Over the last few months, there has been
a slew of local events that have reminded Goans of a time gone by, a time where
it was common to see and partake in festivals that were celebrated in the
streets and attended by a large number of Goans. These events were filled with
colour, music, great energy and joie de vivre and were occasionsfor family and
friends from all over tocome together and spend moments steeped in tradition.
The recently concluded Konkan Fruit
Festival at the Opinion Poll Square in Fatorda was one such event that drew in
large crowds. To the older families that were present, it was a throwback to
the festivals celebrated when they were young.
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“There used to be a festival ever so
often but now they have all dried up. So in that respect, the revival that we
see today is more than welcome. Back then, you had the village beat shows, the
beach shows, the Arlem Festival, the Saligao Foxes Nite, the Fontainhas
festival. Each of these festivals had their own unique identity that was
indigenous to the locality and its history,” says Cristavo Marques from Panjim,
who had travelled to Fatorda for the Konkan Fruit Festival.
It was a different time then and would
have been a great moment to go with your family,” reminisces Rebecca Dsouza,
who had come for the festival with her family.
While the Red and Black Night at the
people’s carnaval, Samba Square in Panjim and Bonderam held in Divar still have
that appeal among the locals, the Opinion Poll Square that hosted festive
programmes during Carnival, Shigmo, etc saw calls to revive similar festivals.
Speaking at the Konkan Fruit Festival,
social activist Roland Martins spoke about how the Foxes Night in Saligao
should be held again. Along similar lines, historian and professor Prajal
Sakhardande had recently stressed on the need to have the cultural festival in
Fontainhas, Panjim again.
“These events need to happen as today’s
generation is just getting a glimpse of these events that were a big part of
our childhood. You hear about these events in other cities and countries so why
not here. They can help add to the tourist image as well. Ultimately it is
about a Goan way of life and its popularity among the locals and people
travelling to it is testament about the same.
While others point out that there has
been an attempt to revive cultural festivals that promote Goan culture and
activities such as those curated by Festakar Marius Feranandes, they add that
it is equally important that the signature events are not discontinued.
“Carnival in the old days was about the streets and it
was a wonderful time for the community. Now it is just the Samba Square in
Panjim (and Bonderm in Divar) so it is good that these kinds of events are
spreading to other parts of Goa and this needs to spread and pick up in other
places as well,” adds Roque Braganza from Margao.
