Goemkarponn desk
Panaji: Thousands and thousands of people descended in Goa to ring in the new year but guess what the same old story.
Along the Calangute-Baga beach belt, a sea of humanity choked all major roads on the beach side making it difficult to traverse on these roads on December 31.
They say old habits seldom die and it was true when we saw the next morning on Goa’s beaches it was littered all over.
Garbage of all kinds and in every shape and size – empty and broken beer bottles, plastic bottles, food plates and tetra packs – were found strewn all over the beach early next morning of the New Year giving the entire area a shabby look.
But discarded waste was not the only black spot on the beach side, desi tourists apparently sozzled from the overnight partying were found lounging on the beach till as late as 11 am on the New Year’s Day.
The world-famous Colva beach resembled a make shift bar with beer and booze flowing.
Overnight New Year celebrations continued on Sunday as well as groups of domestic tourists gulped beer and booze as if the government has given exemption to public drinking on the beach.
One could find the visitors descending on the beach with booze and snacks and enjoying the New Year festivities without fear of the law in force. Colva beach was littered with empty bottles.
Similar scenes were witnessed along the Canacona coastal belt and other beaches including Miramar, Morjim.
The midnight masses in the Churches and tourists thronging on the beaches marked the new year celebrations in the coastal state, which is known for its all-night-long parties.
Several hundred people had started arriving on various beaches of the state which is having 105-km-long coastline from Sunday evening onwards to the catch the glimpse of the last Sunset of the year 2023.
Goa police had increased their presence on the beaches and also the roads which are leading to the coastal belt.
The traffic jams were witnessed on busy Calangute-Baga road in North Goa from Sunday afternoon onwards as people reached the respective party venues in advance to avoid last minute rush.
As the countdown for the New Year began, people started thronging on the beaches, specially the shacks which are lined up along the coast.
As a tradition mid-night masses were held across all the Goa Churches as parishioners ushered in the New Year with the peeling of the bells.
At the stroke of midnight, firework was displayed at various beaches in the state where people were seen greeting each other.
The parties will continue till 2 am as state government has relaxed the timings to host the events for the New Year. The parties in Goa usually have to wind up by 10 pm.
