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By:

Archita Redkar

11 September 2025 at 2:30:25 pm

A Diwali to Remember: The Light of Mangeshi Temple

I still recall one of the most captivating Diwalis I’ve experienced — the one I spent in Goa fourteen years ago. That year, we chose to celebrate uniquely at the Shri Mangeshi Temple, and residing within its walls made the occasion intensely personal and unforgettable. It became a treasured family celebration. My daughter was very young then, but to this day she distinctly remembers each lamp, each prayer, and every instance of that Diwali. The temple’s tranquil atmosphere, resonant chants,...

A Diwali to Remember: The Light of Mangeshi Temple

I still recall one of the most captivating Diwalis I’ve experienced — the one I spent in Goa fourteen years ago. That year, we chose to celebrate uniquely at the Shri Mangeshi Temple, and residing within its walls made the occasion intensely personal and unforgettable. It became a treasured family celebration. My daughter was very young then, but to this day she distinctly remembers each lamp, each prayer, and every instance of that Diwali. The temple’s tranquil atmosphere, resonant chants, and the golden blaze of hundreds of diyas made the festival an experience full of soul—one that still shimmers in our hearts. Perched on a hillock at Priol in Ponda Taluka and surrounded by lush greenery, the Shri Mangeshi Temple is one of Goa’s most revered shrines to Lord Shiva. Its distinctive Goan Hindu architecture — whitewashed walls, graceful courtyards, and the towering seven-storey deepastambha (lamp tower) — exudes timeless elegance, especially during Diwali. As night falls, the temple becomes a sanctuary of light. Diyas illuminate the deepastambha, creating an almost celestial vision. The air fills with chants and the soft rhythm of bells, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness and wisdom over ignorance. The MangeshiDevasthan stands as a symbol of devotion and resilience. The original Shiva Linga, once enshrined in Kushastali, was moved across the Zuari River after the Portuguese destroyed the temple in 1561. The present structure, built in the mid-1800s on land donated by a devotee, has been lovingly preserved through generations. Today, it remains one of Goa’s most visited and spiritually significant temples — a true jewel among Konkani shrines. Goa’s Diwali traditions Goa celebrates Diwali with a unique blend of devotion and community spirit. The festivities begin on Naraka Chaturdashi, the second day of the five-day festival, with the burning of Narakasura effigies. Giant figures of the demon king, crafted from bamboo and paper, are paraded through villages before being set ablaze at dawn — a vivid symbol of good triumphing over evil. As fireworks light up the morning sky, families rejoice together. Lakshmi Puja, the third day, holds special importance. Homes and temples—especially Mangeshi, Shantadurga, and Mahalaxmi—glow with vibrant rangolis, marigolds, and flickering lamps. Families offer prayers and sweets to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, celebrating prosperity, harmony, and hope. Living within the temple premises let us experience its divine rhythm from dawn to night. From the first aarti at 4:30 a.m. to the last at 11 p.m., we joined nearly every ritual. The temple shimmered with fresh flowers, intricate patterns in the sanctum (Garbha), and endless rows of diyas, each flame whispering peace. On the first day, we performed the sacred Abhishek — offering water and flowers to the Shiva Linga. Drawing water from the ancient temple well and carrying it to the sanctum under Guruji’s guidance was humbling. Sitting there, offering prayers and prasad, I felt a deep stillness — a serenity I carry even today. On Narak Chaturdashi, we joined villagers as they set the demon effigy ablaze amid dazzling fireworks. In that radiant dawn, I prayed silently for strength, positivity, and the cleansing of negativity — a beautiful blend of energy and introspection. Lakshmi Puja brought another unforgettable day. Guruji invited us to his 200-year-old ancestral Wada behind the temple. The women prepared a traditional Goan breakfast on banana leaves, filling the courtyard with the aroma of coconut and jaggery. Children, including my daughter, built tiny clay forts (ghads) decorated with miniature warriors and diyas. Their laughter, mingled with temple bells, captured the warmth and togetherness that define a Goan Diwali. Festivity and togetherness Sweets and savouries lie at the heart of Diwali celebrations. In Goa, favourites like Fov (sweetened beaten rice with jaggery and coconut), Godshe (rice pudding with coconut milk), KelyachyoFodi (raw banana fry), KarlyacheKismur (bitter gourd with coconut and tamarind), and Nevri or Karanji (sweet dumplings filled with coconut, jaggery, poppy seeds, and cardamom) are lovingly prepared and shared with neighbours, symbolising love and unity. Evenings in Goa offer a beautiful contrast—the serene glow of temples meets the lively sparkle of beaches. Fireworks, music, and Goan feasts fill the air, blending devotion and celebration, perfectly reflecting Goa’s joyful soul. That Diwali at Mangeshi Temple was more than a festival — it was a journey inward. The echo of bells, scent of incense, soft chants, flickering lamps, and shared family moments created a peace that words can hardly capture. (The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)

Jinx Shattered

It took nearly six decades, nine attempts and countless heartbreaks for Shubman Gill’s men to break a 58-year curse with a record-smashing win in Birmingham, thus restoring faith in India’s long-format grit.


The Gill-led Indian team humiliated England by posting a historic 336-run victory, India’s biggest-ever Test win away from home. In doing so, they levelled the five-match series 1-1 and signalled that this young, often-underestimated team may yet script one of Indian cricket’s great away triumphs.


Few expected such a turnaround after the dispiriting five-wicket defeat in Leeds. The mood was grim. Veteran analysts had decried lower-order collapses and the glaring overdependence on Jasprit Bumrah. Questions swirled around leadership and temperament. But what followed at Edgbaston was a stunning resurgence.


Shubman Gill, a figure more often discussed for elegance than endurance, exploded every myth about fragility and inexperience. His twin masterclasses - 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second - were innings of composure and control. With an aggregate of 430 runs, Gill became the first Test captain in history to cross 400 in a single match. More crucially, he batted like a man who believed.


It was not just the runs, but the context that made the win seismic. Edgbaston has long been a graveyard for Indian ambitions. Of the eight previous outings here, India had lost seven and drawn one. For 58 years, the venue remained an unresolved equation until now. Gill had support from Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant, whose cameos ensured England were buried under an avalanche of runs before they could mount a response.


The bowlers, too, rose to the occasion. In the absence of Bumrah, Akash Deep turned doubters into admirers, claiming ten wickets including a decisive six in the final innings. Mohammed Siraj, more workhorse than wizard, chipped in with seven scalps, harrying the English batting line-up with relentless discipline. Between them, the pace battery exposed the brittleness of England’s ultra-aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach, which seems increasingly ill-suited when confronted with sustained quality and tight fields.


The numbers tell their own story. India’s 336-run margin eclipses their previous away best of 318 against the West Indies in 2019. But the deeper message is psychological. It is about self-belief, tactical maturity and the willingness to challenge narratives. This was not a win built on star power or home comfort, but on planning, poise and leadership.


Still only 25, Gill captained not with the flamboyance of a Kohli or the stoicism of a Dravid, but with his own brand of assured decisiveness. He let his bat do the talking and his team do the proving. In an age when Indian cricket too often veers toward spectacle, here was a captain quietly recalibrating ambition with execution.


For England, the loss is a sobering one. Edgbaston, their fortress, has been breached. This may just be one Test in a five-match series, but it already feels bigger. It has reminded cricket itself that the long game still matters.

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