Goa CM assures solution to CRZ imbroglio

With the spectre of an agitation looming large just ahead of parliamentary elections in Goa, the Chief Minister Of Goa Mr Digambar Kamat announced a series of steps which his government plans to initiate in a bid to protect the thousands of houses within the Coastal regulation Zone(CRZ) in Goa, which are facing the axe following the directives of the high court in this regard.

The Chief Minister was addressing a press conference in the capital city of Panjim along with his cabinet colleagues  which included the Home Minister Mr Ravi Naik, Social Welfare Minister MR Ramakrishna Dhavlikar, Environment Minister Mr Aleixo Sequeira and Revenue Minister Mr Jose Phillip D'Souza.

Among the many initiatives suggested, the government was also considering consultations with noted constitutional experts like Mr Fali Nariman and Mr Shyam Diwan on how to protect the interests of people living along the coastline while exploring possibilities of amending local laws to provide them relief. The government was optimistic of its efforts producing the desired results before the high court meets up for the next hearing on the case which is scheduled for the 16th of June 2009.

Reminding citizens that the issue concerning the CRZ was a central government law applicable to the entire country, Mr Kamat hoped that the central government would amend the law to provide relief to the people and also remained open on the option of approaching the supreme court as a last resort to challenge any adverse judgement of the high court.

The Chief Minister also informed that the panchayats have been requested to take on record any document such as electricity bill, no objection certificates, water bills etc. issued by them for consideration in order to prove the existence of the houses before the cut off date of February 19, 1991.

Portuguese passport for Goans : the "original document" hunt

The most agonising question plaguing Goans who are pursuing the Portuguese passport since the last few years has been the frustration of producing an old document of the Portuguese era to satisfy the authorities at the consulate in Goa as a part of the statutory requirements

Many Goans are feeling dismayed at such an unfair requirement imposed on Goans who seek to secure a Portuguese nationality. The requirement was introduced somewhere in 2004- 2005 which suddenly retarded many Goan passport processes leaving many Goans in disbelief and shock at the apparent high-handedness of the Portuguese authorities to coerce them into a requirement which for many Goans is impossible.

Goans aver that due to the lapse of time, it is difficult to source such a document. There may have been a lot of Goans who might have had such documents which have either been destroyed due to the ravages of time or have been disposed off as unnecessary papers clogging the overflowing desks in modern Goa. Besides there are those who were overwhelmed with the spirit of liberation and in their pursuit of senseless joy, had even burned such documents immediately after liberation of Goa in 1961.

However for those who were meticulous enough to preserve such documents, it is a reward for having the thumb for posterity. So documents such as birth certificates issued during the Portuguese regime ( Certidao Narrativa) or travel documents in that era with name and birth details and photograph if possible including the "cedula pessoal" ( personal record book) the "documento de viagem"( document of voyage) or the "passaporte portugues"( portuguese passport), or the old Bilhete de Identidade ( Portuguese  Identity card) issued during the Portuguese regime or any document during one's employment in Goa which had peculiar details of self such as name and birth etc are all considered valid for the purpose of old document and are precious gems in the hands of the beholders. For the exact type of document required by the consulate, click here.

For those Goans without the possession of such a document , it has therefore become some sort of a treasure hunt and even as I write this, Goans are trying hard in various places such as Schools, churches, old employers files, sports bodies, municipal records, societies, property records etc to locate such documents. While many have succeeded, there is still a large number who have have had no such luck.

Goans should however note that tearing out pages from olden government record books and school registers is of no use to the consulate as such documents are not acceptable to the Portuguese authorities who have strongly advised not to indulge in such unlawful means to secure the document.

Some Goans who had been former government employees of the Portuguese era have also tried to reason with the Portuguese consulate with the copies of the "boletim official" ( the official gazette) which clearly mentions about their employment records in the Portuguese era, thus proving their genuineness. However the document reportedly does not fulfill all the requirements of an "original document" and is therefore declined.

However given the importance and the value of the Portuguese passport as an avenue to enter Europe in search of a better living, Goans are trying their level best to procure the elusive document. In the whole process of documentation of the portuguese passport, the original document requirement is still posing a major hurdle and willcontinue to be unless the requirement is reviewed with a more lenient and practical view by the Portuguese authorities

Political wrestling robs Goa of football academy

The much touted state of the art academy for football which was to be set up in Goa is on its way out. The All India Football Federation ( AIFF) and Bharti Enterprises have finally given their verdict by dropping all plans of setting up the ambitious 100 crore project in Goa due to the prolonged delay of the state government of Goa in acquiring land for the project.

Responding that the AIFF cannot wait forever for the state government of Goa, to act on the acquiring and transfer of the land to the academy, the AIFF general secretary indicated that the  proposal has been put off and expressed his disappointment over Goa's loss in setting up the academy.

While no decision about the alternative venue for the academy has been made, sources indicate that Haryana is the most likely to benefit out of Goa's loss.

The academy had been cleared by the state cabinet and suitable land was identified in Cuncolim, but the housing Ministry is reported to be refusing to part with the 1.26 sq mt of land keeping the entire process at a standstill.

The project which was to begin last march ran into problems after two powerful Goan politicians locked horns and the tussle between the two ministers turned into a war of words leading to an inordinate delay in the clearance. While Mr Micky Pacheco claimed that the land in question belonged to his department, he accused Mr Joaquim Alemao GFA president and minister for Urban development of illegally transferring the land for the academy.

The end result is that in the political muddle of a couple of men, Goa has lost the golden opportunity of a football academy which would have nurtured budding talent in Goa to fructify into football greats for the state. It is a shame that we lost this due to the sleazy politicking of a select few.

Goa's new Dhirio

It sure resembles a classroom of small kids squabbling and screaming for a coveted place, thing or chair. And once not able to get it, a fight ensues which if not defused by the intervention of the teacher can turn nasty with plenty of bruises.

Our political situation in Goa is similar if not worse. The nastiness of the Goa assembly which has been continuously  shaken to its foundations by the belligerence of 40 legislators never fails to spill its cruel disposition over the elections to Parliament.

While the verdict on the Congress candidate for the north Goa seat is not out as yet, the claimants for the seat in South Goa make up for the "dhirio' which has incidentally been banned in Goa. We do not need a "dhirio" when we have our class of politicians who are willing to fight tooth and nail for just about any thing they see is good enough to humiliate one another.

Never mind if they are actually part of the same ruling side. Never mind whether they are befitting of the position of an MP or whether their past antecedents call on them to consult their conscience atleast for the sake of the people. But No! The games of one-upmanship seem to be going undeterred.

Making up for the names in queue for the position of 'apna MP"are plenty of self appointed nominees who have threatened to split all vote banks and ransack all chances of rivals if not presented with the most desirable ticket.

Threats and counter threats are not the only ingredients of the sleazy plots. There are parties and counter parties, some with ditto names whose  fate still hangs in courts as they dish out their wares to the gullible people of Goa making sure that the opportunity at hand is not lost for anything.

