Ponda (Goa): It is a custom in Goa to prepare an effigy of demon ‘Narakasura’ and burn it on the night of ‘Naraka Chaturdashi’. Various malpractices observed in celebration of this custom are noise pollution, looting, rallies of big effigies of Narakasura burning the effigies later on the roads etc. But the heavy rains that hit the town affected participation in the competition and the effigies got spoilt in the rains.
People were extorting money from passersby by keeping the effigies at places like Madgaon, Shiroda etc. At some places, competitions were going on till late in the night in the presence of MLAs, MPs, [even the chief minister attended one such competition.] Further at Ponda, an ideal procession was taken out on behalf of Sudarshan Sanstha.
Sanatan Sanstha along with Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and other organizations with like minded people got together as it has been doing for the past 8 years and undertook a drive to celebrate Diwali in an ideal manner devoid of all malpractices. Under this drive, members of these organizations met various Government officials, eminent personalities, different ‘Narakasura’ committees, police officials, spiritual organizations, social organizations, Hindu parties and created awareness among them on the issue. A representation was also submitted to Shri. Digambar Kamath, the Chief Minister of Goa, in this regard. Banners were displayed at various places for creating awareness among people. Dr. Durgesh Samant of Sanatan Sanstha, on a program telecast on TV, had talked about the malpractices taking place during ‘Narakasura Dahan’ and efforts made by Sanatan Sanstha to prevent the malpractices.
Source: ‘Daily Sanatan Prabhat’
