's the time, Rajiv had prayed to Lord Ganesha at the Pimpalkatta-Margao for his son's recovery, promising to bring home Lord Ganesh and offer prayers for five years. His son was miraculously cured and since then Rajiv has made it a point to bring Lord Ganesh in his make shift tent at a corner of the KRC premises near the Margao railway station. "This is the second year my family is celebrating Ganesh Chathurti in this tent. Last year, we erected a tent with the permission of the KRC authorities since we have no home of our own in the city. Wherever we are, and in whichever part of the country, our family has made it a point to visit Margao and bring Lord Ganesh and offer prayers", Rajiv said.
"When we had erected the tent last year, the Railway Protection Force people questioned me and then took me to the railway authorities. I explained them that I have no home of my own in the city, but at the same time, I have to bring Lord Ganesha home as part of my vow", he recalled, while expressing gratitude to the railway authorities for being kind enough to allow me to erect a tent in the railway property.
Ganesh Chathurti festival is mostly celebrated along the country's west part, especially along the Konkan region. The festival may not be prevalent in north India, more particularly in the northern Indian state of Bihar. This nomadic tribe family from Bihar, which moves from state to state, engaged in harvesting honey, has been celebrating Ganesh Chathurti for the second year in succession near the Margao railway station as thanksgiving for the favours granted by Lord Ganesha.
Though their counterparts from Bihar may not celebrate Ganesh festival, the Rajiv Mondal's family makes it a point to descend in Margao right on time for the Ganesh festivities. Reason: Rajiv's son Akshay had fallen seriously ill around three years ago and doctors had left the fate of his son in the hands of God. That's the time, Rajiv had prayed to Lord Ganesha at the Pimpalkatta-Margao for his son's recovery, promising to bring home Lord Ganesh and offer prayers for five years. His son was miraculously cured and since then Rajiv has made it a point to bring Lord Ganesh in his make shift tent at a corner of the KRC premises near the Margao railway station. "This is the second year my family is celebrating Ganesh Chathurti in this tent. Last year, we erected a tent with the permission of the KRC authorities since we have no home of our own in the city. Wherever we are, and in whichever part of the country, our family has made it a point to visit Margao and bring Lord Ganesh and offer prayers", Rajiv said.
"When we had erected the tent last year, the Railway Protection Force people questioned me and then took me to the railway authorities. I explained them that I have no home of my own in the city, but at the same time, I have to bring Lord Ganesha home as part of my vow", he recalled, while expressing gratitude to the railway authorities for being kind enough to allow me to erect a tent in the railway property.
