Now a State festival, city celebrates 116-year-old tradition with grandeur
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant with PWD Minister Digambar Kamat and BJP State President Damu Naik at the Dindi festival in Margao.
MARGAO
Margao wore a festive look as people from all walks of life celebrated the Dindi festival with great pomp and religious fervour. This year marked a historic milestone — for the first time in its 116-year history, the government has officially accorded the traditional Dindi festival the status of a State festival.
The entire procession route, stretching from the Hari Mandir at Pajifond to the Vithal Mandir at Comba, was beautifully decorated and illuminated. Various organisations, including the Dambabalem Ghodem, organised a series of cultural and devotional programmes to mark the grand occasion.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the Hari Mandir temple along with Margao MLA and PWD Minister Digambar Kamat and BJP State President Damu Naik, offering prayers to Lord Vitthal and Rakhumai.
Extending his Dindi greetings to the people of Margao and Goa, the Chief Minister said that the government had decided to officially recognise Dindi as a State festival this year. He added that the government had provided assistance and logistical support to the organisers to ensure smooth arrangements along the entire route from Hari Mandir to Vithal Mandir.
Recalling that the Dindi festival has been celebrated for over a century, the Chief Minister praised the people for preserving their faith and traditions even during the Portuguese era. “Kudos to the people for celebrating the festival even during the Portuguese regime and for protecting their culture and religion,” he said.
Highlighting Margao’s legacy as the cultural capital of Goa, Sawant assured full government support to further elevate the festival in the coming years.
PWD Minister Digambar Kamat expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister and BJP State President Damu Naik for granting the long-awaited State festival status to Dindi. He announced that next year, the Dindi festivities would be organised across the entire city.
“We had planned several programmes at two or three locations to mark the festival this year, but had to cancel some due to the rains. Next year, we will celebrate Dindi across Margao,” he said.
BJP State President Damu Naik also extended his greetings to the people and thanked the government for fulfilling the long-pending demand to recognise Dindi as a State festival.
