Ponda Shigmotsav high on enthusiasm, low on management

Thousands of people from Ponda and other parts of Goa, on Wednesday, gathered to witness Ponda Shigmotsav which was mired by poor street lighting, parking shortfall and delay in the Romtamel parade.    

Despite these lacunae, the energy was positive on the first day of the festivities. Despite the inconvenience, a large number of revelers enjoyed the floats which were based on the Puranas (ancient Hindu scriptures). 

The floats depicted scriptural themes like Tripurasur Vadh, Samudra Manthan, Adiyogi and Mahishasur Mardan among a few. Many onlookers did not lose any opportunity to click selfies and shoot videos of the floats.

Shigmotsav and Romtamel are the two core celebrations of the Bahujans (Hindu majority communities) from Goa. 

Several Romtamel troupes played dhol, tashe, tutari (cornet-like instruement) and sang kavan in praise of the local deity, Rakhandar (the protector) of the village. The sounds of the dhols (ghumchekatar ghum) could be heard along the route of the floats parade.

Though the festive fervour was high, a few discrepancies in the management of the event could have been certainly avoided by the organising committee. In some places, illumination was very poor and the Romtamel troupes had to perform in the dark thus throwing their coordination off balance. 

Traffic management and unavailability of parking space were major pain for visitors who had come to witness the event. People said they wasted time searching for parking space for their two- and four-wheelers. 

Traffic congestion was seen at various points on a road leading towards the Shigmotsav parade exposing the lack of coordination between the traffic cell and the organisers.