VASCO
Urban Development Minister Milind Naik on Sunday informed reporters that he was glad and willing to support the Murgao Purohit Brahman Samaj (MPBS) , a newly formed association of around 100 Hindu priests in Mormugao Taluka with their plans of setting up a place for the Asti Visarjan and final rites rituals of Hindus in Mormugao Taluka .
Naik was speaking to reporters after attending a Gayatri Havan function performed by MPBS at Brahmasthal temple in Baina on Sunday afternoon.
Presently Hindus in Goa are forced to travel to Harvalem, the only location in Goa for carrying out Asti Visarjan and other final rites rituals or travel to distant locations in neighbouring states like Gokarna in Karnataka or Narsoba Vadi in Maharashtra .
"I arrived because I was invited for the function which is being performed collectively by all the Hindu priests of the Mormugao Taluka and I am glad that an association of all the Hindu priests has been formed which also plans to take up good causes in the future under the association. They have informed me that they have identified a place for performing Asti Visarjan and other rituals in Mormugao Taluka which otherwise is carried out at Harvalem and this is a good thing and this will be good for the people of the Taluka and nearby places. There is also a list of works that they want to take up as an association and I will always support them in their endavours as an individual," said Naik.
MPBS President Suresh Barve speaking to media said that the association was formed after there was confusion in peoples minds over the recent Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations.
"We want to offer good service to our people and we then decided to form an association of all the priests of Mormugao Taluka . We have a lots of plans and one of them is to have a Mobile App for the services to offer clarity on rituals and updates of any religious activities and services that could be offered. We are also in talks with a few people to set up a place where Asti Visarjan and other final rites rituals can be carried. We also want to have a " Goushala " to take cares of cows and also take up other social works as well. We will also motivate and encourge the younger generation people who are often reluctant to become priests," said Barve.
Meanwhile Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Matt Mandir Mormugao Taluka head Shyamsunder Nayak has congratulated the formation of MPBS .
"I had a discussion on forming an association like this around two months ago with the MPBS President Suresh Barve and this association will take up a lot of good works. VHP also has other programmes that it is likely to take up in association with such organisations like Yoga schools , Sanskrit classes and this will also impart our religious knowledge to children as well,"said Nayak.
