WITH FULL FERVOUR
>> At some places, ferryboats and other boats were used for immersing the idols mid-stream
>> The Drishti lifeguards also assisted people during immersion at several places
>> The immersion of Ganesh idols ritual began in the evening and went on till late night.
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WHEW! NO RAINS
>> Interestingly, this year it did not rain on Friday, the first immersion day, contributing to larger crowds at the immersion points
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PANAJI: Thousands of Goans bid adieu to the elphant-headed God with accompaniment of devotional songs, chants of aartis on Ghumat rhythms and other musical instruments on Day-2 of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Ganesh idols were immersed at various immersion points in Panaji and across Goa, as families pooled together to carry the idols in processions to these immersion points at ponds, lakes, rivers and even the sea at various beaches.
At some places, ferryboats and other boats were used for immersing the idols mid-stream. The Dristi lifeguards also assisted people during immersion at several places. The immersion of Ganesh idols ritual began in the evening and went on till late night.
This popular festival is celebrated in the month of Bhadrapad ( a month in a hindu calander which comes in August/September) and the number of days Ganesha is worshipped varies from one-and-half day to 21 days.
Police personnel were deployed at various immersion points as well as strategic locations in the state to avoid any untoward incident.
Interestingly, this year it did not rain on Friday, the first immersion day, contributing to larger crowds at the immersion points and in the processions where devotees sang bhajans, chanted Ganpati Bappa Morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya (O Lord Ganesh come early next year).
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in many parts of India but is more prominent in Goa and the Konkan region of Maharastra and Karnataka. This festival is locally known as Chovoth in Goa.
During the festival, pujas are offered to the idol of Ganesha along with Lord Mahadev and Gouri.
On the eve of the Chovoth day, a clay idol of Ganesh is installed in a small pandal called 'matov' made of bunches of betel nut, coconut, bananas and branches of mango-trees.
The Ganesh Chaturthi festival ushers in a season of joyous celebration all over Goa. Besides the religious significance, the festival is an occasion for family members to reunite and seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
