Panaji: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Saturday said that the Goa University’s semester-end examinations at its campus as well as its affiliated colleges have been rescheduled after ABVP’s demand to postpone the papers scheduled on the day of the Jatra of Shree Lairai, at Shirgao.

“The Goa University has released a revised timetable for all general streams and all examinations will now begin on April 26, as all papers fixed on April 25 are rescheduled,” the ABVP

informed.

According to the old timetable, the exams of the colleges were starting from April 25. However, at the same time, on April 24 is the commencement Shirgao Jatra of Goddess Shree Lairai. In accordance with this, the ABVP, North Goa submitted a letter to the Controller of Examinations at the Goa University Ashok Chodankar demanding to postpone the paper of that day.

The Jatra of Shree Lairai is one of the biggest fairs in Goa. There are thousands of ‘Dhond’ devotees of this goddess in Goa and other neighbouring states. In this auspicious environment, many of the students are likely to get mental stress from exams. At night, the students, who function as ‘Dhonds’ walk through ‘Homkhand’ on the burning coal bed. This ritual continues till dawn. Therefore, on the morning of April 25, it would be difficult for those students who are to take the particular exams.

“The Shirgao Jatra is very important in terms of traditional Goan culture,” the ABVP said, adding that the examination should not make the new generation forget this cultural heritage.

The ABVP karyakartas had raised the issue with the university.

As per this revised timetable, all the papers for April 25 have been postponed. The ABVP has thanked the Goa University for the same.