Goa police to be boosted with 300 AK 56 rifles

The Mumbai terror does have a few positives in the horror’s aftermath. As a seemingly clear fallout of the weak terror response in Mumbai and in a bid to strengthen the security preparedness in Goa, the security cover here, is most likely to be boosted as was evident from the Goa home Minister Mr. Ravi naik’s promise made at a meeting with over 100 policemen .

The proposal of the Home Minister to purchase 300 modern weapons such as the AK 56 rifles or INSAS guns and bulletproof jackets to equip the Goa police with the latest armoury must have sent a lot of relief to the under-armed police force of Goa. The procurement is expected to cost around Rs 15 crore and the requirement is expected to be made as soon as the permission is obtained from the central government. Mr Ravi Naik also mentioned that in case the centre fails in providing the same then the state will raise the money from its own resources although he insisted that the centre was very promising in financially helping the state.

The Home Minister spoke about his concern at the security threats facing the country and the readiness of Goa to face any eventuality including the readiness of the coast guard, Goa police and the Navy. He also briefed about the directions given to beat groups to check the antecedents and the credentials of various households in goa, seeking a detailed report on crimes etc.

The home minister also expressed his approval for periodical check-ups for police personnel above 40 years to ensure their physical and mental capabilities to undertake the immense pressures of the police force efficiently.

Arambol beach- a distinct flavour of tranquility

Also known as the harmal beach, the arambol beach is located in the Pernem taluka in the Northern part of Goa around 17 km to the north of chapora and around 35 km north of Panjim.

Arambol abounds in natural beauty largely because the area is relatively quieter than other beach areas of Goa. The population of the area is a few thousands and is only increased by the flow of tourists every year.
The beach at Arambol extends from the portion of the headland, just north of the village, to Mandrem, about 2km. to the south. Actually this beautiful and wide, palm dotted beach continues pleasantly until it reaches the Chapora river on the south of Morjim about 8kms.away.
The main road that runs through the arambol village terminates on the northern end of Arambol beach thus atracting a majority of people and the major beach shacks and restaurants are therefore located here.
Accomodation is absolutely cheap either in local houses run by families or in small huts scattered around the rocky headland and small bays on the northen side of the beach. Recently some modern hotels have also found themselves placed in this area although there is a resistance from the locals to refuse permission to hotels in order to maintain the serene beauty of the place.
A taxi or a bus is the best way to reach Arambol and both these means of transport are available from mapusa and chopdem and various tourists from India and people or picnickers from goa especially enjoy the peace and tranquility of Arambol .
The beach has one part which has a fresh water lake closer to the sea, and is beautifully enclosed between low hills that hide a spectacular Banyan tree. Owing to its tranquil and peaceful nature the beach naturally attracts many international tourists, particularly tourists from Israel especially in the winter season between December and February. Many hippie travellers are also attracted to Arambol as they feel at home here owing to the bohemian feeling which arambol gives them and which is no longer found in other areas.

In Arambol the two major communities are catholic and hindu. The Church of 'Our Lady of Mount Carmel' also serves the religious catholics of Arambol and this place abounds in religious harmony. A fantastic place for the world tourist to visit and get lost in tranquility.

Goa does a mock drill to test terror response

A mock crisis management was in practice yesterday at the Hotel Leela in Mobor Cavelosim . The mock drill was taken to assess the effectiveness of the forces to counter terrorism in the state.

It was a scene taken straight from the last week’s Mumbai horror. Two terrorists take over a starred hotel and lay siege to the hotels gym and spa, when the hotel calls up the police and soon enough police and commandos engage in a hour long operation which also involved the staff of the hotel assisting the fire personnel department in extinguishing a fire in a simulated exercise.

Choppers flying, commandos in full gear, fire department in readiness, airlifting of injury hit staff, etc showcased an operation of the Goa police, the coast guard, and the navy, which was a first such mock drill in the state, following the centre’s direction to focus on co-ordinated approaches to stave off future attacks from the sea.


Such drills are reported to help see the effectiveness of the system and enable to identify the shortcomings in the preparedness to face such an attack by creating a terror like situation and exerting the resources to a near practical situation to get an actual feel of the combined response to ensure that in any eventuality of facing a terror situation, the response action is not found wanting.

Meanwhile tight security continues to be in place at most of the hotels which are on high alert, ensuring that Goa is absolutely safe for everyone to travel and remains as the most favoured destination for the world tourist .

42nd Goan mando festival in full glitter

If you thought that the younger generation in Goa was deserting goan tradional music and song then you could be well wrong. In fact there is a steady increase in the number of groups forming up to participate in such festivals which included the young and the old.

The above was amply demonstrated at the 42nd Mando Festival organized by the Goa cultural and Social centre in collaboration with the Department of Art and Culture and Kala Academy took off to a glittering start with around 37 diffeent groups participating in different categories including the children, tennager, seniors-with original compositions, dance and traditional categories.

The very fact that the number of participating groups have risen from 30 last year to 37 in this year was clearly demonstrating the love and belonging noticed in the younger generation whoi seem to have taken over from the older generation.

In fact participants of last years’ children’s category who had enthralled the audiences have graduated to the teenager category this year thus promising a continuance of their brilliant association with the festival.

Incidentally nine new mando compositions had simply added to the suspense and excitement a the festival.

The Goa Tourism Development Corporation has expressed happiness at the Mando festival and assured its help and support for its development while calling for help from other quarters. Mr Phaldessai termed the mando as the ‘love Song of goa’ and expressed happiness that the mando found acceptance in the younger generation and in turn nursed Goan culture.

