📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Omkar D Govekar
Religion
Omkar Returns to Goa as Forest Department Heightens Vigil Ahead of Chaturthi
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 08 Sep 2026, 09:32 AM
👁 5
Omkar has arrived back in Goa, prompting the forest department to step up surveillance measures as the Chaturthi festival approaches.
Omkar arrived in Goa earlier this week, marking his return to the state after a brief absence. His presence has drawn attention from local authorities, especially the forest department, which monitors the coastal and forested zones surrounding popular pilgrimage sites.
In anticipation of the upcoming Chaturthi celebrations, the forest department announced an increase in patrols, surveillance drones, and on‑ground checkpoints. Officials said the heightened vigilance aims to prevent forest fires, curb illegal encroachments, and manage the influx of devotees who often trek through protected areas.
Chaturthi, a major Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, draws large crowds to temples and natural sites across Goa. The department’s proactive measures are intended to ensure both the safety of pilgrims and the preservation of the state’s fragile ecosystems during the festive period.
In anticipation of the upcoming Chaturthi celebrations, the forest department announced an increase in patrols, surveillance drones, and on‑ground checkpoints. Officials said the heightened vigilance aims to prevent forest fires, curb illegal encroachments, and manage the influx of devotees who often trek through protected areas.
Chaturthi, a major Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, draws large crowds to temples and natural sites across Goa. The department’s proactive measures are intended to ensure both the safety of pilgrims and the preservation of the state’s fragile ecosystems during the festive period.