Panaji: Thousands of lamps will illuminate river Valvonti at Sankhalim village in North Goa, as part of the state festival of ‘Tripurari Purnima’ celebrations on November 14.
“Goa has some unique festivals to its credit, and this time of the year, it is time to gear up for the annual Tripurari Purnima celebration. This festival has an interesting story behind it and is celebrated to mark the end of the Diwali season,” the state Tourism department said in a press release here.
“According to mythology, Lord Krishna defeated and killed demon Tripur on the day of Kartik Purnima. People celebrate Krishna’s victory and the end of the demon’s tyranny by releasing lamps in the river. Since then it has been a tradition all over India to release small lamps in the river during the time of Diwali, especially on Kartik Purnima,” it said.
“An interesting element about the way this is celebrated in Goa is its distinctive local touch. The tradition takes the form of a very unusual competition – that of making miniature models, boats and ships made out of thermocol and other materials,” it said.