As the Easter season progresses, many villages across Goa are a witness to two or three-day tiatr festival. And these festivals usually proceed after the church or chapel feasts celebrated with gaiety in the village.
Many villagers eagerly wait for such colourful events as they get a rare opportunity to enjoy tiatrs at their doorsteps. And the ticket rates too are very nominal so that the young and old can come and enjoy the evening.
But now, there’s a nine-day mega tiatr festival happening in Cuncolim beginning from April 24 till May 2. And unlike in any village, there are nine tiatrs to be staged in the village, and that too free of cost.
The Rising Club of Sanvorcotto is organising this event in a big way. This is the 14th Summer Tiatr Festival organised by the concerned organisers at Nafarem, Sanvorcotto, Cuncolim and they expect a huge crowd for the fest.
Throwing light on this unique event, the chairman of the club, Sammy Tavares says that they had been organising such events annually in the village. “But this concept of staging nine tiatrs for nine consecutive days is very unique. And people will get to enjoy all the tiatrs without paying a penny from their pockets,” he shares.
“Tiatrs are very dear to us Goans,” Tavares continues, “and during vacation or free time people wish to come, sit, relax and enjoy live entertainment, wherever they are present.” “So our committee decided to organise a 9-day Summer Tiatr Festival and we thought of staging nine tiatrs from nine different noted directors.”
“The parish priest of Cuncolim parish, Fr Jude Coelho blessed the event and social worker, Dr Prakash Kurade inaugurated the festival,” Tavares states. “Apart from the live entertainment on stage,” he says, “there will be bumper housie everyday with loads of surprises for the spectators.”
This year, this nine-day festival is organised in memory of late Dalino and Philomena Gama and supported by their sons, Niranjan, Nedloyd and Nigel. The Rising Club of Sanvorcotto comprises the chairman, president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, sports secretary and cultural secretary, besides several active members in the organizing committee.
“Earlier, we used to have such tiatr festivals in our village,” Tavares says, “but it was always a two or three-day festival and people would flock to watch and enjoy the shows.” “Taken up by the audience response, we decided to have a nine-day tiatr festival and we expect more crowds from the neighhbouring villages as well,” he says.
