Team Café
World Goa Day (WGD) was introduced to
commemorate the anniversary of the inclusion of Konkani in the 8th Schedule of
the Indian Constitution by the Indian Parliament on August 20, 1992, when
Konkani was recognised as one of the official languages of India.
The event is intended as a day for Goans
worldwide to focus on, take pride in and celebrate their culture, language,
traditions, music, cuisine, and more, no matter where they are currently based.
The first World Goa Day was held on August 20, 2000 with the primary objective
of uniting Goans all over the world in a day of common celebration and
solidarity.
Today, WGD is celebrated by many
organisations and is growing across the globe including Goa, Canada (Toronto,
Vancouver, Quebec, Montreal, Calgary), Australia (Melbourne, Brisbane, New
South Wales, Perth, Adelaide), New Zealand, United States (New York, LA, New
Jersey, Houston, California), Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zanzibar, the Middle
East, UK, Portugal, Spain, Pakistan and Germany. This is just a sample and the
list has been growing over the years. WGD has now become a signature event
worldwide and appears in the calendar of events of every major Goan Association
worldwide.
Café speaks with a few Goan
youngsters and gets their reactions on what they feel about being associated
with the state of Goa
“Goa, according to me, is not just a
state but a ‘state of mind’. The large number of Goans living in the UK, US and
other foreign countries is a testimony to this. With globalisation taking place
at such a rapid pace and technology shrinking the world, one doesn’t have to be
physically present in Goa at all times to qualify as a Goan. On World Goa Day,
it is time to celebrate the ‘Goan’ness in us.”
– Vivek Sharma, Assagao
“Once upon a time, we Goans used to be
proud of the lower crime rate, communal harmony and impeccable hospitality that
used to make this land a piece of heaven. However, with time, things have
become worse and Goa is not what it used to be. Instead of celebrating certain
aspects of ‘being Goan’ that don’t hold true anymore, I guess it is time to
introspect and find a solution to reinstate the faith in humanity.”
Samreen Shaikh, Valpoi
“I consider myself lucky to be born in
this beautiful state that is a part of India yet so different from the rest of
the states. I feel we have just the right mixture of different cultures that
makes us unique in our own special way. While it is good to see more people
from other parts of the country and world make Goa their home, it is
disheartening to see Goans migrate to other parts of the world for better
prospects.”
David Fernandes, Margao
