PONDA: Shigmo Lovers say if government wants to protect the rich Romatamel tradition then it should come to the villages and provide financial assistance to preserve it and not have the commercial road show in the town in the name of shigmo.
Narayan Naik from Kavlem said, “two decades ago hundreds of villagers used to come and dance the Romatamel troop procession, but today it has become difficult even to get five people to beat the drums, tashas, carry Gudess (flags) and other instrument in procession.”
He said this tradition is dying a slow death. If government wants to protect the tradition then it should stop commercialisation on town road. There are over 150 traditional troops or Mannds in Goa but only six participated in Romatamel competition last year in Ponda. This shows that government efforts failed to encourage Romatamel.
Shigmo lover Pandurang Naik in Ponda says, “I am worried that Government which is wasting crores of public money on commercial Shigmo Festival on town road, should see that at least 15 romatamel troops come and dance on road. Shigmo is celebrated in 15 places including all 12 talukas, while all over Goa romtamel participants cannot even muster 15. For example last year the Romatamel participants in Ponda were just six troops that too from all over Goa, while the fact is that Ponda Taluka itself has around 22 traditional Romatamel Maands. There is no interest among Goan youth to join their five-day traditional Romatamel. The Government declares at least seven prizes for Romatamel competition including first three prizes and four consolation prizes. However, many local Shigmo troops dropped their participation because of partiality by juries.”
“If government wants shigmo to survive, then all it has to is to stop the competition among Romatamel groups and should allow all traditional shigmo maands with at least 100 participants in each taluka to participate in their respective taluka level Romtamel organised by Government,” he added.
The other option is that Government should go and provide financial assistance to Romatamel groups at village level.
