VASCO
A beach once known for all the wrong and notorious reasons has rewritten its story, and the New Year celebrations at Baina beach on Wednesday night have become the clearest symbol of that transformation.
What was earlier associated with red-light activities has now emerged as one of Goa’s preferred destinations to welcome the New Year, drawing thousands of revellers to its shoreline.
The third edition of the New Year celebrations on Wednesday night attracted several thousands of locals and tourists. The coastline turned into a lively carnival space, with music, entertainment and festive activities continuing well into the night, firmly placing Baina beach on the New Year map.
Such was the turnout that the entire stretch in and around the beach remained packed, with many people even choosing vantage points along the Port Lane flyover road to watch the celebrations against the backdrop of the Arabian Sea.
The event was attended by Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar along with his wife and municipal councillor Shraddha Amonkar, who mingled with visitors and locals during the celebrations.
“It is encouraging to see families, women and senior citizens enjoying the beach space with confidence,” Shraddha Amonkar said, adding that such events help restore public ownership of the coastline.
The change has been driven by determination over the last three years by Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar, as he set out to alter Baina beach’s public image and unlock its tourism potential.
Amonkar focused on introducing structured tourism activity at the beach, including water sports and large-scale public events, with the New Year celebrations becoming the centrepiece of that effort.
“The idea was simple ” to give Baina beach a new identity that families, youth and tourists could relate to,” Amonkar said. “The response we have seen over the last three years proves that people were waiting for this change. Baina is no longer a place to be avoided; it is a place to be celebrated.”
The scenes on Wednesday night signified how far Baina beach has come ” from stigma to spotlight ” and how a sustained vision has turned it into a symbol of renewal for Mormugao.
