It is unfortunate that civic sense, cleanliness and respect for the environment are often lacking among many Indians. As more Indians move to foreign countries, some carry these habits abroad, harming India’s image. During religious festivals, public spaces, rivers and seas are often polluted, despite all religions teaching cleanliness and respect for nature. However, not all Indians or states are the same. From experience, it is clear there are “two Indias” on this issue. Some people and states show good civic sense, while others perform very poorly. Sadly, it is the latter that damage the country’s image, especially overseas.
In Goa, festivals across communities sometimes leave a mess, showing our own failures. Yet the scale of garbage left after some festivals celebrated mainly by migrant communities, including at Colva beach, is far worse. This raises concerns about the government’s plan to invest heavily in spiritual tourism. Is civic sense and environmental protection being prioritised? Goa already has a rich religious culture. Spiritual tourism should be based on Goan ethos, not practices alien to it.
