PANAJI
Finally, after two challenging years of dealing with the pandemic, Goans were back in the festive mood and ready to celebrate Diwali in full throttle.
As is its unique tradition of commemorating the death of Asura king 'Narkasura' this year was no different with neighbourhoods across Goa burning effigies of the demon king amidst loud revelry a day before Diwali on Sunday.
Groups of youth across Goan neighbourhoods crafted their own 'narkasuras' and indulged in night-long revelry before burning the giant effigies through the night and well beyond midnight.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Panaji Sawant made an appeal to Goans to give a thought to the environment and the impact on it due to excessive use of fireworks even as he wished pollution-free Diwali celebrations.
"This year, let us think about our environment that gets affected due to the excessive bursting of fireworks. Let us have a pollution-free Diwali celebration,” he said and wished the people of Goa with the hope that the festivity will spread peace, joy, and prosperity.
“Diwali symbolizes victory of righteousness over evil, brightness over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and truth over falsity,” Sawant said, adding that the illumination on the day marks joy, happiness on the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.
Sawant also urged Goans to reach out to the under-priviledged.
On Monday evening, business establishments across the State will perform the 'Laxmi Pujan' to worship the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The puja will also traditionally be performed in households where families get together to celebrate the festival of lights.
Post Monday, Goa's hospitality sector is also hoping to cash in on the long holiday season, expecting a rush of domestic tourists.
Meanwhile in Ayodhya, a world record was made by lighting over 15 lakh earthen lamps on the banks of River Sarayu on Sunday.
Officials from the Guinness Book of World Records handed over the certificate to UP CM Yogi Adityanath after monitoring the records.
A total of 15.76 lakh diyas were lit to kickstart Deepotsav celebrations in the holy city.
Volunteers from Avadh University again set a record after having done so in the past on the banks of Shipra river in Ujjain.
In Punjab, the world's largest oil lamp was lit in Mohali to send a message of global peace.
According to the organisers, over 10,000 citizens contributed oil for the event, which ended with a world record.
The world's largest Diya, measuring 3.37 metres in diameter and made of around 1,000 kilogrammes of steel, was lit here on Saturday evening by chief guest of the event Lt Gen K J Singh (retd), former general officer commanding-in-chief of Army's Western Command, to spread the message of world peace, unity, secularism, and humanism.
Over 10,000 citizens representing the diverse fabric and diversity of Indian society, contributed 3,129 litres of organic and diya-appropriate oils to create this one-of-a-kind peace symbol.
