by Lenny Barretto
for Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)
Panaji, Mar 5: It's a celebration time in Goa for Hindus.... drums reverberting atmosphere...colourfully dressed people dancing to the folk tunes and Shigmo festivities.. Goa gets much better during this time.
Goa's uniqueness is its capacity to respect all type of cultures. Catholic and Hindu cultures have grown into this land. But lately, even Bengali, Malayali, Karnataka and other states' cultures too are finding a place here.
Shigmo, a unique celebration in Goa's soil, is a much different affair. Rich traditions and customs, hitherto unknown to the masses, are practised during Shigmo. But unfortunately, tourism, which is basically beach-centric, has failed to cash in on this richness.
Goa has enough traditional and cultural wealth of its own. It's a harmonious state. That's why on Holi day when many people had changed their skin colours to green, red, orange, pink etc., the Catholic population going to attend morning masses did not have even a speck of colour sprinkled on them. This clearly indicates how Hindu and Catholic people live here in harmony.
It may be carnival or Shigmo, both the festivals have equal importance. So also Christmas or Diwali or for instance Ganesh Chaturthi, Goa has lived up to its tag as a peaceful state.
Whatsoever may be the image of politicians in India but in Goa, we can proudly say that politicians too have not disturbed this harmony. Everything runs smoothly. Except for rare incidents like Sanvordem-Curchorem communal violence that saw two communities clashing with each other, Goa remains peaceful. And wish that it will remain the same forever.
Read more about Shigmo and Holi:
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