On the inaugural day the particiapants were “bhurgeancho Naad, Suadik Naad and Merxechim Sobit Fulam, all from Merces partricipated in the children’s category while Merces group “firgojecho saad, St. Xavier’s Collegicho Naad, mapusa and Nuvemchi mannkulam Motiam, Nuvem participated in the teenagers category

In the original composition category9senior) Merces Firgojhecho saad, Merces, Suadik Naad, Majorda, Harmonizer’s Chorus, Utorda and Nuvemchim mannkam Motiam, Nuvem particiapated.

In the dance category, Merces Firgojecho Saad, Merces and Suadik Naad, Majorda participated.

Kormoinecho Saad, Carmona, Suadik Naad, Majorda, Nuvemchim mannkam Motiam, Nuvem, harmonizers Chorus, utorda and Merces, participated in the traditional category.

The participation of the young and old in the Mando festival clearly shows that the mando has a certain element which moves Goans. The words have a nice amusing meaning and it gives a sense of nostalgia to the old and a feeling of vintage melody to the young. Here’s hoping that the flag of Goan Mando, a traditional love story of Goa, flies high and the culturally rich tradition continues forever.

Goa Govt. relying too much on St Francis Xavier?

For centuries, since the time he had decided to make Goa his permanent residence, St. Francis Xavier is considered to be responsible for the welfare of goa.

The mortal remains of the saint miraculously remain in Old Goa till this date in a casket and the body is kept for veneration for the public every 10 years. However the feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated on the 3rd of December every year.

Despite the entire country witnessing high incidents of terror, Goa has remained away from the terror campaigns of mercenaries, much to the good fortune of Goa and goans. However many goans attribute this to the physical presence of the saint in Goa which Goans consider as the soul of protection casting its safety over Goa and its people. This perception is shared among all Goans irrespective of caste creed or religion. I have met many hindu Goans who have themselves professed this faith very strongly without any hesitation.

However it seems that the local establishment and machinery of the government of Goa is lax and taking matters for granted due to this same faith. It seems that the security apparatus of goa also believes that St. Francis Xavier will take care of Goa and seem to have left the burden of Goa’s security on him. Everytime someone asks the establishment about the security preparedness ( which is laughable) they promptly tom tom about their full preparedness which is far from true. They should however know that God helps those who help themselves and ensure that Goa is fully prepared to face any eventuality.

Following are the facts wherein Goa mysteriously escaped from being hit by terror.

(1) In 2006 the biggest scare followed the arrest on March 11, 2006, of Tarique Jalal alias Tarique Batlo, a Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen terror operative , from the Margao railway station. He was reportedly in possession of one kg of RDX, two electronic detonators, two Russian-made hand-grenades, two cameras and a mobile phone. Why did his operation fail with so much ammunition at hand?

(2) Shamim Ahmad, a suspected activist of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET), was arrested on March 30, 2006, at Jelenabad in Gulbarga, Karnataka,He reportedly resided in Goa. Maps of dams, a mobile phone an AK-47, couple of hand grenades, and location maps of power grid installations, some audio-video cassettes and printed material in Urdu were reportedly seized from him. These arrests indicated the possibility of the presence of sleeper cells of Pakistani and Kashmiri jihadi terrorist organisations in Goa.

(3) The SIMI which has been known to have fundamentalist objectives is reported to have shifted some of its members in Goa owing to lax security in Goa. The outfit is reportedly facing lot of problems in Gujarat and Karnataka and therefore find a safe haven in Goa where their antecedents are not checked or verified.

(4) The Goa police has often sought reinforcements after obtaining intelligence from the centre about threat perceptions especially during the IFFI in November 2006. Para-military forces were then requested to enable them to provide effective security during the International Film Festival at Goa and during the holiday season. The reported threat was related to the LET and the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JEM), both Pakistani jihadi terrorist organisations known to be close to the Al Qaeda . However nothing untoward happened in the wake of these reports

(5) Shivraj Patil the then Home Minister had mentioned in 2006 about the critical Infrastructure in India being under serious threat from the coastline and subsequently the media widely speculated of the possibility of a threat of maritime terrorist attacks directed at the Goa shipyard in Goa.

While no terror attacks have ever taken place in Goa, no attempts have been made and none foiled either. However Goa and Goans need to be extremely vigilant and proactive. We cannot rely completely on the state to do the job all by themselves. We need to provide them with all our help and support. Any unclaimed objects in buses, trains, pavements, near bus-stops, garbage bins , suspicious activities of people, strange new residents, unknown tenants in the neightbourhood, arms suspicion etc need to be reported with utmost urgency. Our vigilance can save our state.

After all we cant put our patron saint Francis Xavier under so much strain to look after us when we are completely succegaad. Vigilance and proactiveness is the key. May Goa always be safe and sound for one and all.



Xittuk Goencar

Its bouncing business for Goa's Security firms

One mans poison is another man's food. Or so it seems. The Mumbai terror and the anti-terrorism wave coupled with the enhanced security concerns all over the country and especially goa has given a boost to the demand for security personnel and equipment in Goa.

With goa being high on the radar of the terrorists, the security firms in Goa are busy catering to the high demand for security personnel and security and surveillance equipment.

Places where crowd frequency is high are the most insecure and are scouting in desperation for extra security thus ensuring high demand of the security agencies in Goa. Clubs, discos, pubs, restaurants, cinema halls, dance venues etc where there is a high crowd concentration are areas of high risk, as perceived by the state establishment and thus these places are being given utmost attention by the owners of the places themselves. Moreover these places are constantly frequented by tourists from all over India and the world and therefore exposed to a higher degree of risk thereby necessisating higher demand for security.

One hopes that the current festive season passes off peacefully and Goa is saved from any attacks whatsoever.


