PANAJI
Goa is set to erupt in a blaze of colour, music, and tradition on Sunday as its cities, towns, and villages prepare for the iconic Diwali-eve celebration featuring giant effigies of the demon king Narkasur.
In Panaji, the annual spectacle, deeply rooted in folklore and unique to Goa, will transform the capital’s streets into a carnival of creativity and revelry, drawing crowds of locals and tourists alike.
From early morning, neighbourhoods across Panaji will unveil their towering Narkasur effigies ” some reaching over 20 feet in height ” crafted by local youth groups and artists.
The grotesque yet imaginative figures, often made of bamboo, paper, and cloth, sometimes woven around fabricated steel skeletons, are displayed at prominent street corners, each vying for attention and prizes in competitions judged on size, design, and thematic storytelling.
As dusk falls, the city will pulse with energy, with DJ music blaring from makeshift stages, dance troupes performing, and crowds gathering to soak in the festivity ” making the task of the police to regulate the flow of traffic a nightmare.
Some groups with resources have hired outstation sound services and DJs, some from as far as Kolhapur. Members of one group in the Bhatlem area said the sound system, along with the DJ’s service charges, has cost them a whopping Rs 60,000.
The dramatic climax will come around midnight, when the effigies are ceremonially set ablaze, symbolising the triumph of good over evil ” marking Lord Krishna’s slaying of Narkasur.
Police said traffic diversions and security arrangements will be put in place to manage the expected surge of crowds in the city.
Local eateries and street vendors are also gearing up for brisk business, catering to the gastronomical needs of the crowds that come to witness this fiery tradition, unique to Goa, lighting the way into Diwali.
