TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Goa will burst into a riot of colours this spring with the tourism department planning a grand celebration of the festival of Shigmo across the state, using the PR formula they adopted for Carnival. While the festivities will commence from March 27, Panjim will witness the traditional grandeur and rhythms with a parade on March 30.
While in the past Shigmo has attracted tourists, this year the department is hoping to attract foreign and domestic tourists with media campaigns thorough its PR agency ~ Adfactors.
“As much as Rs 1.14 crore will be spent on arrangements at the 14 towns where the Shigmo parades will be held, while Rs 66 lakh will be given by way of prize money towards the parade competitions,” said Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar addressing a press conference Saturday.
This year, the special emphasis is being given to put up a glimmering Shigmo parade and festivities in the capital city, as the Panjim Shigmotsav Samiti is entering its silver jubilee year. Cine Star Vikram Gokhale is likely to participate in the Panjim Shigmotsav festivities.
The prize money for Panjim has been increased to Rs 10 lakh while an amount of Rs 20 lakh is being given towards providing infrastructure support.
The Panjim Shigmotsav Samiti has organised several activities days before Shigmo which includes a special photo exhibition of its Shigmo activities held during the last two and half decades.
Chairman of the Panjim Shigmotsav Samiti Shrinivas Dempo said, “This exhibition will present a synopsis of Shigmo organised by the committee over the past 25 years.” It is being held at Azad Maidan on March 25.
On the same day, the committee is also organising a display cum competition of traditional musical instruments.
Some of the other activities planned by the committee during Shigmo includes the felicitation of three artists Madhusubhan Chari-bhajani (artist), Josefina Dias (tiatrist) and Manohar Satardekar (harmonium player).
In addition, the Panjim Shigmotsav Samiti will be awarding scholarships to six merit based scholarships of Rs 5000 each to children (four from Kala Academy and two from Goa College of Music) as part of the endeavour to promote Goan art and culture.
Dempo said that this was just the beginning and the committee will try to increase the scholarships in the coming years. He also disclosed that the committee has urged the government to consider granting sound relaxations during the Shigmo festivities in Panjim as the festivities tend to conclude late.
The 14 towns where the Shigmo parades will be held are Ponda, Pernem, Panjim, Mapusa, Vasco, Bicholim, Sanquelim, Valpoi, Curchorem, Sanguem, Margao, Quepem, Cuncolim, and Canacona.