Xittuk Goencar

The Baga Beach

After Calangute, the Baga beach is probably the most popular beach in Goa. A place made famous by the hippies in the seventies, the baga beach is a favourite haunt of tourists who visit Goa. Some opine that baga is an extension of Calangute which may be true since the two beaches are in absolute close proximity to each other.

Located down the creek at the quieter end of the Candolim-calangute beach stretch, it simply completes the trio of Goa’s super beaches and is a must to visit. Hotels and guest houses abound in this place since it is a regular destingation of tourists. One can even walk around the cliffs to Anjuna in case hiking interests you. On the way you are bound to find a small secluded bay and beach shack aptly called "Cliffs" perfect for stopping for a bite or a drink. Calangute is within walking distance in the opposite direction and incase your legs are weak to make the walk, there is ample transport to take you there.

How to Reach baga
Baga beach can be reached easily from Mapusa and panjim by buses, cabs auto rickshaws and motorcycle pilots. It is around 10-12 kms from PanjimThe Baga beach is blessed with a beautiful scenery and this is the best place to test your photography skills as you are bound to come up with a nice picture.! The Baga River flows into the sea near the beach and at the junction of the river and the sea, one can see a rock abode against which the waves continuously crush themselves giving a fresh lease of life to the place every few seconds.

Nightlife in baga
Baga beach has the most vibrant nightlife in the north of Goa and is frequented by tourists. From all nationalities. Titos’s which is synonymous with Goa is a favourite haunt and it seems to be the complete den of disco and the complete night hangout for many tourists who swear loyalty to it for years. There are also numerous other discos and pubs to choose from.

What to see
Baga's is known to attract people simply to its world famous beach. Enjoy a relaxing day and watch the water sports activities.

What to Buy
While tourist souvenirs are all over the place, leatherware shops too make some brisk business. Opticians are a good bargain for various types of glasses which could be quite expensive in Europe or elsewhere. There are a few of second hand book stores as well where you can get fifty percent back on returning the book. Books are available in atleast a dozen European languages

Where to eat
Baga beach has plenty of food places and eateries and one can find some of the best range of restaurants in Goa located at baga. swanky pizzerias as well as roof top cafes that serve amazing espresso coffee are also in neighbourhood with Italian, goan, Mexican, thai and continental cuisine. there is one for almost every budget including some ridiculously cheap places. Baga beach is famous for its beach shacks that serve local cuisine which is absolutely scrumptious and some even offer fresh catch of seafood. Recommended places are

Brittos – Known for seafood , meat platter and mouth watering desserts
Sousa Lobo’s – A favourite traditional place for great seafood and traditional goan food. Very popular
The Cavala Seaside Resort, Baga Road has barbeque nights with loads of entertainment
J & A's Little Italy, across the Baga River along Baga Creek Road. Servessuperb Italian cuisine ina nice ambience.
Lario's Beach Shack, is located at the top end of the beach
Fiesta is a classic though bit expensive place for Italian cuisine that is well worth the bite. Great food, lovely ambience and excellent service makes it a good bet for any occasion.
Casa Portuguese ia a classic place for Portuguese cuisine
La Resturaunt, Baga Road – toast champagne with French cuisine .
Mooncrest – on the road to the beach is also a fab place

Other details
The road leading to baga beach is dotted with shops and establishments of various types and it is good practice to have a walk down the road to check the stuff. There is also a tattoo shop and if you want some scene of Goa tattooed onto your arm for that permanent goan experience it could be your haunt as well
Happy Bagaing!

The Agonda Beach – tip of paradise

Welcome to the Agonda beach. If you are looking for solitude and the ability to breathe alone in a mad world full of traffic and crowds, you have come to the right place. The Agonda beach is a strip of sand merged into the sea. Peace and tranquility seeems to be the pride of this beach and one can literally fall in love with the music of the waves and the sway of the palm trees.

Where is it located
The agonda beach is located in south Goa and is after the palolem beach at canacona. Buses do not ply on this route to the beach and so the road to the beach is best approachable by a two wheeler. At the moment the beach is relatively a quiet location gien the fact that there are no commercial establishments close by. It is therefore the right location to chill out and enjoy.

Cabo De Rama Fort
One can see the beach on one side at agonda whereas the other side is mostly dotted wityh small hills giving the place a beautiful look. A little away from the beach is the historic fort known as the Cabo de Rama. Most often people in Goa call this beach as the Cabo de rama instead of Agonda beach. The Cabo de Rama is an old fort in ruins and it is believed that the mythological Rama featured in Valmiki’s book Ramayana, camped here during his exile of 14 years. There is also a nice chapel near the fort and it gives a nice look to the entire place.

How to make the most of Agonda beach
Put up a tent, light a small campfire, and let your senses rule. If you are not that adventurous, you may also rent out a beach hut. Beach huts are available on rent at the beach at affordable prices. It is a more secure way to enjoy your night especially if your family is holidaying with you. You are bound to love the visit to agonda anyway.

Wish you happy holidaying at Agonda

Goa’s Regional plan – misery untold

The controversies associated with the Goa regional plan are refusing to part away from it. Since the time a draconian proposal called regional plan 2011 was being forced unsuccessfully down our throats, the subsequent papers which are being reluctantly circulated among the masses of Goa by the government after bowing down to Goan public pressure, through the village Panchayats, are meeting with stiff resistance thanks to the vigilant citizens of Goa.

Never before has such unity been observed in Goa for the benefit of our land and the bodies of the village panchayats are in for a irritating surprise at the way the citizens are attending the meetings and vocing concerns about the plan and its effects on the village. The chorus now seems to suggest for a extension of time to discuss the features of the plan in more detail and try to understand the plan better before accepting or rejecting its designs.