So while there is the official congress candidate who does not know what is who and when,  the "NCP" is breathing down his neck with its own plans and the UGDP is willing to enter the ring whenever it deems right while you just cannot miss the "Save Goa" twins who are still to find out which is the real one but are propping their own figure of interest, the MGP once a roaring Lion is calling out to its old long lost party hopping veterans to help it stand again atleast to field a candidate, thus exposing the absolutely rudderless sense of unanimity within a ruling coalition of "partners of convinience" to choose one candidate among themselves, to stand in the fray.

No wonder Goans have decided to stand up strongly on their own for each and every issue affecting their lives in Goa as our legislators are busy proving their worth in the political circus of modern Goa.

CRZ - new war cry in Goa?

CRZ affected residents in coastal villages of Goa are bracing for a battle with the government, ahead of the axe which looms large on their heads in the face of high court directives to the panchayat bodies  to identify and demolish illegal structures within the coastal regulation zone.

Amidst allegations of fraud in the process of determining illegal structures, the residents of these areas have pledged to expose the pitfalls in the system in a bid to present their case strongly.

Alleging that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority(GCZMA) nor the land survey department have proper records to establish the existence of the structures before February 19 1991, the villagers maintained that the government agencies were relying on unreliable data to determine the legality of structures within the CRZ.

On Tuesday, 17th march 2009, the public meeting held by the Goenchea Ramponkarancho ekvott (GRE) and other coastal organisations issued an ultimatum to the government of Goa to regularise all residential houses and work sheds built before December 31 2007 by 10th of April 2009. Presently structures within 200 metres from the high tide line face demolitions if erected after a cut off date of February 19, 1991.

Speaking at the meeting were the leader of the opposition Mr Manohar Parrikar who promised his party's support, MLA Vijai Pai Khot who lamented that only Goa was being singled out for such demolitions while neighboring states were being ignored and the  general secretary of the GRE Mr Mathanhy Saldanha who implored Goans to stand united on this issue by crossing religious and caste barriers. Others who also spoke on the occasion were  Mr Floriano Lobo, Mr Laxmikant Parsenkar, Mr Christopher Fonseca and MR Agnelo Rodrigues.

Critical mention was made to the promulgation of the ordinance to save a city hotel by the government of Goa while pointing out the governments inaction so far in saving the CRZ affected people.

Cell phone connection gets absurdly cheap in Goa

Cell phone connections in Goa and Maharashtra have gone cheap indeed, thanks to BSNL which has introduced the new version of its Lifetime Prepaid known as "SARAL ANANT"  which comes at a lower price point of Rs 49 with Sim Card and Starter kit. Whats more, it has a talk time of 10 Rs to chat on.

With such a low plan on offer, BSNL has a beeline for subscribers who have been queuing up to take benefit of the cheapest plan in the prepaid segment so far.

It may be recalled that around 3 years ago, cell phone major AIRTEL had introduced the "life time" plan at a one -time value of 999 to stay connected for Life ( which actually means till the expiry of their operating licence). While the figure of 999 and the lifetime plans were soon imitated by other cell phone operators, the plan remained in the same denomination for a few years. However the figure of 999 was halved to around 499 for a lifetime connection last year and slid drastically to Rs 99 a few months ago. This offering at a stunning low of Rs 49 which has been introduced by BSNL, is the latest in the seemingly competitive price and tariff war among cell phone companies to woo subscribers.

However all lifetime plans of BSNL are actually with a validity of six months and have to be topped up with a recharge voucher of Rs 50 after every six months to stay connected. This effectively means a charge of a paltry Rs 9 per month to remain connected to their network.

BSNL Maharashtra and Goa also launched ‘General Starter Pack" with Prepaid sim card' at Rs.20 only with talk time of Rs10 and Validity of 50 days.

Goa Casinos floating in troubled waters

The troubles of the casinos in Goa seem to be just heading for the worst. After being given an ultimatum by the government of Goa to shift the casinos to the Aguada bay, four casinos had approached the high court to seek its help in redressing their grievances.

However there are more challenges in store for the casinos to operate.On Tuesday, the Food and Drugs administration(FDA) raided the restaurants of five offshore casinos and sealed them for allegedly operating without licences. The move apparently followed a complaint made to the administration in this regard. Barring the Caravela, the other five casinos have been sealed for the alleged offence.

There was another problem in store for the casinos as well. The Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) has served notices on four offshore casinos to close their operations due to their generation of hazardous waste such as used oil, under the Hazardous Waste Management and handling Rules by the GSPCB. It also cites a particular Supreme Court order directing the state pollution control boards to close such units which do not comply with the rules

The notice is reportedly served in the names of casinos M V Leela, , M V San Domino, M V Caravela and M V Pride Of Goa.

In addition, all the six floating casinos currently operating in the Mandovi have also been served notices under the Water and Air acts to apply for permission within seven days or face the consequences thereof.

The copies of the notices have also been forwarded to the Panjim town police Inspector and the Collector who have been directed to ensure the suspension of the vessels with immediate effect.

Goa celebrates Gulalutsav in Zambaulim today

It is best described by the colour pink which is the colour in vogue at Zambaulim, a picturesque village on the banks of the river kushavati about 21 km from Margao which comes alive today by extending Goa's version of Holi to mark a centuries old tradition of Gulalutsav during the festival of Shigmo in Goa.

Goa's commercial capital of Margao therefore wears an unusually deserted look with many business establishments take the day off to celebrate Gulalotsav in Zambaulim.In earlier days this festival used to last atleast for a week with shops shut down in Margao . However in modern times the festival is mainly is a day long affair for the citizens of Margao. However the festival still goes on for a week in Zambaulim.

The deity which is called "Lord Damodar' is worshipped predominantly by the Saraswat Brahmins among  the Hindu business community and on this day they make it a point to feast and worship while also colouring each other in gulal( pink colour).

According to belief, during the early conquests of the Portuguese in the 16th century, it is believed that the deity of " Lord Damodar" was taken from the city of Margao and sheltered in Zambaulim. Before taking it to Zambaulim it was briefly kept at the Keni house in Comba Margao.Till this day, a coconut is first worshipped at this residence where thousands of devotees gather before proceeding with religious fervour to Zambaulim. Owing to the origin of the deity and the whole shifting from Margao to Zambaulim, the people from Margao consider it their obligation to take part in the Shigmo celebrations biggest ritual in Goa, the gulalutsav all the way to Zambaulim.

The week long festivities start with a coconut puja on Wednesday or Thursday from the Keni house and the religious procession leads to Zambaulim where the mahajans of the deity "Lord Damodar" hand over the running of the temple to the Madgaokars ( residents of Margao) for a week and take it back on the last day of shigmo during the Dhul-bhet celebration. Thousands of devotees are also offered meals throughout the week.

Plays, Humourous one-acts and skits are performed by devotees from Margao while the deity is brought and kept in front of the temple.Before the start of the plays, certain prayers are recited which has a kannada narrative style with some words in the kannada language which clearly traces back on the influence of the southern state of Karnataka on ancient Goa.

