WEEKEND UPDATES

Comments Off

EASTER EGG SYMBOLISM

THOSE who enjoy and exchange Easter eggs might be a little alarmed to learn that it symbolizes life emerging from the tomb. It, of course, also symbolizes renewal and hope. The tradition has pagan origins as people in Persia and Egypt exchange eggs during a spring festival marking fertility. Christians later adopted this symbolism.

Christians, traditionally, do not eat eggs during Lent. So by Easter many eggs accumulated, they were boiled to preserve them, and decorated and gifted on Easter Sunday to family and friends. Red eggs, popular in Eastern churches, symbolize the blood of Christ. In Europe painted eggs are very popular. Easter eggs symbolize life, resurrection, celebration and a bit of fun.

Similarly, the cross on the hot cross bun symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Spices are used as these were used in the burial of Jesus. The hot cross buns are sweet to symbolize hope and resurrection. A monk in England in the 12 century was the first to mark buns with a cross on Good Friday. Then hot cross became popular in the British colonies with the rhyme: “Hot cross buns, hot cross buns, one a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns…”

GULF WAR IMPACT

THE war in West Asia continues to impact Goa and Goans. With airports in the Gulf countries under attack by Iran air travel has become very expensive. Air India and Gulf Air have cancelled all direct flights from Goa to the Gulf. This makes it difficult for Goans to go back to work in the Gulf countries.

There is also a steep increase in the price of LPG and commercial cylinders. This continues to affect small and big hotels. Indeed, Zomato and Swiggy have increased their platform fees. We must salute Goan bakers who have not allowed the LPG crisis to affect tradition. The Bakers Association has announced that they produced more than one ton of Easter buns in time for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

For the benefit of those who may not be aware Maundy Thursday is the day when Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples. Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is called Good Friday because resurrection follows the crucifixion. The image of Jesus is taken down from the cross in churches on Friday and put back after the Easter mass on Sunday. Easter symbolizes the good news of Christ’s resurrection.

APRIL FOOL’S DAY BLUES

WE were startled to receive a message on April Fool’s Day claiming that banks would be closed for the entire week. It was pointed out that April 1 and 2 are traditionally days when the bank is closed for public transactions. April 3 happened to be Good Friday, Saturdays and Sundays are holidays for government staff. Which according to the April Fool’s Day post on Facebook meant that working people will get their salaries only a week later.

However, the message was not true as banks were open for transaction on April 2, they were also open on Saturday, April 5 as they are only closed on second and fourth Saturday of the month. In any case with all transactions becoming more or less digital very few people depend on banks for withdrawal of cash. But you still have to go to the bank to deposit any sums of money over Rs20,000. Unless you have opted for internet banking.

KEJRI CHALLENGES CM

AS part of the Aam Aadmi party (AAP) campaign in Ponda for the bye-election Arvind Kejriwal drew attention to the poor quality of drinking water in Goa. In fact, he challenged Pramod Sawant to drink a glass of tap water. Though the PWD supplies a few hours of tap water to households most families boil the water before storing it for drinking purposes only. Indian tap water is not up to WHO standards.

Interestingly, India and Goa are the largest market for mineral bottled water. The latest to enter the very profitable mineral water market is Reliance with a new brand called “Sure.” Not surprisingly, Amitabh Bachchan is the brand ambassador for “Sure” bottled mineral water.

We haven’t come across the new bottled water yet but the market place is chok-a-blok with bottled water, most of them in plastic pet bottles which are nowadays recycled into all manner of products such as bricks, sheets, roadways, planters, etcetera. This of course will not stop micro-plastics from entering into our soil in which grows our food. The news is soon micro-plastics will be found in human blood too. Adulterated blood anyone?

PONDA’S ASHRAFI 1^ST IN NATIONAL MOTORSPORTS

ONE whole year of intense competition, 5 qualifying rounds held across India, featuring over 40+ participants. It was Ponda’s Ashrafi Shet Desai Gaikwad from Ponda who proudly secured her first Indian National Autocross Championship (INAC) podium finish as the 2^nd runner-up on March 28 and 29, 2026 in Chikmangalur. Her achievement marks a significant milestone in her motorsports journey. It’s a proud moment for Goa and serves as a powerful inspiration for Goan women aspiring to break barriers in motorsports.

GCCI SEEKS REVIEW OF GST ON EVENT VENUES

THE Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) has submitted a representation to the Commissioner of State GST, government of Goa, regarding the recent order dated March 10, 2026 issued under Section 151 read with Section 168 of the Goa Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 on event venues.

While appreciating the government’s objective of addressing GST non-compliance by out-of-state event organizers, GCCI has raised concerns that the current framework may not effectively achieve its intended purpose and could inadvertently impose significant compliance burdens on property owners and venue operators across the State.

Key issues highlighted include legal concerns regarding the scope of the order and validity imposing obligations on property owners under the cited provisions. The serious implications of the deeming provision is that it shifts tax liability onto property owners who are not the actual suppliers of goods or services. There are practical challenges faced by small venue owners and this will have adverse impact on ease of doing business, particularly in Goa’s dynamic tourism and events sector.

GCCI has proposed some constructive recommendation to achieve the government’s objective more effectively and this include:

* Reconsideration of the legal framework and removal of the deeming liability provision.

* Exemption for personal, religious, and non-commercial events.

* Introduction of thresholds to protect MSME property owners.

* Simplification of compliance requirements with a focus on event organizers rather than venue owners.

* Digitization of the reporting process and uniform applicability across private and government-owned venues.