7th December 2008 was therefore an important day for many Goans in many village panchayats who had special meetings to discuss the regional plan. From Nuvem, to aquem baixo, to colva till carmona , from Navelim, to velim to Benaulim in south Goa the regional plan was a bone of contention at all meetings.

Some panchayats were upset about the absence of any TCP( town and country planning) officials at the gram sabha meetings to enlighten the villagers about the intricacies of the regional plan, while pointing out discrepancies.Some other panchayats have asked for more time to aact on the matter while expressing diaapointment in the interpretation of the plans which has failed to show the locations of some water bodies reservoirs etc .

While the colva gram sabha has been vociferously seeking explanations about the haphazard construction activities which are harmful for the village, mega projects continued to rock the Benaulim gram sabha for the umpteenth time.

The gram sabhas have indeed proved it utility for the lay Goan to voice out his resentment about the toxification of goa before it is too late.

Nostalgia with Goan Feni- Our brilliant brew

The Goan Feni is known to hold more memories and attachments to the average Goan than being a mere intoxicating drink. For people outside Goa, the Goan Feni is being looked upon as a drink which identifies Goa with a stupor of drunkenness. While this is a miserable myth, there is no denying that the Goan Feni and Goa have become synonymous with each other given the history of its origin.

I have been used to people outside Goa asking me “ Tumhara feni bahut achha hai na?” kind of questions and it always made me wonder how this brew from Goa has become so famous with people outside Goa.

The Goan Feni thrill
While the ambience of Goa being a clean and culturally rich place with bountiful nature and sunkissed beaches gives one a feeling of peace and tranquility, the Goan feni blends with this climate with a belonging that only Goa could offer. Many have fantasized the Goan feni in the hands of a sea drenched fisherman who landed a super catch of fish and decided to celebrate by helping himself to a peg of Goan feni and renting the air with some verses in Konkani either from goan folklore or the recently composed village ballad. Celebrations and Feni have been a part of goan joy. However intoxication with Feni is a myth especially in modern times where such excesses with the brew are avoided.

The goan feni has found its way into many world markets including the USA, Europe, Australia, Canada and even the latin Americas. With the latest certification this brew will finally get its rightful palce among the brews of the world which have a distinct origin. It will also remain to be the favourite drink for most goans who carry memories with Feni and the very mention of it to Goans abroad sends feelings of goan fervour and nostalgia.

While Feni still remains the favourite sip before dinner for many a goan, it is bound to acquire a special status given the Governments latest upgradation of the brand to a geographical origin brand which will give Feni international recognition and help it to retain its geographical origin which is Goa.

Two Varieties of Goan Feni
To many a visitor or a tourist, the Goan Feni is the same. However to the regular goan tourist , he will know that the goan Feni is of two distinct types not be be mixed with each other . While Feni is a local brew distilled out of local sap, the sap itself is from two different sources and so two different brands of Feni are blended in Goa.


The Feni made from the sap of coconut fruit stalk which is known as” toddy’, has the final product of “Maddancho” or the Coconut Feni. However the other feni is made from the cashew fruits which are crushed and the resulting juice which is known as “niro” finally produces the” Cajuncho” or the Cashew Feni. Both the varieties have distinct tastes and are of medicinal value and known to heal people of chronic ailments in conjunction with other herbs etc. Both the varieties need a detailed procedure of preparation and while the coconut feni is being produced throughout the year, the Cashew Feni is essentially produced during the cashew crop which is from march to July .

The process of Feni preparation
The process of making the “cajuncho” or the cashew feni involves a very dedicated effort. Firstly the cashew apples are manually crushed or crushed under modernized crushers mostly atop a rocky basin cut out especially for the crushing process. This basin has a route made for the flow of the juice crushed from the cashew apples. (This juice is known as Niro and people often love to drink this juice directly as it has a delicious tase. However it needs to be had fresh before fermenting). This juice is then poured into an earthen pot which is buried inside the ground to enable the fermentation of the juice

This juice is next collected and distilled in copper pots. The same juice is heated and the vapours are collected in a cooling condenser. These first distilled vapours form the “urrac ” which is also marketed as a summer drink itself.However for pure feni the The distillation process is repeated three times. While the first distilled juice obtained is known as Urrack, which is of a very low strength and is not too heady, the second distilled drink is known as Cazulo which is a slightly stronger drink than Urrack. However Cazulo is not popular and is hardly sold in markets. In fact Cazulo is a stranger to goa and is known only to the brewers. The final juice that comes out after distiliing for the third time is very powerful and highly intoxicating and is known as Cashew Feni. The cashew Feni being a product which has gone through the rigours of three distillations, has a pretty long shelf life is enjoyed much by people. Though some prefer to drink the Feni in a neat gulp others would prefer blending it with beverages such as sodas and lemon juice, etc. Good Feni can be recognized by its strong aroma and the connoisseurs of this drink will be able to recognize its quality only by a whiff of its aroma at the mouth of the bottle. Various cocktails are made with this superb brew since it has a very wide taste base.

May the blend continue to be pure and unadulterated and may it always be enjoyed within limits without excessive addiction . In the next post on Goan Feni I shall try to post some cocktails made with the great brew

Xittuk Goencar

Goan Cuisine – Pork Vindalho

Goan cuisine in most catholic dishes is essentially a blend of Portuguese and goan styles. Pork Vindalho is a traditional Goan dish made with pork in a red, pungent gravy

The ingredients are as under
· 1 kg lean pork cleaned
· Salt to taste
· 10 dried red chillies/peppers
· 10 peppercorns
· 10 garlic cloves
· 1 inch piece ginger
· 8 cloves
· 1 inch piece cinnamon
· 1 tsp cumin seeds
· ½ tsp mustard seeds
· ½ tsp sugar
· ½ tsp vinegar
· 2 tsp oil
· ½ peg coconut feni
· 2 medium sized onions chopped fine
· 2 cups water

Method of preparation
Cut the cleaned pork into bite sized pieces. Apply salt and keep aside.