While the annual "natak" starts at around 2 am in the morning on Tuesday, in the afternoon, the deity's palkhi  is taken to the Ramnath temple situated nearby at around 3 pm and the deity is smeared with gulal by the members of the sabha thus marking the beginning of gulalutsav when devotees shower paint balloons or paint bombs on each other as the entire place becomes a sea of pink and red.

One of the most important rituals on gulalutsav is the ritual of the navro vakal which is a unique marriage performed at every Shigmotsav in Goa and may be a depiction in satirical form of current events or common events.

Donations also pour generously during this whole event and run into lakhs of rupees with traditional donors from Margao donating every year on a faithful basis. The otherwise quiet village of Zambaulim suddenly comes alive with this festival with fairs and eateries springing up with devotees flocking to the temple for the next 10 days after the gulalutsav.

Portuguese passport documentation process for Goans

In my earlier post I had mentioned about the documentation required to apply for the Portuguese passport for Goans. Here I will dwell in detail on the points to be noted while pursuing the documents.

The documents required for Goans born before 1961 is explained here. Also the documentation required for Goans born after 1961 is enlisted here.

For those born before 1961 the first item in the list is the Indian passport. To make the Indian passport, you will have to go to the passport office which is located at Panjim at Patto centre. Buy a 10 Rs form and fill up all the details or take help from the special help counter in the passport office. Don't go to touts standing outside the Passport office building, as the people inside are paid by the government of India to help you. You should get your Indian passport within a month after completing formalities such as Police verification etc.

(1) Indian Passport
To make the Indian passport you will obviously need your birth certificate as one of the most important documents. Make sure that your name is correct on your birth certificate. Else make the necessary correction in your birth certificate right now. Whatever mistakes occur in your passport are going to give you problems at the Portuguese consulate or Portuguese authorities.So when you get your passport verify that all details match with your birth certificate. If there is an error, rush to the passport office immediately and get it corrected.

Also if you are a married female, don't get carried away by your sense of love for your husband to borrow his surname for yourself. Atleast dont do it for the Passport. According to Portuguese law, your maiden surname is your surname. Thats final. Husbands surname does not automatically become your surname as far as the Portuguese civil law infers it. So if your maiden surname before marriage was Sequeira and your husbands surname is Mascarenhas, your surname still remains as Sequeira.And that is how it  has to be seen on your Indian passport

(2)Police Clearance Certificate
Next document required on the list, is the Police clearance certificate. This certificate is to be obtained from the police head office in Panjim. An application costs Rs 100 and has to be submitted after duly filling it along with 2 photographs. The process takes over 4-5 days as the Panjim Police refer to your local police station to verify your antecedents and once you appear at your local police station they will send a report to Panjim. The Panjim office subsequently issues the certificate which has your photograph pasted on it.

(3) Birth certificate Teor
Next is the job to obtain copy of the Birth "Teor". The "teor" is the original record of the birth or marriage recorded in writing .For the Birth "Teor", you need to go to your civil registrars office and apply for the same. The Birth "teor" costs only Rs 10 and is normally available within 2-3 days provided your "teor" exists in the birth register. Unfortunately most birth and marriage Teors have been destroyed due to mishandling by the sub-registrar's offices in Goa and also due to the transportation to and back from the Archives of Panjim. If you dont get your birth "Teor" in the civil registrars office, the next option that the office places before you is to get your birth teor from your local Church records. Once you get that Teor, they will endorse it and give it as their own ratified document.

(4) Residence Certificate
The residential certificate is to be applied with the talathi at your mamlatdars office or at your Panchayat depending on your current residence.Two passport sized photographs are required to be submitted along with the application. The talathi is expected to verify your residence and then issue the certificate. the procedure takes around 3-4 days.

(5) Additional proof of residence
For the document of additional proof of residence it is best to provide a document among the first three options of school/college/employment or church. The first three are preferable since it is a more reliable proof whereas the Church document is available without much avenues of verification.

(6) Original Document
The last document to be submitted in original is the original document of Portuguese era. The type and nature of that document is explained here. Try your best to search for this document in every way possible. Most often such a document will be found at your place of employment in the Portuguese era. Even if you feel it may be a remote chance, you should make attempts to try and locate some record or the other.The Portuguese consulate in Goa does not accept an application without the original document. So this is the most important part of your process if you are submitting the application in Goa.

For those born after 1961, in addition to the above documents, you need to furnish copies of Assento de nascimento of the parent registered in Portugal, his/her original Bilhete identidade ( only for verification and not to submit ), birth certificate of the parent not registered in the Conservatoria in Portugal and Death certificate of the deceased parent(s)

Translations
Once you get all the documents you must ensure that they are all readable in Portuguese. Normally all documents before 1961 are available in Portuguese. After 1961 gradually English had set in and therefore if you have the English documents,  you need to translate them into Portuguese and attach the translation to each English document.The only document that you do not need to translate is the Indian passport document. It is just to be furnished in its English version.

For translation services, there are several people available in every nook and corner of Goa and a visit to your civil registrars office will give you many such leads. If not. try going to a Notary's office  anywhere in Goa to get contacts of Portuguese to English translators. Normally advocates and Notaries in Goa have the maximum contacts of such people.

Attestations
After translations you need to attest the documents . First with the Notary, next  the Collector and lastly with the Under Secretary - home department. While there are several Notaries available everywhere, try locating someone who has the lowest fees. The fees to attest a English document range from 50-70 Rs while a Portuguese document attestation may cost you around 90-120 Rs. There are several Notaries in this range of fees which are available both in Panjim and Margao. there is no point paying exorbitantly for notarising your documents as all Notaries in Goa are acceptable to the consulate.

After notarising, you need to make an application to the collectors office listing your documents and get the documents attested with the collector. the process may take a day or two depending on the availability of the collector. The fees here are Rs 100 per document.

For the Under secretary's office, you need to go to Porvorim at the secretariat and locate the home department where again you need to make an application similar to the one at the collectors office and submit your documents for attestation here. Each document attestation costs is Rs 100. After attestation, which takes around a day or two, you are ready.

On your appointed date, go to the consulate in Panjim with all your documents and take a token number. You may have to wait for half a day sitting in the consulate untill your number is called out. Once you are called you will first have to attest the documents and then the  documents will be accepted for nationality process.Attestation of each document currently costs Rs 719 and is under constant revision.

Good Luck to all Goans

Goa Beaches - Dona paula Beach

One of the most famous beach haunts of Goa , the Dona Paula Beach has got a history behind its name. Some refer to the Dona Paula beach as a 'Lovers' Paradise' due to the love story associated with this beautiful beach in Goa which incidentally ended in tragedy.

The beach is believed to get its name from Dona Paula de Menezes, daughter of a Viceroy, who reportedly committed suicide at this Beach when she was objected by her family over her marriage to the man she loved, thereby ending her life by jumping off the cliff.

However there are also a few other theories doing the rounds in Goa relating to her death and the Beach. Some claim that her spirit is still seen to be emerging from moonlit waves wearing only a pearl necklace.

