It's 2018! Happy New Year Goa

the goan I network
PANAJI
Fireworks, the honking of traffic and music beats rang in the New Year along India's party capital especially along the beach belt as the state administration was stretched to ensure that the revellers had a safe New Year's Eve.
Tourists, mostly domestic, thronged Goa's popular beaches of Calangute-Candolim with the beach stretch resembling a Kumbh Mela as tourists bathed in the last sunset of 2017.
Authorities reported stray incidents of jellyfish stings as lifeguards were kept on their toes. Further, from the beach, traffic police were applauded for having reasonably managed the otherwise chaotic traffic situation along the beach belt even as traffic snarls were not entirely absent especially along the narrow roads of the once sleepy agricultural villages.
Unofficial estimates have placed the figure of tourist who descended into the state mainly in their own vehicles as between three-five lakh putting the state's infrastructure under huge stress.
Meanwhile, Catholic faithful celebrated New Year with midnight Mass as the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, along with the festival of the Naming of Baby Jesus.
Governor Mridula Sinha, meanwhile in her message said, "On this auspicious and joyous occasion of New year, I extend my heartiest and best wishes to the people of Goa. The whole world celebrates New Year with great enthusiasm and energy. People concerned to various walks of life welcome the New Year in their own hearty ways. It is a day which brings joy and happiness all around. Today, we are stepping into yet another year in our life. This is an important occasion to reflect on the year gone by and prepare ourselves to embrace the future".
Archbishop of Goa and Daman too wished Goans saying, we are still in the festive season of Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the ‘Prince of Peace.'
"At the dawn of the New Year of 2018 I would like to convey my warm greetings and best wishes to the people of our beloved State, praying that God may inspire and help us to be agents of peace, justice and harmony among the various communities".
In the midst of challenges like individualism, indifference towards other people's faith and culture and resistance to join together in fighting common causes, I pray that we may all work together to build a more peaceful, secular and harmonious society in our State, he said.