Latest news with #Exposition
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Time of India
Tivim's Kauthankars lose 2 family members at Shirgao
Panaji: When the hearse van screeched outside a cluster of houses at Auchit-Vaddo, Tivim, there were several who crowded the area on Saturday. They were all waiting since morning for a glance at Tanuja Kauthankar and her 16-year-old nephew Aditya, both of whom lost their lives in the stampede at the Lairai Devi Jatra at Shirgao. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Tanuja's body was the first to be taken inside the house. Then, just next door, it was Aditya's turn. The cries all around were unbearable. A few women needed help, fainting at a sight that made it painful to keep their eyes open. Bottles of mineral water kept outside the two houses were quickly emptied. Amidst all this, Tanish Kauthankar stood stone-faced. Tanish was part of the 40-member group from the village that had proceeded to Shirgao for the annual jatra. After prayers at the temple, they were all headed towards the designated area where a massive bonfire is lit and devotees known as 'dhonds' walk barefoot across a bed of embers to seek blessings. Tanish, a dhond himself, was looking forward to the annual ritual but en route he saw the world collapse in front of him. 'I was just behind and saw that she fell first,' Tanish told TOI . 'She got crushed under the weight of everyone falling over her. We had about seven dhonds from this area alone and had gone there with families. There was so much rush that we had to move inside a house for safety.' Tanish and Aditya went to the same school, St Anne's, answered the Class 10 exams together and had both secured admission at Saraswat College, Mapusa. They were to travel together every morning for their higher secondary school classes, but fate had something else in store. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'I just can't believe Aditya's no more. We just could not reach them to help. The ambulance came much later,' he said. Nobody at the ward could believe what they were seeing. The Kauthankars are a closely knit family living in four homes in the ward, travelling to festivals together. The Lairai Devi Jatra was something they looked forward to every year. Aditya's father Ankush and grandfather Vaman are both dhonds, strong believers in the deity. 'My brother and I were at home, my son just escaped,' said Rohidas Kauthankar, whose sister-in-law and nephew lost their lives. 'She was unwell and we had asked her not to go for the jatra but she was determined. They all left at 6pm (on Friday) and were to stay there for five days. But look how they have returned.' Tanuja's daughter Ruthika is also among those injured, her leg fractured. She is bedridden at GMC, yet to be told that her mother is no more. 'This is a result of total mismanagement,' said Arun Shinde, who was among those who gathered outside the two houses with plenty on their minds. 'There were lakhs of people at the Exposition (in Old Goa) but there were plenty of police personnel and dedicated first aid facilities at every step,' he said. 'Here, despite thousands attending, there was neither proper medical services nor police security. It was a mess.' Another neighbour wondered what happened to the promised tight security and the drones that were supposedly deployed for aerial surveillance. 'People have lost their lives. What do you tell their families,' asked a neighbour, unable to come to terms with the fact that those with whom he exchanged smiles just yesterday are gone today.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Archaeological Survey of India to Restore Damaged Mihrab Structure at Safa Masjid in Ponda
Panaji: After months of delay and neglect, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will begin repairs on the damaged mihrab structure surrounding the centuries-old water tank at Safa Masjid in Ponda. Built in 1560 by Ibrahim Ali Adil Shah, the masjid features an ornate tank lined with niche-like arches, once used as hammams. The rain submerged parts of the tank, creating ideal conditions for crabs to burrow into the structure, causing visible cavities. 'We noticed the leakages at Safa Masjid. We have also noticed the dismantling of the stones on some of its arches. We are planning to restore the same,' Abhijit Ambekar, superintending archaeologist holding additional charge in Goa, told TOI . TOI reported on Oct 14, 2024, that the ornate niche structure enveloping the tank — called the mihrab — developed cavities, drilled in by the crabs in the tank. At the time, ASI officials stressed that there was no immediate threat to the tank's stability. However, the ASI-appointed caretakers at the site voiced their concerns about the impact of vibrations caused by rumblers installed on the nearby national highway on the aquatic life of the tank. They said it was prompting crabs to dig into the structure for shelter during the day. The centuries-old tank has been a habitat for fish, turtles, and crabs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ready to feel better in your body? WAYT-less® is a weight loss tablet that could support your goals. Nu Image Medical Shop Now Undo 'At the time, the priority of the ASI was to complete the preparations for the Exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier, which was held at Old Goa from Nov 21, 2024, to Jan 5, 2025. Due to this, the upkeep of other monuments could not be prioritised. Funding was also awaited to take up work at other ASI buildings in Goa,' sources said. At the recently observed World Heritage Day on April 18, Ambekar announced a series of works that will be taken up by the ASI Goa circle this financial year.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Neglected, Se Cathedral's iconic bell unable to toll in homage to the Pope
Panaji: Even as church bells around the world tolled as a mark of respect for Pope Francis, who died on Monday, the iconic golden bell of Goa's mother church, the Se Cathedral in Old Goa, remained silent. The bell in the cathedral, a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is awaiting repairs. Following the death of the Pope, the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman on Monday asked all churches and chapels to toll bells on Tuesday and Wednesday and on the day of the funeral of Pope Francis in homage and as a call for prayer for his eternal repose. Se Cathedral's parish priest, Fr Rosario Oliveira, wrote to the ASI in Sep requesting repairs of the two main bells. 'The cathedral has five bells, and all the bells need to be pealed when the relics of St Francis Xavier solemnly enter the cathedral for the Exposition,' Oliveira said in his letter to the superintending archaeologist, Goa circle, Old Goa. On Tuesday, the ASI's superintending archaeologist holding additional charge of Goa circle, Abhijit Ambekar, told TOI that he just learned about the non-functional bell. 'I will ask my officials to visit the site and take care of whatever repairs are required,' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo The cathedral's golden bell, along with the four other bells, traditionally peal during the Exposition when the relics of St Francis Xavier are taken from Basilica of Bom Jesus to Se Cathedral and back, but that too did not happen this year. A Se Cathedral parishioner, Xavier Rodrigues, wrote a letter regarding the bell to the ASI, CM, governor, Cumbharjua MLA, and the Archdiocese. He told TOI that despite the parish priest's letter, the bell did not function during the Exposition, a significant event in the Catholic calendar. The bell, when tolled, could be heard as far as Corlim and Divar, he said. 'Despite its historical significance and cultural importance, the golden bell has remained inoperative for a considerable period of approximately 18 months,' Rodrigues said in his letter. 'The bell's silence was particularly noticeable during the untimely demise of His Holiness Pope Francis when the traditional bell ringing to mourn the demise of the head of the Catholic Church did not take place even after the circular requiring all the churches and chapels to do so.' 'As a parishioner of Se Cathedral, I have witnessed the bell's silence, which has not only affected the aesthetic experience of visiting the cathedral but also raised concerns about the preservation and maintenance of our national monuments,' he said in the letter. 'In light of the cultural and historical significance of the golden bell, it is essential to rule out any intentional damage or tampering. I urge you to conduct a thorough inquiry into this matter, including inspecting the bell's mechanism, reviewing maintenance records, and interviewing personnel responsible for the monument's upkeep.'
