PANJIM: Raising awareness and expressing their solidarity in preserving the vital ecosystem of the river and towards the Karnataka’s sinister design to divert water, thousands of people including environmentalists, politicians and members of various groups formed a human chain along the banks of River Mandovi.
Activists and members of ‘Earthivist Collective’, `Save Mhadei Save Goa Front’ and ‘Goa Heritage Action Group’ (GHAG), representatives of various civil society organisations, NGOs and locals joined the seven-km-long human chain by holding hands from Miramar beach upto Santa Monica jetty along the Mandovi river front and as ‘rakhondars’ (protectors)symbolising their commitment to safeguarding the Mhadei river.
The festival labelled as “Mhadei Amchi Mai’ was organised in the in wake of the ongoing attempts by Karnataka to divert water from the inter-State river basin and that Mhadei river is critical to State’s environment and the livelihood and wellbeing of its people.
“The one-of-a-kind human chain spread over seven km, offered people from all over Goa an opportunity to come together and connect with the river, its history and its soul. The Earthivist Collective, GHAG and the Save Mhadei Save Goa Front thanks everyone who joined hands with this festival and showed their support for this vital ecosystem nurtured by the Mhadei river,” said Heta Pandit, historian, author, independent researcher and founding member of GHAG.
“It’s a beautiful coming together of people, artists and communities to say that we respect the river. This is part of India’s rich tradition. It goes beyond the Mhadei festival. We have so many traditions and festivals where we worship and respect rivers, forests and other aspects of nature. It is a part and parcel of Indian philosophy,” said Richard Dias, a Panjim resident, who participated in the human chain.
The festival aimed to highlight the intrinsic and critical relationship between the river, the land and its people. Participants were encouraged to wear white and blue attire, representing the shades of the river and carry blue or white scarves as a symbol of unity and support for the cause.
Pop singer Hema Sardesai, social activist Patricia Pinto, theatre personality Dr Isabel Santa Rita Vaz, activist Claude Alvares, Adv Norma Alvares, poet and essayist Pragya Bhagat, poet Salil Chaturvedi and teacher Pournima Kerkar, joined the movement and lent their voices to the cause during the festival on Saturday.
In addition to the human chain, the festival also featured performances by musicians, dancers, creative storytellers and artists along the riverbank. Their artistic expressions in the form of paintings, poems, songs, installations, performances and sand drawings celebrated and prayed for the river, emphasising the importance of its preservation.
