Team Goemkarponn
CUMBARJUA: The centuries-old Sangod Utsav, marking Ganesh Visarjan on the seventh day of Chaturthi, transformed the Cumbarjua Canal into a floating theatre on Wednesday, drawing villagers, devotees, and visitors in large numbers.
Rooted in ritual immersion, the festival has evolved into a vibrant showcase of Goan culture, blending devotion, artistry, and community spirit. Lord Ganesh is carried in procession from the Shantadurga Kumbharjuvekarin Temple in Marcel, placed on a sangod—a decorated platform made by joining two traditional canoes—and taken on five ceremonial rounds of the canal before immersion.
This year’s floats featured mythological and social themes, with young villagers designing sets, costumes, and performances. Entire wards of Marcel, Golwada, Rambhuvanwada, and nearby areas worked together to stage elaborate enactments from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, folk tales, and contemporary issues, turning the canal into a vivid open-air stage.
Tourism Minister Rohan A. Khaunte hailed the festival as “a living canvas of cultural heritage,” adding that it sustains traditions while fostering regenerative tourism. “By engaging our youth in mythological enactments and artistry, Sangod Utsav connects devotion, creativity, and community in a unique way,” he said.
Tourism Director Kedar Naik noted that the Utsav “is a fine example of how cultural traditions can be preserved while also becoming a unique attraction for cultural and experiential tourism.”
Among those present were Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, MLAs Premendra Shet (Mayem) and Rajesh Faldesai (Cumbarjua), along with local leaders, temple authorities, and community representatives.
The 2025 Sangod Utsav reaffirmed Cumbarjua’s identity as a hub of devotional theatre on water—preserving a centuries-old ritual while creatively engaging new generations and strengthening Goa’s cultural tourism landscape.
