VASCO
Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) councillor and member of Murgao Hindu Samaj Vinod Kinlekar has on Friday urged the Damodar temple Saptah committee and the MMC to have the annual Damodar Saptah festival on a grand scale this year.
"Damodar Saptah is not only a festival but it is a sentiment of the people and the people want that this year we have our annual Saptah festival on a grand scale. We have seen that for the last two years amidst the pandemic, the Saptah festival was held on a low scale and people could not visit the temple to offer prayers. Many people have already been enquiring with us about the Saptah celebrations this year, especially because festivals and Jatras are already being celebrated all across Goa and the rest of the country," said Kinlekar.
"We may have missed Saptah celebrations for two years but for many, it seems like Saptah has not been held for two decades and this is what our Lord Damodar means for Vascokars and at such a time, I feel we must not deny the people their wish to visit the temple and offer prayers during this Saptah. We have also seen how people from across the state and country arrive in Goa for Damodar Saptah, offer prayers and buy items including toys and furniture in the fair. This is the biggest festival of Vasco and this time round must not be denied to Vascokars," said Kinlekar.
"The festival attracts people, generates employment for small business vendors during the fair and also generates revenue to the MMC and people are expecting a grand Saptah festival this year. I understand that we have protocols to follow which can be implemented and I request the MMC, the temple committee and the Saptah committee to have this year's Damodar Saptah on a grand scale," added Kinlekar.
