With the celebration of the Aboliachem Fest just around the corner, the preparations for the
same at the Nirmala Institute of Education, are going on in full swing. The
Aboliachem Fest is a rechristened name for Goa Day. Aboliachem Fest will be
celebrated on March 10, 2018 from 11am onwards at Nirmala Institute of
Education. The first festival to be organized without Marius Fernandes, he has
been constantly in touch with the students and the staff members of the
institute. The objective of the festival is to document, generate knowledge,
sharing for a sustainable living for the present and future generation through
a revival of art, craft, traditions, Goan food and dance forms unique to the
state of Goa.
“The preparations for the Fest began in
December 2017. All the teacher trainees at the Nirmala Institute of Education
are a part of this Fest. Marius Fernandes, gave us various inputs and
suggestions and also helped us get in touch with various resource persons. The
Aboliachem Fest was initially decided to be a cultural programme but Marius
later suggested that it could be a fest. The students were divided into groups
like those of dance, tiatr, art and decorations, medicinal plants, musical
instruments, songs, food, media, games and garbage management. A number of
resource persons were brought in to train the students and workshops were
held,” says Tanya D’Costa, a student.
The resource persons were Marius Fernandes
and Francis, Anthony Fernandes, Felly Gomes, Dr Pandurang Phaldessai, Carlos
Gonsalves, Dr Miguel Braganza and Thomas Fernandes, ‘Abolim’, Cliszma Da Costa
and Ramesh Harpad, Sandeep Sardessai, Rajtilak Naik, Soluchana Pednekar, Rohit
Wadkar, O’luv, Dr Glenis Mendonsa, Patricia Pinto, Clinton Vaz, Fabian, Savio
Godinho, Fatima, Brinsee Antao, Michael Gracias and Prince Jacob. Around 70
aspiring teacher trainees and staff members purchased the ghumots and were put
under the guidance of able and experienced resource personalities.
Dance to the beats of the ‘Musal’ dance you can participate in
traditional games at the fest which will include ‘logoria’ (seven tiles),
Hopscotch Cock fight, ‘Biyani’, ‘ringani’, ‘fatarani’, ‘bangle bits’, ‘lensani’
and ‘gilli-danda’ (‘Koyandi-bal’). Lemon grass tea, Goan Sannas and ‘Penagre’,
a sweet dish mostly made during the Christmas season will be served. The
creativity of the students and the staff will be seen through their artworks
like Abolim lanterns, fridge magnets, sea shells, hair bands which will be sold
at reasonable rates at the Abolianchem Fest.
The
programme for the day will include the performance of a brass band, dances like
‘Dhalo’ and ‘Fugdi’, ‘Cantaram’, interviews with eminent Goans, ‘Ghumat’ and
rhythms, tiatr, talk on medicinal plants and demonstration on making Abolim
garlands and Mollam.