Grind all the spices in the vinegar, adding the ½ tsp sugar. Apply the ground spices to the meat and keep aside for 4 hours.

Heat the oil in the pan on medium heat and add the meat. Stir fry the meat for 5 minutes, then add the chopped onion, coconut feni, rest of the vinegar and the water gradually. Cover the pan and lower the heat. Stir cook till meat is tender and the oil rises to the top( approx 30 minutes). Your pork vindalho is ready

You can also prepare vindalho with Chicken or beef instead of pork.

Have a delicious meal.

My Goa in Bombay ( Mumbai)

I have been to Mumbai very often and have and even worked there for over a year. My first visit to Mumbai was in 1990 and it was completely for economic and professional benefit and unlike many Goans who love Bombay, I never really did. Bombay ate into my whole psyche as it was. The lack of sanitation and the disregard for your neighbours calamity which for many a mumbaikar is a way of living, never caught up with me. I hopelessly remained the niz goencar ever happy to return back to his land every couple of months with pangs of homesickness of my beloved Goa sucking me out of Mumbai now and then.


But my association with the financial capital of India taught me a squillion things about our beautiful country. Over the years as my visits to Mumbai grew I have been able to understand the various things which actually make Mumbai a wonderful place for almost everyone to be in. Mumbai seems to have a ready answer to many of the country’s questions and therefore finds itself to be such a great destination for people from almost every walk of life, from all parts of India.

Mumbai's tough lessons

Mumbai taught me what Darwins “ survival of the the fittest” theory really meant, something that my school teacher failed to explain at school. The hustle and bustle of reaching to work by jumping over sleeping scavengers and running through a muslim graveyard and in fact over graves to catch the train at marine lines, the clamour to obtain a place to install a single foot in over packed trains, the struggle to grab a train seat before somebody else squeezes between your pants, the red double decked buses, the duping syndicates thirsting for victims in the otherwise beautiful Churchgate,, the desperate need for bargaining skills without which you can be conned hollow , the pick-pocketing mafias operating with one hand on your shoulder, the queue for lip smacking pao bhaji’s, the taste of the home-made Bombay street kulfis, the tile drumming singers in the trains ranting out melodies at random for a donation, , the truants of rickshaw-wallahs refusing to go short distance, The cheating cabbies who forget to refresh the meter untill it is too late and you are driven around the same building for the third time, the helplessness in the face of clap-happy eunuchs who promise to get fresh unless you freshen your purse, the chor bazaar which could have your shirt which disappeared last week appearing there for a fabulous discount , the famous fashion street offering all meagre folks’ some rich clothing, Crawford market loaded with stuff for which thare is a beeline from every part of India and the road leading to it infested with crooks moving in the streets , chira bazaar and dhobitalao where the goan air was always there etc etc.


All of the above few experiences made me a battle hardened person in Mumbai and I learnt most of the things the hard way. However looking back on it I do feel that everyone needs to have a hands-on experience in Mumbai to really get the feel of what Mumbai is capable of. Like they say, Mumbai has a place for everyone. You will find people sleeping peacefully in the din and clatter banging into their ears and you will also find nightbirds throughout the night as if Mumbai had a answer for everybody’s sleep and everyone’s insomnia.

Mumbai's smaller Goa

During my stay in Mumbai I was mostly confined to the urge of securing accommodation in the places most infested with Goans as I always felt the need of that little Goan belonging. Most often my residential haunts used to be the bustling and almost perennial Goan habitat of Dhobitalao. But at some point or the other I have also found myself residing at places in marine lines, chira bazaar, charni road, grant road and mazgaon . Later on I did move to the suburbs where again the goan presence was strong. Places like mahim, Bandra, Khar and malad saw me picking up accommodation at different times . All places which caught my interest in Bombay were the places where I could go to the local church on Sunday and find the the familiar wanton chatter of Goans around me. I felt at home in such places. . It was rather strange. I would bump into a goencar whom I would hardly wish a greeting back in Goa. But in that alien place called Mumbai I was willing to hug him, put my arm over and push him to join me for a chai at bastani or kayani. Such seemed the desperation to meet and chat with a goan after a hard days' work that I did end up making many goan friends in Mumbai more than my quota back home in the Goa of those days.

Goan konkani in Mumbai
The very sound of Konkani emanating from any Mumbai corner would turn my head as if I was in orbit. And I had to offer my own Konkani dose to those conversations. I don’t think I was alone in this fantasy. All goans I reckon have similar sentiments when they are in different parts of the world. And that is precisely the reason why we find Goan associations sprouting up in every nook and corner of the world where a few Goans find themselves eligible to meet, share and cherish each others company. From the gulf, to the UK, from US to Australia, from Canada to Africa we have not only Goan associations but in some areas we also have goan village associations. Brilliant!


The Goan “Kudds” or clubs of Mumbai is another part of Goa that I am tempted to write about on this blog. However that experience is an unique one and an experience that this post would find longer to take and would therefore require another day. Indeed my days in Mumbai fill me with the nostalgia that I remember till this day and though I cannot say that I miss it, I certainly have some nice memories indeed.

I am currently feeling very sad about the Mumbai terror attacks which left so many innocent people dead, countless injured and some still fighting for life even as I write this. Besides the Taj hotel and the Oberoi trident have been subjected to brutality which fortunately did not result in their downfall.However they bear the hallmarks of our modern day Jallianwalla bagh with the massacre that they witnessed. The Taj especially has a great nostalgic belonging for every citizen and its rampage was seen with bleeding eyes. One hopes that the perpetrators of this heinous crime find themselves punished sooner than later.


