Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
The cash-rich Babush started giving donations of up to Rs 1 lakhs at that time which was huge. Even a small Narkasur would fetch more than Rs 10,000.
Now with Babush splurging cash, the youth did not know how to spend it. They started booking DJ music with blasting sounds, which would damage the eardrums and cause heart attacks. As if this was not enough, the early morning felt like we were on the border India-Pakistan border with the crackers and bombs sounding.
Also, the youth got into the habit of partying, alcohol, smoking and whatnot. This often led to fights amongst youth from one wado to another.
This is not how we enjoyed Narkasurs.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Goa is the unique place in India where the demon – Narkasur, is eulogised on every Diwali eve and set on fire in the wee hours of the day.
Narkasur in Goa were never all about huge effigies, alcohol, blasting music and traffic jams.
In Goa, the Narkasur legend of Diwali is well known and is the reason for the Diwali celebrations. Diwali in Goa is marked by Narkachaturdashi, in which huge effigies of the demon Narkasur are built and then burnt.
According to the legend of Narkasur, it is known that in ancient times, the beautiful land of Goem or Gomantak was ruled by the demon king Narkasur. Nakamura had obtained a lot of powers which made him quite arrogant and he began to spread terror, cause destruction and torture people wherever he went. He also used to kidnap young beautiful girls and this caused great unhappiness among the people of the world.
The people of Goa thus prayed and the gods asked Lord Krishna for help.
A great battle was fought between Narkasur and Lord Krishna in which Lord Krishna shot his famous Sudharshan Chakra, cut off the evil head of the Narkasur and slit his tongue. Thus the evil demon who ruled Goa met his end in the wee hours of the morning, and Lord Krishna smeared the demon’s blood on his forehead as a symbol of victory.
To celebrate this victory, every year the people make huge effigies which are filled with grass, waste paper and crackers.
A lot of money is sometimes spent on making these effigies as some institutions conduct Narkasura competitions and give away cash prizes for the best-made ones.
I remember during my early childhood, in our wado at Taleigao, we use to make Narkasurs on our own and collect money from every house.
However, in the 90s, politicians, with an eye on elections, started giving small donations to lure the youth. These donations were small in an amount up to the year 2000, which is when Babush Monseratte arrived on Goa’s political scene.
The cash-rich Babush started giving donations of up to Rs 1 lakhs at that time which was huge. Even a small Narkasur would fetch more than Rs 10,000.
Now with Babush splurging cash, the youth did not know how to spend it. They started booking DJ music with blasting sounds, which would damage the eardrums and cause heart attacks. As if this was not enough, the early morning felt like we were on the border India-Pakistan border with the crackers and bombs sounding.
Also, the youth got into the habit of partying, alcohol, smoking and whatnot. This often led to fights amongst youth from one wado to another.
This is not how we enjoyed Narkasurs.
We had our own small speakers and danced after quick snacks and refreshments organised by our parents; in the early morning, we burned the effigy, took a bath, had fov, and then went to sleep.
So by now stopping the donations, is Babush trying to show that he isn’t involved in any chaos? Did it take 22 years for Babush to realise he was making a mistake?
Only after Babush started huge donations, the politicians in other constituencies were forced to give the same amount. There is no attempt to defend any politician here, but Babush cannot escape after creating a mess.
Yes, better late than never. Hopefully, better sense has prevailed, and Babush does not start the same again as the elections approach in 2027.
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