Over 2, 000 members of a single family celebrate Ganesh Puja in Goa

Over 2, 000 member of a family gathered at their ancestral home in Shiroda village of Goa to celebrate Ganesha Puja.

Shiroda (Goa), Sep 20 : Over 2, 000 member of a family gathered at their ancestral home in Shiroda village of Goa to celebrate "Ganesha Puja".

The young and old belong to over 500 hundred nuclear families arrive here every year from across the country and abroad, to take part in five-day festival.

The 400-year-old tradition was started by ancestors of Raikar's to keep his clan together. The family has even formed a committee to manage the proceedings during the festival.

"Our ancestors told us that this tradition has been going on for last 400 years. I belong to the eighth generation so you can calculate, generation wise it is 400 years old," said Somnatah Raikar, secretary of Raikar family organising committee.

There ancestral home in Shiroda village is presently being expanded to accommodate their ever growing family.

"This is our ancestral house. We celebrate the festival for five days. Our family members are spread all over the world," said Chandrabhan Raikar, a family member from Mumbai.

Authentic Goan cuisine is served in special halls, which can accommodate 200 people at one go.

ANI