Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: Stating Gaondongrim Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav celebrations have come a long way since its inception in the year 1980, Mandal President Anand Tashildar said the immense enthusiasm amongst the womenfolk and youth of the village has over the years turned the 5-days Gapapati to 9-days Sarvajanik celebrations of the villagers.
The all eco-friendly Ganesh idol with State-of-the-Art fine decorations by villagers led by village artist Rupesh Velip, is worshipped in the Village Panchayat compound for a 9-day period.
Briefing about the history of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav, Tashildar informed himself, 6 people from the locality – Dessai, Shashikant Pagi, Tulsidas Kale, Suresh Gaondongrikar, Chandravati Vishnu Devidas (late), has began to worship the Sarvajanik Ganesh idol in a small Gramshekar Quarters in the year 1980. At that time only two Ganapatis including one at Kudewada were worshipped in the village.
With donations ranging from Rs.1.25 (one rupee twenty-five paise) to Rupees Five (5/-), we used to manage to bring a Gapapati idol and set up it for 5-days worship by expending anything between rupees 500-1000/-. The worshipping days were then over the years increased from 5 to 7 and from 7 to present days 9 at a more spacious pandal erected within the panchayat compound. At that time besides the conduct of Arti and Mahapuja, no other activities were conducted, but with the active participation and very enthusiastic involvement of womenfolks and mostly youths, Gaondognrim’s Ganeshothav have come of age, and presently engaged in the conduct of several public oriented-programs and activities, informed Tashildar.
Mandal Secretary Anand Gaonkar informed that in order to give a push to our local talents, artist Rupesh Velip and his team have created the decorations, acclaimed all over. It’s been decades now since our Ganesh Idol was designed and sculpted by the Chari brothers from Char-Rasta’.
Giving detailed program details Mandal Secretary Anand Gaonkar informed that besides Arti’s twice a day and Mahapoojan Prasad every day up to the 15th, programs begin on Wednesday with a Rangoli competition.
12th Sangeet competition, Coconut breaking competition and Slow motor-cycle Race.
13th Orchestra ‘The Rocks’ will be staged, and on 14th besides the conduct of Satyanaraan Pooja and Draw of Donation Coupons for a Konkani Natak ‘Direct Chandrar’ will be staged in the nighttime and on the 15th the idol will be taken in a procession for Visarjan at 5 pm
The 3-year term Mandal committee with Gaja Gaondongrikar as Treasurer stating lots of people are volunteering to provide financial and other assistance named Janu Velip, Pramod Devidas, Nilesh Vinay Gaonkar for their support and lauded village Sarpanch Dhillon Dessai, Anand Dessai Babu Pednekar, Atchut Naik for the overall contributions and supports for the Sarvajanik Ganeshothav celebrations everyyear.
