Yuva, an NGO in Panjim, has constantly stunned devotees with their innovative, out-of-the-box ideas when it comes to creating Ganesh idols for Ganesh Chaturthi. Fonte Phoenix becomes a must-visit place in Mala if you want to see this beautiful dekhava created by the youth association that attracts thousands during the 11-day festival.
The Fonte Phoenix spring has existed since time immemorial but the structure with its three domes dates back to the 1850’s. The spring is formed in a network of three domes for ventilation. The water from the hill in the backdrop flows through the rocks into the spring which is then directed into Y-shaped vents into a tunnel leading to the third dome. The silt has to be cleaned once in six months. The original structure was maintained and repaired using only limestone and jaggery. The water flows and then the mud settles down and only the fresh water flows through the vents.
Since 2016, Fonte Phoenix has been the place set for the Ganesh idol with different creations around it. This year, for the very first time, an art exhibition, ‘Artists for Heritage’ is being organised in the narrow tunnel. Even though the art is at a risk of absorbing moisture by being constantly exposed to the damp walls and the spring water, the artists didn’t hesitate for a second to agree to display their art at the exhibition. These Goan artists truly deserve the praise that is being showered upon them by art lovers as well as heritage lovers who are exploring the narrow pathway with ankle deep water.
In 2015, Yuva decided to have their first mobile app controlled Ganesh dekhava based on the Mahabharata in a small area earmarked in the Maurti Rai Temple in Mala. They undertook the cleaning of the Fonte Phoenix on World Heritage Day in 2016 and later created a Ganesh idol of sawdust, paper and approximately 28,000 match sticks and introduced the concept of shadow control. In 2017, they created a 15 foot tall Lord Ganesh with over 30,000 paper quills. In 2018, they made a Ganesh idol using 5,000 chalk sticks. In 2019, they created an eco-friendly Ganesh Dekhava made out of dry jackfruit and coconut leaves and tree parts. This year marks Yuva’s tenth anniversary and they decided to focus on heritage architecture.
Founder of Yuva and recipient of Goa State Youth Award, Raghuvir Mahale, explains the concept, “After cleaning Fonte Phoenix in 2016, we had lot of enquires if people can visit the tunnels and see it for themselves but we were unable to help then. This year, on the occasion of our tenth anniversary, we decided to focus on the heritage architecture. So we have installed a Ganesh Dekhava in the form of Lord Parshuram and made a bridge for people to enter the spring’s underground tunnels by creating an art exhibition of famous artists from Goa. The Dehkhava was inaugurated by Govind Gaude, Minister for Art and Culture and will be open for the public till September 10.”
He further adds, “The tunnel is more than 50 meters long and can easily fit a large number of paintings. We were overwhelmed by the response from the art world in Goa and we are still receiving more artworks which will be added to the exhibition. We received enquiries from nearly 40 artists.”
The theme for the exhibition was ‘Artists for Heritage’ and Naguesh Rao Sardessai, artist and art critic, reached out to fellow artists to know if they were interested in displaying their works at the Spring. Artists like Mohan Naik, Sadashiv Parab, Nirupa Naik, Shefu, Vijai Bhandari, Kedar Dhondu, Dilesh Hazare, Dipti Sardessai, Apeksha Nadkarni, Girish Gujar, Pradeep Naik, Govind Silimkhan, Sadashiv Parab, Salvador Fernandes, Pranali Gaunekar, Leena Dubashi, Sagar Naik Mule, Suraj Nadkarni, N Kanhaiya and Rajesh Chodankar have their artworks on display.
“I was a bit sceptical about whether artists would give us their paintings to be displayed at the spring when moisture can make it hard to restore the painting. I put out a message in detail about the theme of the exhibition and where it is being held. Surprisingly, almost 90 percent of the artists agreed to lend us their paintings because they liked the cause. Some artists even gave us four of their works. Most of the works are in acrylic and watercolours but still the artists were very encouraging. The spring water and the damp walls are a matter of concern,” says Sardessai.
Besides this Ganesh Dekhava, the club also organises various camps, competitions and programs throughout the year. The Dekhava is open throughout the day till September 10. The lights make the works more impactful post 6.30 pm.
