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250 years and still going strong! Mayuresh Pawar / Panaji September 16, 2005 Ganesh Chaturthi is an occassion where families unite in festive cheer, like the Raikar family in Goa, which celebrates this festival with more than 2,500 members converging upon their Vaje-their ancestral village, which is about 55 kms from Panajim. This annual event in the Raikar clan began roughly 250 years ago with Ramachandra Raikar and his four sons worshipping Lord Ganesh for five-days. This year the ninth generation of the family retuned to celebrate the festival in Vaje, Shiroda. Says Somnath Raikar, "We aren't sure of the exactly when this tradition of worshipping Lord Ganesha began but we have continued it," who added that they also worship the ancestor who started it all. The family has spread as far as Punjab, Maharashtra, United States, Canada, Qatar and Pakistan. "Our family members from the US came down this year, but others could not make it," said Damodar Raikar, another family member. The Raikar family comprises over 500 nuclear families and at the last count the total number was put at 2,500. In Vaje, call out "Raikar!" and at least a 100 heads will turn to answer. So large is the family that some members of the younger generation have lost track of the family who's-who. Ratima Raikar, who is down in Goa from US, doesn't know her Indian family. She says, "It has been so difficult for me get to know my own family members, since I have never met them before. At the same time, it is such a tremendous opportunity for all of us to get to know each other." Looking at the steadily increasing number of family members, the Raikars have formed a committee of eight to take care of the clan during the festival. The committee looks at all the preparations for the five-day mega get-together. "A committee was needed since the family has grown so vast," says Ramakant Raikar, president of the Raikar family committee. The committee spends over Rs 5 lakh for the five-day celebrations. "It doesn't conclude on the 5th day, we also organise a fish day on the 6th day. This is one occasion, the whole family gets together to cook and eat different varieties of fish," says Ramakant. nd to feed themselves the Raikars have even constructed a huge hall, where lunch and dinner is served.