Shigmo parade takes off in Margao, but turnout ‘poor’

Margao: ‘Ossai, ossai! Ghumche katar ghum!’ A volley of sounds reverberated in the air in Margao Sunday evening as the commercial city played host to the Shigmotsav parade organised by the Margao Shigmotsav Samiti. Revellers danced to the beats of the traditional dhols and tashes.
The float parade took off from the old market circle, Margao and wended its way through the Opinion Poll Square and Ravindra Bhavan junction before culminating near the Linga in Fatorda.

A number of romtamells, folk art troupes and tableauxs participated in the parade. Tableauxs portraying mythological scenes were a major draw among both, the young and old.

Revellers of all age groups, including domestic and foreign tourists, lined up along the route, enjoying the float parade.

For two female Russain tourists, Svetlana Ivanova and Svetlana Lukarina, this was the first time that they were viewing the Shigmo festival in Goa. This Shigmo parade was also a first for Reshma Pritam Vete Raikar and her family.

Pointing out to the long gaps between the participating troupes, Margao resident Suresh Dessai said, “I feel the organisation is poor as compared to the previous years. Also, there are hardly any volunteers along the parade route controlling the participants.”

According to Dessai, the crowd of spectators, too, is far less this year. “The probable reason could be the upcoming board examinations of children studying in Class X and XII. Another reason could be the new trend of organisers commencing the highlight of the festivities – the Chitarath (traditional floats) — very late in the evening, sometimes even after 10pm,” he said.

Town and country planning (TCP) minister and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai and Curtorim Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco flagged off the event at 5.30pm with the fancy dress contest.

Also present at the parade was tourism minister Manohar ‘Babu’ Azgaonkar.