While IFFI in Goa had just begun, we were wrapping up the short film on the khazaans of Goa compiled by children and young participants of the Travelling Dome Environmental Filmmaking workshop. We had a blast. When we announced a workshop this Diwali holidays, we were keen to experiment with children making or documenting films on Goa’s unique ecology, biodiversity and environmental issues. We chose the khazaans of Panjim simply because it’s a subject we are very familiar with and it is located right here in our backyard! We had 10 children and a couple of parents enrolled for the 5 full day workshop. We insist on mixed group participation and for every participant that pays a registration fee, it supports another child or more from less privileged backgrounds. We have learnt so much from this combination and initiative. And the cross learning benefits all individuals.
On the first day we explored the edges of the Mandovi river along the Patto causeway and then walked on one of the dykes/bunds adjacent to the salt pans. After a short briefing on the history of khazaans, we set up the travelling dome which is essentially a portable tent like structure modelled on the geodesic dome. This becomes our outdoor classroom for all our outdoor activities and learning sessions. We also carry a portable dry toilet that also functions as a seat and looks so cool outdoors! As a responsible measure we make sure that all the refreshments/ snacks we carry along have zero packaging and therefore generate no waste. So we have watermelons, bananas, local savories, etc. This time we also tried cookouts (we managed only one) to help children make their own meal! We then walked to the edges of the shallow troughs where local fishers were busy with their routine of getting their daily catch of mullets (shevte), pearl spots (kallundar) and ‘mutri’. We then began observing and taking photographs of fiddler crabs calling to each other, telescopic snails walking under water busy feeding on the alga and leaf litter. There was so much to observe. Brahminy kites circling overhead to dive in to grab a fish or two! Cormorants diving in and then resurfacing to reveal their snake like heads. Egrets of different shapes and sizes – little, great, purple and grey, all in a frenzy feeding on fish and snails in the shallow pans. And the ever sporting mud skipper busy doing a flip or two on the mud flats, avoiding a mud crab here and there. We interacted with a local fisher to learn more about his routine and tradition. We then dismantled the dome, interacted with a few picnickers and coerced them to take back their non-biodegradable garbage and rushed to Amita’s house in Ribandar where she served us some delicious home-made fish curry rice. Back at the Learning Center, Nagalli Hills-Dona Paula, we familiarised with the basics of photography and animation. On the second day, we returned to the saltpans to film the labourers preparing the salt pans, kingfishers diving in to catch fish, mud skippers basking in the sun and chasing each other as if territorial, little shrimps nibbling at alga at the bed of the water channel. It was so fascinating to observe and discover new habits we had never seen before. Later during the indoor session at the Learning Center, while going through each of the film clips we discovered so many fascinating little details that were too quick or minute for the human eye. The mud skipper in a split second had flashed open its dorsal fin that glistened magically in the early morning sunlight! The egrets seemed to be frozen in the silty clay while their eyes intently watched its prey underwater!
On the 3rd day we explored the Patto khazaans around the Ourem Creek. We had another adventure as my Jeep got punctured over a bag of glass bottles that were carelessly dumped along with loads of litter, garbage and debris in this vacant land-water mass. And while we sorted out getting the Jeep back on track, the participants documented the sluice gates, mechanisms that help the tidal waters from the river flow into the Khazaans along with fish and its spawn.
Over the last 2 days our excursions continued but this time on the red boat delicately loaded with a tripod and camera. All took turns to explore the narrow channels and backwaters lined with mangroves. It was fantastic to experience and capture this pristine habitat and mangrove ecosystem. It was an exquisite experience to see this perspective of the khazaans from water.
Every day unable to overcome our desire to plunge into the water, we would dip into the salty waters of the khazaans, play with the ‘chikol mati’ or sticky clay, have a mud bath and then dry ourselves in the sultry heat and get back to work! On the last day we made sketches of some of the mangrove species like mud crab, fiddler crab, small blue kingfisher, egrets, mud skippers, black headed ibises and fish. We cut these out and made small clips of stop motion and finally placed it all together on a larger canvas to share our story and experience of the khazaans!
All the participants rocked the show! Kabir Naik, Mark Monteiro lead by example. Evan D’Souza as always was ready to try anything new. Sachin, Kumar, Rakesh, Ritesh, Sahil Megeri were resourceful and such super water babies. Dhairya and Varun our youngest participants were so independent, great boat navigators and learnt the ropes quickly. Saipranav our young scientist, was a keen observer and enjoyed his time in the water the most! The final outcome is for all of you to see. On youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU9sp9S2w6o&feature=youtu.be ‘A journey to the Khazaans of Goa’ showcases what the children learnt, captured and the issues that they care about!
IFFI in Goa has just concluded but how many of you had the chance to celebrate the natural beauty all around and its unique species of biodiversity? Did you notice the magnificent trees at all the venues and the avenue connecting the main venues? Did you hear the chirp of both the local and migratory birds overhead? Did you spot the otters in the St Inez Creek that edges the Old GMC? Or the dolphins in the river between the casino boats?
(Tallulah D’Silva is a practicing architect in Goa and has recently taught at the Goa College of Architecture as adjunct professor)