Xittuk Goencar

Goa-Your December Getaway

Come December and it has to be Goa. Every tourism hungry traveler and his cousin, sister or relative in India makes a visit plan to this absolutely fantabulous tourist destination. From clergymen to politicians to entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals to business leaders, they all want to escape their maddening schedules and simply chill out in Goa.


Since the seventies, Goa has caught the imagination of tourists all over the world. The hippies having first started the trend of jumping for virgin Goa, it has become a favourite haunt for the world tourist with tourists currently spanning from the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, to Russia, Israel, japan and the list goes on.


For the average world tourist, Goa is relatively a cheap holiday and their single monthly earning could probably earn them a plush holiday in Goa for over a fortnight. The result of such a beeline for goa has burst Goan accommodation at its hips and rooms are hardly available especially during the Christmas and new year weeks.

Why Goa in December ?
Some opine that December is not exactly the right month to visit goa as the rates of all tourism related merchandise or tariffs of hotel rooms or any other excursion facilities are probably at its peak. However the die-hard lover of goa is not bound to listen to that excuse and would simply not want to miss out on the fun and frolic in Goa in December. Our political babus in India are no different. They all like to find themselves where the entertainment is the highest and they are normally in Goa in Decmeber’s last week to celebrate the new Year at the most rocking place In India. The result is that tourists outnumber the Goans during this period.


What does one really long for in Goa? There is fortunately limitless holiday pleasure in store in this place especially if you are an avid nature lover.


Some of the famous discos in Goa are Bamboo Forest disco, Paradiso Disco, Club Cabana Disco, Club Antoos Disco, Hill Top Disco, Club Tito's Disco and Club Extreme Disco.

Goan Hang-outs
If song, dance and music catches you wild Titos in Baga-Calangute, Wild, Congo in Candolim and Club Cubana in Arpora , Paradiso, Loungefly etc are the places to be in. Going to Tito's has become a prestige trip and everyone wishes to head for that den going by its entertainment reputation and in fact Mumbai's page three folks rush in there in droves for its synonymous identity with Goa. The food secondary for them but entertainment is main page.


Culturally being very rich, Goa and Goans are fused with a blend of western dances music fusing with the local traditional tempo which seems to be in the blood for almost all goans. You get a strange feeling of the carribbean gusto in most goans. Ingo's Saturday Nite Bazar in Arpora is also a big draw with a wide show and variety of garments, handicrafts and trinkets and is patronized by one and all.


Cuisine in Goa is absolutely delicious and lip-smacking and will leave you wanting for more everytime. For world cuisine presence, there's Thai, Mediterranean cuisine and the very tantalizing Indian cuisine among others.


But if you choose to be far from the bustling crowd you can opt for a number of smooth getaways. There's the serene Palolem beach in Canacona, the southern tip of Goa with nostalgic goan thatched accommodation on stilts that gives one an exotic flavour .

Want the spice of Goan food?
Then there is the Seagull Resorts in Betul, 17 km from Margao on the road to Agonda. Situated on the banks of the river Sal, it is peaceful and with the jetty nearby (it is at the confluence of the river) good, fresh fish is available and is is quite affordable.River Sal is another hotel nearby so are plenty of smaller joints for good fish. In fact fish as a delicacy is best in Goa’s traditional places abounding in Goa and a normal enquiry on the Goan street about good places for fish should take you there quicker.


Goan food especially the catholic community’s food in Goa is a blend of Portuguese and local ethnic taste. It is tangy, tastefully Spicy and endowed with a nice add of coconut vinegar and therefore quite specially distinctive in taste. Sorpotel had with the local sannas( this is a brilliant coconut toddy and rice bread) and pork vindaloo are favourites on the goan table spread, so is xacuti (chicken) and roast pigling. Pork is naturally popular in Goa as there are anumber of dishes which Goans prepare with pork and freshly slaughtered pork is freely available at every nook and corner in Goa. To add to the appetite a sip of cashew feni, the very pure local brew,can do the trick for your taste buds as well as for your throat andd is used in goa even for medicinal purposes. Some consume cashew feni in place of hard liquor but we advise against it due to the evil of alcoholism as an addictive practice. Having said that the notion that Goans are drunkards is a myth and the common Goan is never seen hitting the bottle.


There is plenty to write about goa which will surely fill many pages of this blog. For now this is good enough reason to get going in Goa. So enjoy in Goa better than last time around and wait for more updates on this blog about Goan people, favourite haunts etc.


Xittuk Goencar

Goa’s daylight land robberies

One thing that the government of Goa never stops doing is brazenly acquiring private land in the name of a developmental project be it roads, factories, playgrounds, market establishments, food parks, IT parks, tourism parks, and any park worthy enough in its name to grab public land. Land losers who part with such land most stubbornly are helpless in the face of government regulations and are at a complete loss as prime properties in most cases are lost. Add to that the agony of losing the land at a rate which is a pittance of the prevailing market rates, and one is left twiddling the thumb and outwitted in fighting the goan establishment and its cronies.


What happens after such land is acquired is quite interesting. It suddenly becomes the unsigned property of the minister, chairpersons, bureaucrats and all their henchmen who are now dealers of this government owned property to melt, mould and make different shapes and sizes of this property at will. All for a very hefty underhand profit.


As things unfold, the original projects are met with resistance from NGO’s( who actually have a noble cause) and locals of the area citing either pollution, migrants, ecology or infrastructural imbalance much to the glee of the above mentioned bandits. These people are now helped by the protests of NGO’s against development projects and therefore stall these projects or scrap them. This was actually the original plan and inciting people against the project is also another subtle ploy of these government land sharks.