The Dona Paula Beach has also been a favourite with bollywood with many movies having been shot at this location, the famous among them being “Ek Duje Ke Liye” starring Kamal Hassan and Rati Agnihotri. Given this added attraction, Dona Paula Beach has become  the most popular tourist spot in Goa.

Where is Dona Paula located
Dona Paula is ideally located at the place where two of Goa's famous rivers, the Zuari and the Mandovi meet the Arabian Sea at the secluded bay of Dona Paula which provides a fine view of the Mormugao Harbour.

Located at around 6 km from the capital city of Panjim and nestled on the south side of the rocky, hammer-shaped headland that divides the Zuari and Mandovi estuaries, this former fishing village of Dona Paula is a big draw among tourists from all over the world .

An idyllic spot to relax and sunbathe, there are Water scootering facilities  also available over here. The beautiful setting with swaying palm trees and casuarinas make it one of the foremost tourist attractions in Goa.

Added Attractions
The National Oceanography Institute is located nearby . This institute was set up in the 1960s has various interesting artifacts dealing with marine biology and oceanography and incorporates almost all the major branches of the subject.. The marine biology museum and the Taxonomy Reference centers are among the major attractions of the institute.

Raj Bhavan
The official residence of the governor of Goa is the Cabo Raj Niwas at the Raj Bhavan , which is located close to the beach on the westernmost tip of Dona Paula and is a major tourist attraction. Along the road leading to this place lies the ruins of the small military cemetery the British built at their brief occupation of the Cabo, to deter the French from invading Goa.

You can get a magnificent view of the Aguada fort and the coastline from here. The tomb of Dona Paula de Menezes is housed in the Cabo chapel.

Other Beaches
The Miramar beach and the Vainguinim beach are in the closest neighbourhood of the Dona Paula beach the nearest beaches from Dona Paula.
River Cruises on the Mandovi and Zuari are very popular among tourists. The main attractions near Dona Paula Beach are Reis Magos Church and the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary where people regularly take excursions.

Beach Activities
With its tranquil and blue ambience, Dona Paula unravels the aquatic sport and fun within you. Dona Paula abounds in water sports activites and there are lot of facilities available here for the same. The Dona Paula Sports Club offers water-scooter, cycle, and motorboat rides. Other water sports include windsurfing, parasailing, water-skiing, toboggan ski-biscuit, skibob, sports fishing, snorkeling, harpoon fishing, kayaking, and yachting.You can thus have a gala time at Dona Paula.

The annual water sports festival is held here in November. Shopping enthusiasts can look forward to a wide range of seaside goods, garments, Feni - the local liquor, Port wine, and handicraft items.

Temperature
Temperature variations throughout the year are mild in Goa. May is the warmest month with a temperature of around 30degrees C and January tends to be the coolest with a mean daily temperature of 25 degrees C. Due to its proximity of the sea, the territory is generally humid and in the summer months humidity is generally high.

How to get there
Dona Paula beach is located about 6 kilometers from Panjim. The nearest airport is Dabolim, 33 kms away.

The Karmali railway station is the nearest station which is located at a distance of around 20 km.

Frequent buses are available on a regular basis from Panjim. The taxis , auto rickshaws and motorcycle pilots are available in plenty.

Accommodation
A large number of accommodation options are available in the vicinity of the beach. A good resource to book accommodation in advance is "Goa living styles" where you can book accommodation in advance online.

Excursions 
Approximately 9 km from the beach is one of the oldest churches built in Goa, the architecturally rich Reis Magos Church. It is dedicated to the three Magi (the wise men of the East) Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar who, according to the Bible, were guided by a star to Bethlehem to greet the newborn Jesus. This church was once the residence of all dignitaries and a mission center of the Franciscan order.
The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is situated on the western tip of the island of Chorao, along the Mandovi River, about 8 km from Dona Paula Beach. Spread over an area of  2 sq km, this sanctuary is a mangrove forest. Local and migratory birds are found here all through the year. However, permission of the Chief Wildlife Warden is required for visitors.

Shigmo showcases Goa's folk dances

The festival of Shigmo has a special place in the hearts and minds of many Goans who believe that it is a form of reflection of the rich cultural heritage of the state of Goa.

In the olden days, Goa was dependent on agriculture very much and Goans used to personally work in the fields to ensure that the agricultural growth is nurtured and nursed to give the desired results of good crops. The winter season was a time of the "Vaigann" crop in Goa and after toiling hard the whole day, the Shigmo celebrations were a mode of entertainment.

Although the festival was a predominantly non-Brahmin ritual, in modern times even the Brahmins in Goa have begun to take part in the festival.

The Portuguese were instrumental in enforcing a ban on the celebration of Shigmo during the old conquests and while the rest of Goa celebrates Shigmo in the month of Phalguna, only Dongrim village in Mandur celebrates the festival by coinciding it with the Carnival which is attributed to the catholic community.This festival in Dongrim is known as "Intruz" which may have been borrowed from the Portuguese word "entrudo" meaning Carnival. The Shigmo which was banned by the Portuguese therefore survived in Dongrim in disguise of Intruz which is celebrated by the farming community of Dongrim just in the same way as Shigmo.

The people of Dongrim have therefore maintained their old age traditions descending to them from their forefathers and have continued to celebrate the Shigmo to keep up to their cultural heritage.

In Goa we have two different types of Shigmo celebrations known as Dhakto Shigmo and Vhoddlo shigmo. The Dhakto Shigmo is known to be celebrated by the people of Goa who live around the Zuari river side whereas the Vhodllo Shigmo is attributed to celebrations from people living by the Mandovi river .

Folk songs form a large part of the Shigmo celebrations and in Canacona, villagers invoke their deity by singing folk songs in praise of their gods.The folk songs are very common and are sung with the tunes inherited by these people from their ancestors and are known by practically everyone in the village.

The villagers come together with a variety of folk performances on the full moon day. in he Poinguiinim constituency, including Loliem and other villages of Canacona. The Velip and the Bhagat family faithfully observe the "Viramel" every year. The "Viramel" is a peculiar martial art form which is observed form the ninth day of Phalgun to the full moon day.

The tradition of the Bhagat community is to wear a white dhoti and a turban while holding a sword and carrying a broom of a peacock feathers . Their procession  visits every house to the beat and tune of the "dhol", Jaghat", "taso" and a horn known as "shing", in a performance which is a ritual.

The "tonyamel", "Talgadi" and "Goff" are the other rich folk dance traditions mainly performed by the male artistes, at the Shigmo in Canacona.

Goa's Gardens to be bold and beautiful!

Beautification of Gardens in Goa is the latest fad that seems to have hit municipal corporations in Goa at last. Ambitious projects to beautify the Margao and Panjim Municipal gardens have gone underway with both the bodies aiming to restore and improve the beauty of the gardens to its rightful glory.

The forest department which undertook the project of the beautification of the Margao Municipal Garden has almost completed the first phase and the historic and recreational landmark is expected to be open in April 2009 to the public with an addition of amusement facilities as also a jogging track.

The dilemma over the maintenance of the garden was sorted out after the garden was handed over to the parks and garden division of the forest department for the beautification process.

