The southernmost taluka of Goa, Canacona, is wearing a festive
look as it welcomes Goans from all across the state to partake in the biggest
cultural event of the year, Lok Utsav. Filled with colours and costumes, this
is the 22nd edition of Lok Utsav organised by Adarsh Yuva Sangh in
collaboration with Directorate of Art and Culture. The main venue with a total
of eight stages is Adarshgram, Amonem in Poinguinim, Canacona.
The festival began on December 7 with a
day of women empowerment themed talks and discussions followed by December 8, a
day dedicated to youth centred job fair. Today, December 9, the festival will
be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pramaod Sawant and Governor of Goa, P S
Sreedharan Pillai at 10 am followed by the commencement of competitions. The
competitions are organised right from school, higher secondary to college level
students. Storytelling, mime, group dance, patriotic group singing, ghumat
aarti, fugdi presentation, dandiya, rangoli, poem recitation and street play
are few of the competitions. The venue also hosts stalls set up to educate a
wider audience about Goan traditional medicines, solar powered equipment and
agriculture based information and equipment.
The festival will also see participants from 12 states of India
performing their traditional folk dances. The states include Assam, Nagaland,
Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, West
Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala. Nearly 60 people from Goa from
different professions and sections will be felicitated for their contribution
to society.
Headed by State Legislative Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar,
the association is expecting dignitaries like Arjun Munda, Union Minister for
Tribal Affairs, Faggan Singh Kulasthe, Union Minister of State for Rural
Development, Bharati Pawar, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and
Devendra Fadanavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra to attend the festival
on any of the three days. “The association put in an extra effort of visiting
literally every village in Goa and inviting the students as well as the people
to attend the festival to understand the true Goa. The preparations began few
months ago to propagate the message that the identity of Goa is not only
beaches, casinos and alcohol. The real Goa has different cultures, traditions,
food habits, medicines and dance forms. The festival attracts people from
across the spectrum of society,” says Santosh Lolienkar, an officer on special
duty for Lok Utsav.
“On
December 9, the 12 national groups will be divided into two groups and then
will perform simultaneously at two venues, Palolem beach and Agonda beach from
7 pm onwards. On December 10, all 12 groups will perform at God’s Gift open air
hall in Loliem,” adds Santosh.
