Team Herald
PANJIM: After the Grape Escapade, it is now the turn of Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s (GTDC) Goa Food & Cultural Festival 2017 at the D B Bandodkar Ground, Campal.
The five-day festival starting on May 10, will highlight unique culinary aspects of Goa and Goan culture and traditions through various programs and performances.
The festival will promote feni and will have a live distillation unit to educate and inform tourists about the feni making process. “Some of the best chilled concoctions will be created in order to beat the heat with an array of local distillers creating innovative beverages,” a statement from Tourism Department says.
A huge stage will have a LED wall to feature innovative creative content that is thematic to the festival. “It will be a developed animation which will create stunning dynamic backdrops every minute ensuring a visual treat to every visitor,” states the statement.
The government expects a huge inflow of visitors including the tourists. National level rock bands like The Local Train from Delhi, Antariskh from Delhi, Lagori from Bangalore, Bombay Bassment from Mumbai and Bad Blood from Goa will perform, as will Sonia Shirsat, Joe Dcosta, Lorna and others. “The food as well as entertainment will cater to tourists and locals,” the statement adds.
As the festival is being held at the same spot as the Grape Escapade, sources said the organisers have not received CRZ permission as the officials are still deliberating whether or not to apply for the approval.
The National Green Tribunal had ordered that the Grape Escapade be permitted only after obtaining CRZ permission. The order was based on a petition that the venue falls in the CRZ-II and as such, it requires permission. GTDC Chairman Nilesh Cabral had argued that no such permission was required as the structures are not permanent.
