Team Goemkarponn
DABOLIM: As thousands gathered for the colourful procession, members of the Dabolimcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav committee prayed before Bappa seeking blessings for Yadav’s electoral ambitions. The gesture brought an unusual political dimension to an evening otherwise centred on devotion, music and the traditional immersion of the idol.
The significance of the prayers stems partly from Yadav’s long association with the Dabolimcha Raja celebrations. For nearly 15 years, he has been closely involved in organising the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav, helping build the festival into a major community event and bringing people together through the annual celebrations.
Committee members appeared to draw on that association while expressing support for Yadav’s possible political entry. The prayers therefore went beyond a reference to a potential candidature, signalling support from members of a community platform with which Yadav has been associated for years.
The development comes amid growing political speculation in Dabolim over the forthcoming Assembly election. Yadav’s name has been doing the rounds as a possible contender from the constituency.
If he enters the race, the political contest could take on added significance, with Yadav potentially facing Panchayats Minister and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho.
Against this backdrop, Thursday’s visarjan procession acquired an added political dimension. Dhol Tasha beats, devotional chants and the large gathering formed the backdrop as the committee’s prayers placed Yadav’s political aspirations alongside the traditional farewell to Bappa.
The Dabolimcha Raja celebrations have grown substantially over the years, with Yadav playing a prominent role in organising the festival and mobilising community participation. This year, however, the final procession also became a moment where the festival’s community platform intersected with Dabolim’s emerging electoral narrative.
As Bappa was taken for visarjan amid chants and celebrations, devotees bid farewell to the deity in the customary manner. But the prayers for Yadav left behind a political question in Dabolim: will the man who has spent 15 years helping organise one of the constituency’s biggest Ganesh celebrations now seek a larger role in its electoral politics?