So now what happens to the land that was acquired? Ideally it should have been returned to the original owners for a sum calculated with interest if you must. For those unwilling to accept the land back after a specified period due to spending of the money,or lack of funds, the same could be offered to other landlosers of the same neighbourhood area on an auction basis. However none of this happens.


The NGO’s need to know that after they oppose a project in an acquired land , that particular land is still the property of the government of Goa and can be utilized for a project much worse than the original one as long as the booty for the Minister in the chair is good. So the noble job of the NGO or any other social organization does not end with the opposition to the project. The government must be forced to revert the land back to its owners.


Acquired land is the root of many political evils in Goa and fall of government is very often related to such land changing ownership between Ministers as with portfolios. Tussles between the local MLA and the Minster over such land is openly known . They are so excited when they find such land in their possession that they simply don’t know which project to make money out of. And most often than not such land becomes havens of real estate construction activites which is a huge setback to Goa and its crumbling infrastructure.


Goa and goans are still silent on this open daylight robbery by shameless elected representatives at our cost. May they be cursed for every rupee that they gain out of the public land.



Xittuk Goencar

IFFI, Terror and V.P. Singh

Gone by is a very tragic week. But ironically there was entertainment too. Goa was caught between terror, a prime ministers death and films.

While the death of the former prime Minister Mr V.P. Singh earned him a seven day mourning, the death of over 200 citizens in a brazen terror attack did not. While Mr. V.P Singh died a natural death and was expected to pass away, the sudden snatch of death of over 200 citizens is less important for mourning. What a tragedy of protocol.

The terror did not drain the life of IFFI goa like the death of the former prime Minister did and all cancellations of entertainment are officially attributed to his death alone. The trailing line of the Mumbai terror attacks is just the dressing on the salad.

All entertainment was shut and all artistes who were paid advances have to be paid the balance as well. There is however the customary confusion at IFFI Goa even after the event is over.

Meanwhile one hopes that our country shows more respect to its citizens instead of just the political woodstock.

Xittuk Goencar

Saint Francis Xavier – Goa’s patron saint.

Today is the 3rd of December. A state holiday in Goa when Goa and most goans wake up earlier than usual to head for Old Goa in the northern part of Goa to join thousands of pilgrims who may have come from different parts of the world to pay obeisance to the patron saint of our beautiful Goa, our Goencho saib, Saint Francis Xavier.

Masses commence before dawn does and scores of people who have spent the previous night in the tree shade, footpaths or the sides and lawns of Old Goa are pleasantly awakened by the pealing of Church bells heralding the prayer service at the Basilica of Bom Jesus. Having come from far off villages and towns of Goa, goans mingle among the thousands of pilgrims in a sea of the faithful to show veneration to the saint who made Goa his abode.

While the feast day draws the maximum pilgrims, the novenas preceding the day of the feast also draws huge crowds which only increase at the weekend.

The practice of traveling on foot from various parts of Goa and then staying overnight at Old Goa, most often in the sincere cold of Goa’s winter , huddling and cuddling within blankets and woolens is continuing since olden times when public transport was a scanty luxury . People from south Goa would set out before dawn the previous day i.e the dawn of 2nd December and would take an entire day to walk on foot to Old Goa. On the way, the customary stop would be made at Cortalim where pilgrims would eat a small meal most often the goan pez which would enable them to trudge along after crossing the Zuari river ferry to Old goa reaching there by the evening to spend the night outside the Basilica premises to attend mass next morning.

Despite public transport and personal transport having been much leisurely available, many people still walk the entire distance keeping their tradition of the respect to the patron Saint.For many, this walk right upto Old goa is of great significance and they consider the same as a penance and till this day undertake the journey on foot.

While the overnight pilgrims are fortunate to get a place to sit during mass, the continuous stream of peole who attend the service spills over to large numbers leaving them standing. For those who miss the service, or who are unable to reach Old Goa due to physical disabilities, the television media has become a godsend as live television coverage helps these people to atleast listen to the service from afar. However for some die-hard pilgrims visiting Old goa despite all odds is a necessity and venerating the relics of the saint, a must-do.

It is believed that while the whole world may burn under terror, disease or plagues, Goa can remain aloof from all such afflictions due to the generous presence of the Saints’ relics in Goa. This view is held by people across many religions. The protection extends beyond mere saving grace and people believe in a sense of peace and spiritual wisdom filling them when they go to the basilica.

Known fondly by the people of Goa as “ Goencho Saib” the strong historical root of this hand of protection dates back to the times when it was first planted during the Portuguese rule in Portuguese Goa. The Portuguese are believed to have had great faith in the Saint and there has even been an instance when a Portuguese Governor placed a shield in the hands of the Saints body thereby entrusting the defence of Goa to St. Francis Xavier. This historical protection has been therefore received traditionally down the ages.

Ironically thousands of people from different faiths and religions also visit Old Goa to receive the blessing of the Saint as people from many walks of life in Goa strongly belive in the Goencho Saib.

The fest of St Francis Xavier is however not limited to Old Goa alone and is alone celebrated in the parish of our lady of Bethlehem, Chandor in South Goa where the feast is celebrated in the chapel of Guirdolim.

Although St Francis Xavier is considered the patron Saitn of Goa and has lakhs of people in Goa venerating him, the Jesuit priest had spent very little time in amchem bhangarachem Goem. In fact out of his 11 years spent in Asia, the saint spent hardly 6 months in Goa but seemed to have a strong feeling for Goa and also requested for his body to be transferred to Goa after death.

This body which the saint himself wanted to be kept here by his words” I shall not return to goa, my body though will remain here” has remained in Goa for 450 years after his death and still draws millions of devotees seeking peace and spiritual guidance.



Xittuk Goencar

Goan Feni – Our Scotch at last!

