Every day is a celebration in Goa but it is always good to have a new venue and date to
celebrate life’s simple wonders. This weekend, the talents of Carmel College of
Women, Nuvem and the villagers of Corlim, Old Goa will be pooled into two new
festivals. The preparations for both started almost a week ago and now the
stage is set for the world to see it.
Headed by Marius Fernandes, Muzgachem Fest
will be celebrating more than music on December 9, 2017 from 11am onwards. On
December 5, 6 and 7, the college hosted workshops in Konkani songs, dance,
ghumott, football, mollea making, tiatr, theatre and traditional games. “There
will be more than 600 students who will be participating in the festival. The
ghumott workshop itself received 62 girls who learnt to play the traditional
instrument. There were various resource persons who helped train this young
talent and on the day of the festival, artists like Alexyz, Clarice Vaz and
singers and musicians like Carlos Gonsalves and Oluv will be joining in. Joao
Carmin Braganza, who is popularly known as Mestri Pai Braganza, will be presenting
20 children who have been trained by him. I was invited by Principal of the
college, Dr Sr Maria Aradhana AC to create a sustainable festival for the
college. This festival is entirely driven by women,” says Marius, a cultural
revivalist of Goa. The festival is organised by the Student Council of Carmel
College for Woemn, Nuvem.
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On December 9, the day will begin at 11am with the kottio dance
and Mollache Fest with the arts workshop in the background, followed by
traditional games and football, Konkani songs and Kunbi dance, a performance by
Oluv, dance performance by Clizma Da Costa, Ghumtacho Nach, mando, a
performance by a Merces band orchestrated by Joao Carmin Braganza and a skit on
social causes. The compere for the day will be Glenis Mendonca and Inoshka. The
students have also prepared a theme song for the festival.
The second interesting cultural festival that will be held on
December 10, from 11am to 3pm is the Ekvottachem Fest at Oesterao Gardens in
Corlim, Old Goa. This first festival in the village will unite the different
communities that are living together in harmony. The villagers from each ward
will be divided into two groups to prepare musical and folk dances. “The
villagers are very enthusiastic about hosting this festival. It is a big
village and yet everyone wants to be a part of the preparations and
performances on the day of the festival. There are several interesting and
talented people living in Corlim and they will be showcasing their talent on
this stage,” says Marius.
The
performances will include a village jagor, and kottio dance. Since the space
for the festival is limited, homes will be setting tables at the entrance of
the garden for the participants. The lunch for the afternoon will be prepared
by the villagers and will include sevaiya, sambhar, pickle, local rice, lady
finger, pez, kismur, chonne, shira, bananas, papad, prawn curry and mackerel
fry.