The work on the northern part of the garden called the Aga khan park was undertaken at a huge budget of Rs 60 lakhs with provision for crystal and glass mosaic tiles. It is speculated that the crystal and glass mosaic tiles installed in the garden are expected to give the garden a stunning effect which would be a magnetic puller for the people of south Goa to spend their evenings in the garden.

By April 2009 the garden is expected to draw huge crowds once the new look is complete and the garden is thrown open for the public. Besides the new fountains, the extra work involved has been planting of new ornamental and flowering plants, renovation of the old crocodile moat, water proofing, installation of gates, joggers track, new swings, raising glass avenues, adding new infrastructure for amusement etc.With the garden abounding in greenery, romance and photo shoots are also taking precedence in the new look backdrop of the garden

The Agha khan park of the garden was named after Aga Khan during his visit to Goa before liberation of the state, by Goa's last Portuguese governor general , Vassalo e Silva in the year 1959.

The Panjim Municipal Garden also known as Garcia da orta will be also restored to its original glory by October 2009. The corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP)has already forwarded the bid for the restoration to the PWD for its approval and the work is expected to commence by mid -April 2009.

Goa's gardens are finally expected to look vibrant and hospitable to the Goan crowds and to tourists alike.

Is bad governance ruining Goa?

That is the question heaping on Goan minds for a long time with the state continuously being ravaged by issues which are affecting the common man most undesirably.

The latest issue plaguing the state is the sense of disregard for the rule of law expressed by the government of Goa in the promulgation of an ordinance to save a city hotel from the sword of democles hanging on their head after the supreme court gave its verdict to demolish a part of the hotel.

The final verdict from the citizens is being formulated in this case.Large rallies, signature campaigns, approaching the supreme court and other such options are being debated by citizens in a bid to infuse some sanity into the rabidity of such a arbitrary decision. Why do the citizens have to intervene in something in which the government didn't have to?

Going backwards, its a case of flips and flops in simple governance. There seems to be no application of mind on anything and every issue is being treated with scant imagination and foresight. In fact its not scant. It seems to be nil imagination.

Some time back we had the issue of granting Goa university the status of a central university. The government unilaterally took the decision to ask for central status without weighing the pros and cons for a small state like Goa which had only one state university.

Many debates later, the government was twiddling its thumbs when the realisation dawned that in a central university, the selection of students and staff is based on an all-India merit and not on basis of domicile.Soon enough the embarrassing backtracking began with the government rewinding it earlier decision and withdrawal efforts were in full mode just when the bill was awaiting the final nod in Parliament. Wasn't it prudence to deliberate on  the decision of granting the central university status in advance before a suitable committee? Who is to be held accountable for such messy foresight?

The regional plan 2011 hatched with the sole motive of destroying Goa's ecological balance and land resources for petty gains of a select few in power, was another shoddy attempt of the government in bypassing stated norms of seeking a consensus from the citizens.

However despite its best efforts to push the regional plan in its rotten form, the government had to secede to the might of the people who forced it to rescind its decision in the favour of the people. Couldn't the government think in favour of the people on its own? Why did the government take Goans for granted? Where was its aam aadmi slogan hidden?

The SEZ's were another high handed exercise foisted on Goans by this toothless governance.In a fit of excitement, favourable to many, 14 SEZ's were brazenly approved for a tiny state like Goa which is already grappling with scarcity of land. However when the people rose in unison against this short-sighted destructive exercise, the government woke up from its wanton slumber.

Not only were the policy on SEZ's withdrawn but the three notified SEZ's were denotified much to the disappointment of central leaders and other experts in the field.Why did the citizens need to wake up the government from its sleep? Who is responsible for the lack of application of mind to allow SEZ's in Goa? Was a social impact study done on the matter? What a farce!

The IT park in Dona Paula and the Food park in Betul are the other mismanaged and arbitrary decisions of the government of Goa which are lying in cold storage after spending a lot of money on the projects. Why are they opposed. Rather on what grounds were they proposed? No one knows any answers. None are given.

The riddle of the continued existence of the sea demon " river princess" despite the protests of the citizens and the continuous denudation of the coastline due to its destructive presence does not seem to move an inch of an effort at solving the problem. All mega projects are being vociferously pursued but the destruction of Goa through the benevolence of the mega demon River princess is being merrily watched by our government for over 7 years. Who is accountable?

The mega projects and its subsequent fallout with almost every village panchayat gram sabha in Goa opposing huge projects which have been planned without adequate study and management or procedures or infrastructure to support these projects is another big failure of the government of Goa to either have the stomach to lay down guidelines or solve the vexed issue or rein in the offenders and corrupt bureaucrats.

The term" mega projects" in Goa is currently construed as anything in concrete which is opposed tooth and nail. In the absence of any guidelines or roadmap, what else do you expect?

It seems that the government of Goa has forgotten "what is governance". Leave alone it being good.

Goa's romance with football

A good game of football is sometimes all that a Goan would wish for to make his day. The tiniest state in the Indian union, Goa is a force to reckon with on the national level in the field of football with players  from the state donning national colours regularly.

Goa's love with football seems to be a natural bond as if it runs very deeply in the Goan blood. The very mention of a soccer game can get droves inside the stadium at Fatorda with people from all over the state of Goa flocking to watch the excitement with bated breath. Lusty cheering and rejoicing at the scoring of a goal is something that Goans have learnt to excel in, over the years.

The love of football has essentially descended from Goa's colonial rule of the Portuguese. Portugal which is passionate about football is to be commended for leaving a lasting legacy of soccer on Goans to remain with us for the rest of our lives. 

So besides large states such as Bengal, Punjab and Kerala are our only worthy competitors in football, Goa's domination of the sport is much more credible given the small size of our state as also fewer facilities to hone our soccer skills.

Goa is the home of prestigious clubs which have made the state proud and have also pocketed every football championship in the country including the National football league. Goa is therefore more synonymous with names such as Dempo sports club, Salgaocars, Sporting Clube De Goa, Vasco sports Club, Churchill Brothers among others who have kept the Goan flag flying high.

No sport is as important to Goans as football is and therefore the sustenance of these clubs has been beyond economic reasons. In fact unlike major soccer clubs  in the western countries or even in the rest of India, either make a profit out of the game through their brand image and merchandising of their products or are showcasing their corporate image for the sake of publicity, Goa is in a different league altogether.

The prime reason why football remains to be a strong reason for Goan clubs to pursue, is merely passion for the game. The hunger and place of pride in Goan hearts for football is the sole motivating factor for all clubs in Goa to survive modern times. Despite the sport draining the resources of the club owners, football following has gone from strength to strength thereby egging these clubs to remain in force despite all odds.

It is no wonder that cricket in Goa is a secondary sport despite it being such a craze in the rest of India. For Goans it simply seems that football is a more dominant sport with a far larger following . This has been the reason why the government of Goa has declared football to be the official sport of Goa.