Goan Feni has been popular all over the world thanks to the very land of Goa being a favourite tourist destination. This local brew from Goa is envied for its taste and purity by people over the world as it has no near competition. Besides all other so called country liquor made in any part of India is adulterous personified and cannot be trusted like the Goan Feni.


It is therefore pleasant news that this extract from Goa will soon get the Geographical Identification (GI) tag expectedly by early January 2009. The GI is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin – a town, region or country.” Such a sign enables a certification for the product and implies certain qualities or reputation that the product carries by virtue of its geographical origin. Just as Scotch is llicensed to be produced only in Scotland, Champagne in France and tequila in Mexico, the Goan feni will enjoy similar status and the GI certification will thereby ensure that Goa rightfully retains the term ‘Goan Cashew Feni’ and so no other state , region or country can make a beverage with the same name, thereby dusting out the many plans of anxious states like Maharashtra who planned to brew cashew feni.


The Gi certification is expected to give recognition to feni while ensuring that standards are maintained for its brewing process. The brand is therefore expected to be promoted abroad in the same league as Scotch,Champagne or tequila.


Goa and goans have been producing goan feni for centuries . After crushing the cashew fruit , the juice obtained is distilled to produce feni and an estimated thousand cottage industries and traditional brewers produce over 8 lakh litres of feni every year. Being a distinct brand Feni has found good acceptance in India and abroad with over 40,000 cases of feni exported every year all over the world including the US, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.


The government of Goa has classified feni under ‘ country liquor” segment which meant that Feni has not been allowed to be sold in other states of India. However the GI recognition could change all this. Goan Feni will suddenly acquire a brand image and its exclusivity would be its strength to make inroads in all markets making it an USP to promote the product.Also the country liquor tag which goan Feni never deserved, will be shrug off and it is most likely to be re-classified as a traditional drink which it has always been for the niz goencar.

While a bottle of Feni costs anywhere between Rs 75 – Rs 800 depending upon its purity, the prices could rise many folds with the GI certification while also streamlining the process for brewing the brand.

Geographical identification has proved to be a great resource of the World trade organization system which regulates to protect a state’s interest by preventing anyone from patenting a brand without its origin being in that location.

Currently over 40 items have been identified by the government for GI certification and protection which include, spices of Kerala, Kolhapuri chappals, traditional pickles from Andhra Pradesh, , Nagpur oranges, Kancheepuram silk sarees and Darjeeling tea .


Xittuk Goencar

The Goan Pao

From today inflation keeps its date with the Goan pao increasing its cost by 50 paise. A single pao will now cost rs 2.50. A traditional part of our staple diet, goans have witnessed the Goan pao increasing in price over the years and decreasing in size. As a child I remember running down the village lane to the melody of the ‘poder’s” honking and hugging 10 cubes of pao stuck together as a large tablet, for as little as Rs 1. That was somewhere in 1983. Times have changed. 25 years later I am paying exactly 25 times. However the pao is not exactly similar. It has declined both in size and in taste. But the addiction and allegiance to the Goan pao is too strong to switch or allow any other substitute on my plate.

Although times have become more modern and the slice bread has tried to invade our homes posing as the most immediate cousin of the goan pao, it has failed to find the same or near resourcefulness or taste associated with the pao. Indeed just like goan toddy, goan vinegar, our traditional coloured salt from our salt pans called agors, the love that we have for cashew niro, the pride found in the pure brewing of a brand like the goan feni ( which cannot be compared to any corrupted country liquor of India), our delicious and unique baked delicacies, our coconut curry, our sannas etc prove that our nostalgia with Goa has plenty of reason

Those were the days when the poie, the sweet bun (boll) or the undo had a distinct taste. The mere aroma of these buns sent us into wanton desire to have a bite. The pao was often had with the choris( sausage) and the taste was honest and pure. It was an addiction far too strong to be given up. Indeed like me, many a goan is still addicted to the pao and without it, it simply makes the breakfast or the dinner table denied of its rightful flavour.However with times the taste and the aroma of the Goan pao has deteriorated. Call it economical miserliness or poor quality of ingredients, the Goan pao has over the years changed in size, colour and taste.

Part of the reason for this change is also the goanness lost in the Goan pao. Earlier the Goan pao used to be the prerogative of goan bakers mostly from the catholic community. There was a silence of honesty in those days. You could trust whatever you bought from the poder. There was no air of suspicion. However now times have changed. More than 50% of the goan poders have either stopped or leased out their bakeries to poders from outside Goa mainly from Karwar, who have discovered Goa as their brand of Mumbai. The local baker coming to my house is now from karwar and so are all the poders pushing their wares in the cities. Rarely will you find a goan poder and even if you find one, he has already mingled with the rest of his new tribe that his pao is now in stiff competition with theirs and therefore devoid of the taste we once enjoyed.

Having said that I must also mention that the trade of the Goan pao is incidentally passing through difficult times. While lakhs of Goans still rely faithfully every morning on the goan pao, it also offers employment to thousands of poders and direct workers. The industry is hardly recognized and the goa government has shown little interest in improving the lot of the Goan bakers. Incidentally most bakers survived in the business only because they are relying on other baking products which go hand in hand and therefore bail them out against the economics of making the pao.

While other industries are being offered various schemes and incentives to grow, the goan pao and the goan bakers are made to fend for themselves in an atmosphere of rising costs . Since the industry gives employment to thousands people in goa and outside, and considering the addiction and love of the people fo Goa for the Goan pao the goan government should therefore arrange to identify the problems faced by this industry and strive to support their price by way of subsidies on raw materials, fuel etc, so that the industry does not face a crucnch situation which may eventually wipe out this trade and deny Goa their favourite love . The Goan pao

Xittuk Goencar