Team Herald
CANACONA: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant inaugurated “Lokotsav-20”, a two-day event organised by Adarsh Yuva Sangh and Balaram Education Institute in association with the Department of Art and Culture, at Amone, here, on Saturday.
The “Lokotsav” being held for the last 20 years apart from portraying the art and culture of the Goan tribal community had various stalls selling traditional medicinal items and preparations.
After formally inaugurating the “Lokotsav-20” by lighting the traditional lamp Dr Sawant lauded the efforts of the organisers for holding the event of such magnitude that too at a remote location in south of Goa.
Adding further, Dr Sawant said that the government will support individual entrepreneurs who wish to start Information Technology related businesses from their own homes and loan will be extended to such individuals to create such infrastructure at their own houses.
This year’s “Lokotsav” had as usual various stalls selling agricultural produce, wild medicinal admixtures, locally made sweets, agricultural implements and horticultural saplings.
Agriculture being one of the main occupations of the residents of the interior Canacona, Agricultural Department has been actively participating and supporting this festival of the tribal communities since its inception 20 years ago. This year, the Agricultural Department had put up its own stall for providing information for availing various schemes on offer to the eligible farmers.
Thousands of spectators who came from across Goa were treated with cultural programmes such as “fugdeo”, “dhallo”, other traditional dance forms and songs of the tribal communities.
Former minister Ramesh Tawadkar, who is behind holding this two-day festival, said that this festival is mostly portraying the cultural and traditional values still practiced and preserved by the tribals living in the mountainous regions of Goa.
Tribal women and men from Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem and even as far as from Dharbandoda were seen selling traditional items at various stalls allotted to them by the organisers.
Those present on the dais were Chairperson of Canacona Municipality Nitu Desai, Vice Chairperson Hemant Naikgaonkar, Councillors Dayanand Pagi, Kishore Shet, Divakar Pagi and Guru Komarpant, Ganesh Gaonkar, sarpanch of Sristhal VP; Zilla Parishad members of Canacona Shanu Velip and Dr Pushpa Ayya.
PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral and Minister of Urban Development Milind Naik attended later in the evening.
During the inaugural function personalities drawn from different fields from across Goa where felicitated by the Chief Minister and other dignitaries.
