the goan I network
PANAJI
While the atmosphere during the four-hour period at Kala Academy on Monday may have been a subdued one, the atmosphere during the hour-long procession from KA to Miramar beach was a charged up one.
At least three to four thousand people who loved, admired and respected Parrikar walked alongside the military hearse carrying his mortal remains for cremation. The spirit that enveloped the procession was one of love for the leader with many shouting “Parrikar you will never walk alone.”
The hearse, which was preceded by marching squads from the Army and Navy and a marching band, left from Kala Academy at around 4.30 pm. The hearse was lined with garlands and wreaths and moved extremely slowly towards the beach. Besides the thousands that walked in front of, besides, and behind the hearse, hundreds of people lined the Dayanand Bandodkar Marg avenue waiting to see the hearse as it went by. Men, women, children and infants walked one last time with Parrikar in an emotionally charged atmosphere.
People were seen viewing the procession from their terraces waiting for the hearse to pass by. Most people were busy with their phone cameras trying to capture the last moments of the departed CM. Some fans of the late CM fervently shouted slogans both praising Parrikar, and even the traditional national slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki Jay’ and ‘Vande Mataram.’ There was a lot of pushing especially when the road got narrower, and personnel both in the hearse and on the road had a tough time controlling the emotionally-charged crowd.
When the hearse reached the beach, at least two thousand people gathered on the beach, fighting to get a view of the pyre, which was not possible due to the crowd. However, a giant screen had been set up closer to the road, where people had gathered to watch.
One enthusiastic supporter decided to climb up a coconut tree in order to watch the proceedings. With heavy hearts people could be seen touching his hearse...one final time.
