Elsa Angel Rose
Lokotsav, the national folk festival, began yesterday at Darya Sangam, Kala Academy, Panaji, drawing a massive crowd on its very first evening. Organised by the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa, in collaboration with the West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC), Udaipur, the festival will continue until January 29. Visitors thronged the venue as evening approached, with handicrafts, clothing, accessories, and decorative items witnessing strong demand, setting a promising and energetic tone for the days ahead. The festival features an extensive handicrafts and handloom marketplace with nearly 550 stalls, bringing together Goan craftsmanship alongside artisanal works from different parts of the country. Visitors can browse through a wide selection of traditional ornaments, fabrics, ceramics, wooden artefacts, and more. The festival also presents a variety of traditional dishes through food counters representing several states.
HANDMADE TRADITIONS TAKE CENTRE STAGE
It is not the first time for Sneha Ramesh Vadkar; she has become a regular vendor at Lokotsav. At her stall, accessories and jewellery made of terracotta and clay are available. Sneha said, “I have jewellery, earrings; those are all terracotta and ceramic jewellery. In that, necklaces, and I create fridge magnets and customised jewellery also. There are some mural works, which are my specialisation. And also some hand-painted frames.” The national folk festival is more of a networking opportunity for Snehal. She emphasised how more people started knowing about her products and brands through Lokotsav. She said, “When you exhibit, more people come, and one-to-one experiences are better than online.” Her items were priced from rupees 50 to thousand two hundred. Another Goan who was selling unique pieces was Mansi Mangaldas Naik from Ponda. Her cublicle was full of Rangoli mats made of feather wool and flex underneath. It is her first time at the festival, and she is expecting good business. She said, “All my products are handmade, all are made at home. I have used Flex as the base for the mat. I have an Instagram account for my products, but looking forward to getting more business from Lokotsav.”
ARTISANS FROM ACROSS INDIA GATHER AT LOKOTSAV
I come to Goa every year just to take part in Lokotsav. Every year, I get good business at this festival,” said Banamali Barik, a Pattachitra artist and vendor from Orissa. He added, “I am not sure how profitable the entire venture would be, but for me, the festival has never been disappointing.” According to the painter, people at the festival have never been reluctant to buy good handicraft and artisan products, offering local artisans the much-needed exposure and opportunities. Pattachitra is a form of art that people understand and love, so they buy it regardless of the price. His stall contained exquisite handmade Pattachitra paintings of Lord Ganesha, Lord Krishna, and other prominent gods and figurines from the Hindu mythology. There were many other vendors from different parts of the country selling handmade glass bangles, utensils, footwear, clothes, Jewelleries and more. They travel to Goa every year to attend Lokotsav.
FLAVOURS OF GOA AND BEYOND AT LOKOTSAV
The food stalls at the festival offer delicious food at affordable prices to relish. Different varieties of food are available, primarily including Goan food like Cafreal, Xacuti, rose omelette and foods from other cuisines as well, Pani Puri, chats, noodles and many more. Siddhi Kalmekar, owner of a food stall based in Panjim, shared, “This is my first time putting up a stall, and I am really excited. We have Potato Paratha, Puran Poli, Veg cutlet, Chicken Xacuti and more.” Siddhi has her own restaurant and used to have a food truck as well, but it is her first time putting up a stall in Lokotsav. With a diverse range of artisans, handcrafted products, and regional cuisines, Lokotsav continues to serve as an important platform for cultural exchange and livelihood generation for many. The festival not only provides artisans and food vendors an opportunity to showcase their skills to a wide audience but also allows visitors to engage directly with India’s rich folk traditions. As the festival progresses over the coming days, Lokotsav is expected to remain a space where art, culture, and community come together.