However the standard of football needs to be upgraded desperately. The world stage is a different arena and Goans just like the rest of India are found wanting on that stage. Goa has to therefore nurture and groom talent at an early stage and employ the services of experts from the international field to take Goan and Indian football to a new level. Enough time has been lost in playing football in fields and open grasslands. India has made strides in almost all fields for the world to take notice. It is high time, that Goan football and Indian soccer finds its own place under the sun.

Its official : Goa is exotic indeed!

It was none other than the international travel website tripatlas(dot)com which has vouched for Goa to be the fourth in a list of the ten best exotic places in the world for a long stay and extended holiday destination.

It is astonishing that the website rates Goa above Florida in the USA,canary Islands in Africa, Phuket in Thailand and Bali in Indonesia which are all considered as favourite hotspots for tourism in the world.

While listing Goa as the fourth best destination, tripatlas notes as under.
"Goa is a hot holiday spot for Indian and South Asian vacationers and is best known for its beaches, festivals and ancient temples. It was once a Portuguese colony and thus offers an eclectic mix of both east and west. Calangute and Candolim are the most popular beach towns
but Goa's capital and city, Panaji (also Panjim) is worth a visit, as is Ponda, a sacred site of Goan temples."

This is yet another feather added to Goa's cap in the unending list of accolades that Goa has received over the years for being the most beautiful destination in the world.

Hope Goa can live upto its new found reputation.

Goa casinos want courts to intervene on where to float

Close on the heels of the Leela hotels which went to court over the letter of the captain of ports directing it to shift its vessel 'M V the Leela" from its current position to the outer anchorage at Aguada bay within 15 days from the receipt of the letter, it was the turn of another floating casino, "the pride of Goa" who also decided to take recourse to legal action through the High Court of Bombay at Goa, seeking relief from the decision of the government to shift the casinos to the Arabian Sea.

The petition was heard by the High court at Goa and the government was directed by the court to reply to the petition filed by Goa coastal resorts and Recreation, challenging the notice sent to "pride of Goa" to shift the casino.

The argument of "Goa coastal resorts " was that they have obtained all the necessary permissions from the captain of ports to operate on the Mandovi and as such they cannot be asked to relocate.

The Advocate general on behalf of the government informed the court that the shifting of the casinos to the Aguada bay was necessitated due to the heavy traffic experienced by the Mandovi, from ore carrying barges and cruise boats, where the casinos were posing a serious navigational problem for these other vessels.

The next hearing is expected to be on march 19

Anti-ordinance meeting. Goans thunder!'

"People against Ordinance" is a new group which took birth yesterday  as the seething anger against the government move to bring out an ordinance to prevent the partial demolition of the Cidade de Goa was brought forth at a meeting where the politicians of Goa and the Governor of Goa Mr Shivinder Singh Sidhu came in for sharp criticism from a host of speakers.

The public meeting which was called by the "Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA)" was held as a prelude to a larger agitation brewing up in the hearts and minds of Goans who clearly felt completely let down by their elected leaders.It was therefore tentatively decided at the meeting that a large rally would be held somewhere around 21st  March at Azad maidan Panjim. The confirmation of the exact date is however awaited.

Among the many avenues of staging a protest on the promulgation of the ordinance, various speakers spoke about the need for students and citizens of the state to write to the Supreme court of India, apprising it of how the government of Goa had bypassed its orders to demolish part of the hotel.

The speakers stressed that no politician from Goa had opposed the ordinance and expressed fears about the large scale illegalities in Goa which would have such blessings regularly. Fr. Maverick Fernandes of the Council for Social Justice and peace,  felt that all MLA's need to be met personally and urged not to support the ordinance in the assembly. The ordinance which has been approved by the governor has now got to face the test on the floor of the assembly in the forthcoming assembly session.

Indicating that the ordinance had far reaching consequences, speakers implored on the need for highlighting the issue on a national level with organizations from around the country invited to take part in the protest.

Venita Coelho, another speaker also noted that the ordinance would not be able to save the other structures in CRZ areas and that the public needed to be educated about the ordinance to realise that the two issues were exclusive to each other.

The meeting was attended among others by well known fashion designer Mr Wendell Rodricks, ex-MLA Mr Mathany Saldanha, Mr Avinash Bhonsle, Fr . Maverick Fernandes, Adv. Norma Alvares, GBA member Mr Praveen Sabnis, GBA convenor Ms Sabina Martins and former convenor of GBA Mr Oscar Rebello.

Ravindra Bhavan: Goa's white elephant?

The first five months of operations at the much hyped cultural centre, Ravindra Bhavan, at Margao is mind boggling. An estimated sum of Rs 72 lakhs have already been spent on various aspects of this centre which raises the question whether the Ravindra Bhavan is biting more than its share.

At a disclosure in the last assembly, the chief Minister Mr Digambar Kamat who himself holds the portfolio for art and culture informed that the government spent a sum of Rs 13,85,579 on the inaugural function followed by cultural programmes from July 20 2008 to August 1 2008.

The salaries of the staff till december 2008 accounted for around Rs 41 lakhs itself while Rs 11 lakhs have been spent on electricity charges . An amount of 6 lakhs are shown towards security services while miscellaneous charges were spent on water and telephone.

It may be recalled that the Ravindra Bhavan has been built at an estimated expenditure of around 21 crores. The Chief Minister had subsequently ordered all the seats of the main auditorium to be replaced as they were found defective and the cost incurred for this replacement was another 38 lakh. Also a further amount of Rs 38 lakh was also spent towards the water fountain by the Public Works department.

Which brings us to the question, are structures such as the  Ravindra Bhavan, Goa's latest breed of white elephants?

Goan Beaches - Picturesque Vagator beach

The Vagator beach is one of the famous beach destinations of Goa and should not be missed . Only clifftops and parched grasslands extending to a couple of kilometres, separate the Anjuna beach and Vagator beach.

A disoriented  array of rickety farmhouses and contrastingly refreshing vintage and picturesque old Portuguese bungalows scattered around a network of  green lanes, the village is entered at the east via a branch off the Mapusa Road, which runs through  a few small guesthouses and restaurants before venturing down to the sea.

When it comes to scenic beauty, Vagator beach is undeniably one of the best beaches in the world and a natural pride of Goa. Embellished with the red ramparts of the age-old Chapora Fort, Vagator's broad white sandy beach - Big Vagator Beach also known, as "Little Vagator" is undeniably beautiful, just like the various picture shots of it that you might have seen in the unmistakable picture postcard.

The 500-year-old Portuguese Fort at Chapora helps you rewind into memory lane representing the Old Portuguese era. This fort was actually built by the Adil shah of Bijapur and later taken over by the Portuguese. Some love to hike upto this fort and you will have  to scale some blackish rocks to reach up. However once up there the tiredness and fatigue will disappear when you begin to digest the stunning view with a wide expanse of greenery and the blue sea to catch your eyes

For a secluded feeling of Vagator, the Ozrant beach is more ideal and to get there, you got to  head to the next cove south. Backed by a steep wall of crumbling palm-fringed laterite, the Ozrant beach is much less accessible than either of its neighbours. To get there, a ten minute walk from Big Vagator, or better still a drive to the end of the lane off the main Chapora-Anjuna Road, from where a footpath drops sharply would take you to a place down to a wide stretch of level white sand. This place is more sedate and also accomodates a fresh water pool.

