HERITAGE WALKS: NOT A
TREND, BUT A FEELING
The world has been lost among the modern setup of the 21st
century, yet a place like Goa with its epic history stands out from the rest
because of its rich and original Heritage that lies in every aspect of its
infrastructure. Being the land of churches, temples, beaches and forts, there
is so much mystery in every little thing.
Humans like to, need to, leave memorials behind to describe
their deeds to generations that follow them.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
When such Heritage walks are conducted in Goa, it involves
personal observations thus offering various shades of the heritage sites. Also,
the experience creates an emotional attachment to the place, culture and the
values connected to those heritage sites. The interesting fact is, a number of
people are inspired by the heritage of Goa and conduct research on these Goan
heritages like the most recent one ‘Old Goa Revelation’ project, where the
study and preservation of the Shared Heritage of Portuguese Origin and the
insights on the Vice-Roys Portrait gallery were highlighted.
GOA IS MUCH MORE THAN HISTORICAL FIGURES!
Pooja Rani, the Co-Founder of khoj-aao! Adventures profess,
exploring Goa’s backyards as a great way to reconnect to local culture,
traditions and the environment. “The villages across the State provide the
perfect opportunity to learn about what makes Goa so amazing – the
interconnectedness of all aspects of life,” says Pooja.
Goa doesn’t only count in as a place with Portuguese colourbut
in fact has a wide range of nature-oriented aspects like the Dud Sagar,
Netravli, villages in Cancona, and Divar Island. Aside from the obvious
greenery and serenity trees add to our lives, trees bearing fruit and native
plants play an important role in the rich culinary and medicinal traditions
across Goa – Kokum, Coconut, Jackfruit, Mango, Papaya – to name a few, are
represented in every aspect of the local culture.From the beautiful beaches
along the coast, through the green hinterland and undulating plateaus, all the
way to the thick green forests on the Eastern Side, Goa has a rich cultural and
natural history. khoj-aao! Adventures organises offbeat and immersive nature
experiences for nature lovers of all ages
HERITAGE AND EVENTS
Apart from Heritage walks, even certain events bring to light
the ancient history of monuments in Goa. For example, the Ketevan Music
Festival that accentuated Queen Ketevan’s history and how her body was found in
the ruins of St Augustine’s church. Many schools and colleges often organize
these kinds of Heritage walks or treks, to make it fun in order to educate students
and make them well aware about the culture and heritage of Goa. Events like the
Goa Carnival and Shigmo Utsav are a huge part of Goa’s heritage. These kinds of
celebrations need to be preserved for future generations. Thus, we see that
heritage is a very broad term.
TOURISM PROMOTES GOAN HERITAGE
Maria Victor from ‘Make it happen!’-
Heritage trails and Walking Tours, talks about the group’s
unique collaborative approach connecting travelers with local communities and
experiences, and aims at transforming the general clichéd perspectives about
Goa. Tourism is a platform to showcase local creative talent and aspire to
create thriving career opportunities for local artists. Tourism is also a great
way of promoting the heritage of Goa. “Our Heritage Walk give tourists visiting
Goa an opportunity to experience the real essence of Goan culture, heritage and
the warm hospitality of local hosts,” says Maria Victor.
UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT:
One
can see the Portuguese influence in houses in remote villages, in food, and in
language. One of the most famous spots for a heritage walk is a stroll passed
the tiny streets and lanes of Fontainhas in Panjim, where many groups have
conducted numerous heritage walks because of the Latin Quarters; Old
Goan-Portugal depiction in the inner roadsof Fontainhas. Another popular
tourist spot and heritage site is Old Goa, which has so many churches, each
with its own meaning, history and secret. The Golden bell, he growing cross, St
Francis Xavier’s relic, St Augustine’s ruins, Monte Chapel, and more; they all
have a deep values. Following that is Dona Paula jetty that has been used for
many film shoos and known to be a symbolic spot for lovers, after the rumors of
Dona-Paula Statue. Other statues around the city of Panjimlike Abbe Fariaare
placed neatly with the work and title of the respected persons.
