the goan I network
PANAJI
The heavy downpour in the last two days failed to dampen the the spirits of those celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi. However, the rains did play spoilsport on the night of visarjan (immersion) of one-and-half-day old Ganeshas.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) declared that the Southwest Monsoon was ‘vigorous’ over the state on September 3 and 4.
The Goan caught up with a few Goemkars who immersed their Ganapati idols on Tuesday night to find out about their experience.
Raj Naik, a resident of Fatorda, who along with his family came for visarjan at a water body on the National Highway said that this year the downpour was more than any other year. “Usually, the procession before the visarjan is a slow one where people dance, chant, and there is a lot of loud music. But last night was very different,” said Raj, explaining that this year there were less fireworks and no “bombs.”
“The visarjan procession used to leave a long-lasting buzzing effect in the ear, but this year there was none. Most people came in cars to avoid getting wet,” he added.
From the far South of Goa, Gaargi Bhat, whose family celebrates Chaturthi in Maxem in Canacona, said that the rains were not too heavy in Maxem, but there was a drizzle when the family took the idol out for visarjan. However, Gaargi said that this did not affect the usual singing and chanting as “...rains or not, visarjan is
always fun.”
In the commercial capital, Margao, Apurv Virgincar, a student from the Goa Engineering College, said that his family was not too affected by the downpour, as the idol was immersed in his uncle’s well. “The path to the well is covered,” said Apurv. “Seven of us followed my uncle holding the idol, but the rains let up for exactly the time we immersed the idol. After we were back in, it started pouring again. However, the rains did delay my immediate family from returning home immediately,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Mashelkar family based in Bicholim too faced heavy rains during their immersion. Said Disha Mashelkar, “The rains were heavy. But that didn’t dampen our spirits. We took the Ganesha inside the sports car (my uncle has one). With umbrellas covering the idol at the immersion centre we all sang aartis/prayers for the last time.”