Towards this southern end of the beach, a row of temporary makeshift cafes provide shade and sustenance for a predominantly Israeli crowd as Vagator is quite infested with the Jewish population. Being relatively underdeveloped, Vagator is a relaxed, and that seems to be its major appeal to budget travellers who have ample time on their hands to fall in love with the ambience of this wonderful beach.

Accommodation is limited, however, and tourists  frequently find themselves travelling to and from Baga every day to find a suitable place to stay.' Goa Living Styles" is a good resource to find appropriate accommodation in Vagator.

How to reach Goa Vagator beach
The only airport in Goa is at Dabolim, which is 29 km away from Panaji. Panaji is another 22 km away from Vagator beach in Goa.

If you are travelling by road, Goa Vagator beach is at a distance of 9 km from Mapusa, and 22 km far from the state capital Panaji. There are frequent buses to Panaji and Mapusa from Vagator.

By train, the Thivim station is the closest station to Vagator

To get here from Calangute or Baga, it is best to take a taxi or a motorcycle taxi as there is no direct bus.

Shopping at Vagator Beach
Fish is abounding in plenty in Vagator and there  is a market nearby where you can buy it from. Also plenty of Goan artefacts are also available as also Goan sea shell articles.You are also able to find stuff made out of exquisite blue china, bamboo woven baskets and designer earthen pots. Goan delicacies such as Goan coconuts are in plenty and being the Goan variety the water is very sweet and the coconut - simply delicious.

Eating Out at Vagator

Vagator's has many restaurants and cafes along the main road and the back lanes that lead to Ozrant Beach. There are also some delicious seafood places behind Big Vagator Beach, one or two of which serve Indian dishes in addition to the usual fish rich Goan curry rice. Nightlife focuses on the Primrose café, out towards Anjuna, which boasts of a good sound system, and a later bar. They also have a foreign  exchange license as well.

What to do when you go to vagator

The charm and splendour of Vagator is limitless for the avid nature and beach enthusiast. What holds and beholds the charm of Vagator is difficult to say. A perfect place to unwind in spite of the hustle bustle of the tourists, Vagator is a relaxed tourist destination and still fairly virgin in some ways. Its a perfect getaway if you plan to spend your holidays in calm surroundings reuniting with yourself or with a loved one. There is a rocky area where a face of the Hindu Shiva has been carved on a sea side boulder by some unknown sculptor and the sculpture is indeed some good work put in .

Chapora fort - what ,when ,how

A small part of the famous movie " Dil Chahta Hai" was shot here.its the scene where Aamir khan, Akshaye Khanna and Saif Ali Khan , come together on a fort-top facing a beautiful expanse of the sea.

Welcome to Chapora fort. Built in 1717 by Goa's Viceroy to protect Bardez from Marathas, Chapora fort is a delight to those who manage to climb it. But the journey paved by lava bedecked black rocks is recommended  only for the fit and fine hearts. Once you manage to scale up the fort, then the view from the fort will spellbind you beyond expression. The sight of the ocean, palm infested hills and paddy crop fields from such height is just awesome and memorable.

Vagator Springs - get in

The fresh water springs are another interesting feature of Vagator which is rare to find on a beach side so close to a beach anywhere in Goa. There are two fresh water springs in Vagator, one is at North Vagator beach past the rocks where the beach seems to end at the foot of the hill. The other one is in Ozrant and a bit difficult to locate. It's called by the name of "zor" which means spring in Konkani. It is a nice feeling to wash off the saltiness of the seawater after a swim and to lie under the flow of the spring for some freshness.

Chapora village - grassroots

The rural life in Goa is always a beautiful sight and is a clean ambience most of the time. Chapora is no different and  watching rural life of Chapora is an attraction for tourists.  There are many houses of Portuguese era which are worth looking at. Tiny cottages with gardens full of lemon, purple and fuchsia colour give this village a very pleasant feeling. Watching  the fishermen venture out into sea in their traditional attire with their chanting is a nostalgic sight and in the evening the womenfolk and children gather in colorful attire to welcome them and celebrate their catch is a delight to participate. The simple life which the people of Chapora lead takes you far away from the hustle and bustle associated with urban areas

Goa and Geographical Indications (GI)

Goa has reportedly managed to get Geographical indication for its brand of Goan Feni after seemingly being blind to the need of the same. A few other products of Goa are also currently in the news to be in queue for the GI tag.

However one wonders whether Goa is actually dragging its feet in acquiring the GI tag for a host of Goan products which desperately need to be protected against impersonation by other vested interests in India and the world, thereby threatening our sense of identity with these products or names.

WHAT IS GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION
The Geographical Indications Registry was established by the Ministry of Commerce in Chennai as per the Geographical Indication of Goods ( registration and Protection) Act 1999.

Under this act, agricultural, natural or any manufactured goods originating or manufactured  in the territory of a country or a region or a locality in that territory, where a given quality reputation or other characteristic of such goods is essentially attributable to tits geographical origin and in cases where such goods are manufactured goods, one of the activities of either production or processing or preparation of the goods concerned takes place in such territory, region or locality, are registrable as geographical indications.

The Registrar of geographical Indications determines whether a particular product is registrable under the GI norms , after the receipt of application for such registration is given.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS
Geographical Indications registration gives to the registered proprietor and its authorised users, the legal right to the exclusive use of the GI and also the right to obtain relief in case of its infringement. Exclusion of unauthorized persons from misusing GI would ensure that genuine products of the rightful producers are marketed

IDENTIFICATION OF PRODUCTS
However Geographical Indication cannot be claimed merely on an application. It is important that the "items" in question  have a specific geographical origin and have the  essential qualities that can be assigned as being from that place of origin.

Unique characteristics are also measured for GIP( Geographically Indicated Products) and are used to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods from a particular area or region which has a special quality characteristic based on various factors including climactic or specific production characteristics which may be unique and distinguishable to that area

A geographical indication therefore helps to convey to the consumer or the user, about the knowledge of the product origin related to a particular place which makes it inherit certain  characteristics that are due to that place of production.

WHAT SHOULD GOA DO?
It is therefore very important for Goa to identify all the products either agricultural, manufactured or natural, within the state and prepare a dossier to study before some select committee so that the right items can be chosen to apply for Geographical Indicated Products. The government of Goa needs to put this committee immediately in place and evolve a credible policy and plan for identification and registration of all the Goan products which deserve GIP thereby saving Goa from the onus of being unscrupulously copied in various fields by vested interests.

WHAT ARE OTHER STATES IN INDIA DOING
While Goa is basking in its glory of tourism at the moment we might e suddenly left with our legacy in the wrong hands and thereby be strangers to our own products unless we stand up. States such as Himachal Pradesh, Madhya pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan,Gujarat Tamil Nadu,  Kerala,Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, have a plan and policy already in place and have got GIP status for their local products. Accordfing to teh Ministry of commerce the followng items from these states have  got registration as GIP . they are Pochampally Ikat (Andhra Pradesh); Chanderi saree (Guna, Madhya Pradesh); Kotpad Handloom fabric (Koraput, Orissa); Kota Doria (Kota, Rajasthan); Kancheepuram silk (Tamil Nadu); Bhavani Jamakkalam (Erode, Tamil Nadu); Mysore Agarbathi (Mysore, Karnataka); Aranmula Kannadi (Kerala); Salem fabric (Tamil Nadu); Solapur terry towel (Maharashtra); Mysore silk (Karnataka); Kullu shawl (Himachal Pradesh); Madurai Sungudi (Tamil Nadu); Kangra tea (Himachal Pradesh); Coorg Orange (Karnataka); Mysore betel leaf (Karnataka); Nanjanagud banana (Karnataka); Mysore sandalwood oil (Karnataka); Mysore sandal soap (Karnataka); Bidriware (Karnataka); Channapatna toys & dolls (Karnataka); Coimbatore wet grinder (Tamil Nadu); Mysore rosewood inlay (Karnataka); Kasuti embroidery (Karnataka); Mysore traditional paintings (Karnataka) and Orissa Ikat (Orissa).

ITS TIME FOR GOA TO ACT
Goa has a wealth of products which we can and should apply for in a mindset which needs to show some urgency. From Goan chillies to Goan mangoes, from Goan cashew nuts to Goan rice, From the Goan coconut vinegar to the Goan onions , from Goan brinjals to Goan pickles there is absolutely an open sky when it comes to the amount of products which are dying for the Geographical Indication.

It would take another post to list out the details of each of these products which are desperately calling the attention of the government of Goa.

Xittuk Goencar

Shigmotsav - Goa's brand of holi

Holi a pan-India festival of our country India, which is a riotous celebration of colours has begun to dissolve state boundaries and  although it was prominently celebrated in Northern India, it has successfully made inroads inside Goa.

However while urban Goa may have finally fallen for the charm of Holi being the universal Indian festival of colours, the Goan brand of Holi continues to reverberate and grow stronger every passing year with the sound of drums echoing in villages and wards of Goa.

While Holi is a day long celebration, Shigmo or Shigmotsav in Goa spans for atleast a fortnight and is considered as one of the prominent festivals of the Goan Hindu community.

In some places in Goa, Shigmo is celebrated by the rural masses in the close religious association of religious rites with the festival accompanying the fanfare of drumbeats and imitations of mythological characters.

While some consider it as a harvest festival. others consider Shigmo as a festival bidding adieu to winter and welcoming the onset of summer on Goa. Spelling fun and frolic, the Shigmo festival has its unique identity in Goa and is celebrated on the full moon day in the Phalguna month( March), the last month of the Hindu calendar.

On the fifth day of the festival, is the Rang Panchami day- the Holi. Historically only red and blue colours were known to be thrown at each other in Goa on this day. However, now with the advent of influences from the Indian version of Holi, other colours have also made their way.

Goa's traditionally rich culture of the ancient times is known to be best showcased in this festival and the dance forms such as romtamell and ghodde modnni are in full flow. Places such as Quepem in the south and Sattari in the north are traditionally known to be the toppers in the list of shigmo celebrations with the maximum revellers in these areas.

In some communities like the Velips of Canacona, the Shigmotsav festival starts with "naman" when the villagers offer a complete obeisance from the 9th moon day to the full moon day and abstain from any kind of non vegetarian food or intoxicating drinks. On the 11th day upto the 15th moon day the villagers dress themselves in colourful clothes and celebrate different hues of spring by displaying multicoloured cloths, torans, flags and red diwjas.

Dancers of all age groups march from door to door  with Dol and tasha or drums with people offering them arthi and money to these dancers and the dancers later sing a song for the donor of the house.

The villagers normally play folk forms like tonyamel, chaurang, Aarati, Fugdi, Ghode Moddni, Goff dance, Mussal khel and romel dance which people identify easily.

These rustic rituals are therefore embedded very deeply in the Velip tribe of villages in Goa and the dancers are often accorded a huge reception  by the villagers.

The float parades is another facet of the Shigmotsav festival when the mythological floats take centre stage for the rest of Goa to witness the various depiction of characters and living styles etc.

So as Goans sprinkle colours and revel in the Shigmotsav celebrations, it has to be remembered that it is the Goan version of a much larger scaled celebration against the pan-Indian celebration of Holi.

Goa church calls out to people to vote wisely

Advising people in Goa to exercise their franchise with utmost sense of responsibility after a thorough reflection and discernment process of the political situation in the country, in the upcoming General Lok Sabha elections,  the Archbishop Patriarch of Goa and Daman  Rev. Felipe Neri Ferrao, urged the people of Goa to favour those candidates who can empower the electorate of Goa with the right to recall their elected representatives on grounds of non-performance, corruption and lack of personal integrity.

Responsible and accountable governance being the need of the hour, the Catholic Bishops conference of India(CBCI) have also appealed to the voters to exercise their voting rights judiciously to elect good representatives.

In a detailed analysis of the prevailing situation in the entire country, Bishops all over the country have highlighted the insensitive nature of political leaders towards the suffering of those people who are at the mercy of their policies.

The special reference was made to the special Economic zones (SEZs), exploitation of natural resources, constant disruptions of assemblies and parliament by needless walkouts and adjournments, lack of respect for presiding officers, passing of bills without sufficient discussions and the criminalisation of politics.

The appeal also decried the global and external terrorism, the delay tactics of the state, intolerance towards the creative artistes, idolisation of money and power displacing Goa.

The bishops also urged the electorate to ensure that their names are included in the voters list and the need for choosing candidates without any criminal background or record.

Goa CRZ violations issue causing sunburns?

The decision of the high court to push the sarpanchas of the village Panchayats in Goa to act in conformance with its directives of identifying and demolishing violators of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) in Goa has thrown up plenty of meetings, resolutions and demands from the affected owners of such establishments.

The Goenchea Ramponkarancho ekvott (GRE) an association of Goan fishermen, have already given a 15 day ultimatum to the government of Goa to solve the problem as regards to the notices issued by various panchayats around the state for demolition of houses which fall within 200 metres  from the high tide line ( HTL) or face the consequences.

A reported 13,000 odd houses or establishments run the risk of being demolished due the notices served on them all along the Goan coastline in which an estimated 70,000 people claim to be residing at present.

Urging the government of considering December 2007 as the cutoff date for the purpose of regularisation, the GRE general secretary, Mr Mathany Saldanha implored the government to bring an ordinance to legalise the residential houses of fishermen and other coastal people thereby saving their residences.

Some other speakers reasoned that the Goan fishermen have been residing along the coastline since the colonial rule and cannot be asked to displace themselves as their livelihood depends on the sea.

Taking a dig at the government the speakers lamented that although the government promulgate an ordinance to protect jobs of 500 people in a Dona Paula based five star hotel, over 50,000 people people who are traditional fishermen of Goa residing for ages along the coastline are bring asked to abandon their age-old homes.