Folkdances in Goa. (by Alyssa Rebello)

Goa is a small state situated between Karnataka and Maharashtra along the west coast of India. Goa is famous for its various beaches and attracts lot of tourists from all over the world. When one talks about the dances of Goa, your imagination temds to stop at people dancing to trace and techno music. Goa is known to have its own folk dances and songs which are quite unique. The traditional dance of Goa gives a picture of the mindset and lifestyle of Goans. They reflect the rich historical and cultural legacy that Goa abounds in. The Goan dances portray this blend of different faiths very beautifully. These are some of the important and famous dance forms of Goa. Shigmo
The Shigmo is a traditional dance of Goa and is performed during the advent of spring season. For farmers, this dance is symbolic of regeneration of their natural resources. It ia a form of naman (religious ceremony). It is performed in the Hindu community of Goa and is performed in the same month of March.
Dhalo
One of the most popular dances of Goa is Dhalo. It is one of the choicest dances of the women dwelling in rural Goa. In this dance form, young girls and women form a semi circle by joining their hands behind each other’s waists. It is usually performed by pair of two groups comprising of 12 dancers each facing each other. They then sway in coordinated movements to the beats of rural musical instruments. It is a dance full of fun.
Dekhni
The word Dekhni means beauty in Konkani language. Dekhni is basically the traditional dance of those Christians who were converted to Christianity from Hinduism during the Portuguese rule. This dance involves singing by people, it is has a story line to the dance. The music of this dance is a lovely combination of rhythm and melody of both western and Indian genre.
Fugdi
This traditional dance of Goa is quite popular among the womenfolk of Goa. This dance doesn’t require any special occasion and can be performed the year long. It is a dance performed in the praise of Lord Ganesha. This dance is started slow and the women sing in slow tempo. Gradually the speed of the dance and the song is increased when the dance reaches its maximum tempo, the women produce a sound ‘foo’ instead of singing. And so the name of the dance became ‘Fugdi’.
Lamp dance
The Lamp dance is called so because of the brass lamps that is used while performing this dance. The dancers have to dance very slowly balancing heavy brass lamps on their heads. The music is usually instrumental and folk instruments like Ghumot and Harmonium are used. This dance requires self control and discipline in order to balance the lamps and dance.

Goan Art of Basket Weaving. (by Alyssa Rebello)

The Mahar community was once upon a time involved fully in basket weaving, often with either very little or no knowledge of basket-making. However, since those days, times have changed and nowadays, one finds members of the Mahar community involved in a wide variety of professions, predominantly in music. In Canacona, at one time, there were plenty of Mahars, however, gradually they have given up the occupation of cane weaving and have settled in other occupations. Many have even moved out of Canacona to greener pastures in the cities and even abroad. Many have even moved out of Canacona to greener pastures in the cities and even abroad. The Mahars, which is a Scheduled Tribe, were shunned by society for many years. The children of mahars could not even get admission in public schools, due to the stigma attached to their status and tribe. They survived by making different items out of cane and bamboo.
In spite of the social stigma, the Mahar community was considered as a very important community, since most of the other traders depended on them for the bamboo and cane implements. Earlier, the Mahars were just sought for their bamboo craft. They were also engaged in activities that were often looked down upon by other communities, like clearing away the carcasses of dead animals and digging graves. The art and craft of bamboo weaving is slowly but certainly dying in Goa. This is because nowadays, most people use plastic or metal containers, and the demand for bamboo articles is on the wane. Faced with discrimination and a skill that is economically not viable, besides a general leap by society to plastic material, the Mahar’s trade has stopped evolving and is quickly dying. This art which is pleasant to behold and also eco-friendly is quickly becoming a thing of the past. It is said that some scheme must be floated to keep the art alive and at the same time help the Mahar community to improve their status and living conditions.

Goan Khell Tiatr- Non Stop Drama. (by Alyssa Rebello)

Khell-Tiatr is a musical drama of Konkani Stage. It has one story running from the beginning to the end with many songs which are related to the theme of the play. It is just like an opera with songs and dialogues based on the story line. Such dramatic forms are found practically in all languages.
There was a time when the popularity of tiatr was on the decline and the graph of popularity of ‘Khell-Tiatr’ was very high. It is for this reason that most of the new artistes produced and acted in Khell-Tiatrs and not tiatrs. But when time passed and it started giving insufficient financial returns, the writers/directors of Khell-Tiatrs started introducing songs (Kantaram) in Khell Tiatrs just like in Tiatrs. This was done to attract people.
Late Rosario Rodrigues - a very popular writer, director and actor of Khell-tiatrs in the 1970s. Had totally dedicated himself for the promotion of Khell-Tiatr and was one of the few artistes who made sincere efforts to improve the quality of Khell -Tiatr. He even used to carry his own stage setting from place to place to stage his dramas. In order to attract people towards the Khell-Tiatr he went to the extent of even re-naming Khell-Tiatr as ‘Non-Stop Drama’ which became a craze among the people at that time. Even today, there are many writer-directors on the tiatr stage who are the products of Khell-Tiatr or Non-Stop Drama thanks to late Rosario Rodrigues.
In order to promote and preserve Khell-Tiatr, Kala Academy Goa organises a Festival of Khell-Tiatrs every year. Tiatr Academy of Goa too has announced financial support to the troupes participating in the Kala Academy’s Khell-Tiatr Festival. However, It was really disturbing to see the Khell Tiatr festival being cancelled due to poor participation. It is a shame because every writer/director in Goa produces at least two tiatrs and sometimes three every year but they could not produce one Khell-Tiatr to keep the tradition of Khell-Tiatr Festival going. Is it because Khell-Tiatr is not financially beneficial?
I feel it is the duty of every artist on Tiatr stage to preserve Khell-Tiatr for posterity. Hence let us make concrete efforts to preserve and promote Khell-Tiatr – the musical drama of Konkani Stage.

Bharatanatyam: art, dance and music. By Revllone

There are various forms of performing and fine arts, which has been originated and is being practiced in India. The oldest classical dance form of India is "Bharatanatyam". Bharatanatyam, as the name depicts is the combination of 'Bha' - Bhavam (means expression), 'Ra' - Ragam (means music), 'Ta - Talam (means beat or rhythm) and Natyam (means dance) in Tamil. A possible origin of the name is from Bharata Muni, who wrote the Natya Shastra. This dance originated in Tamil Nadu. It denotes various 19th and 20th century reconstructions of Sadir, the art of temple dancers. Bharatanatyam is usually accompanied by Carnatic music. It has its inspirations from the sculptures of the ancient temple of Chidambaram.

Bharata Natyam has an important place in our Indian culture. Bharat Natyam incorporates major three forms of arts in it. The Nataka, Natya and Sangeetha. The Natya Shastra explains various aspects of theatrical arts, dance, drama and music. Bharat Natyam is also one of the most popular dance forms and it is a way of worshipping the lord. It can be considered as a combination of mythological, historical, cultural and sociological heritage and traditionally passed on to posterity. Over the period of time Bharat Natyam has evolved and has taken various interesting improvisations and creative additions to it by many eminent artists, who have contributed their life time for this wonderful art.

The main three aspects of Bharatanatyam are: Nritta, Nritya and Natya.
Nritta is rhythmical.
Natya is the dramatic art, and is a language of gestures, poses and mime
Nritya is a combination of Nritta and Natya

Some of the famous Bharatanatyam performers are Bala Saraswathi, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Rugmini Arundel, Kamala Laxman, Padma Subrahmaniam and Chithra Visweswaran.

Are Goan musical instruments extinct? By Revllone

How many of us have heard of Traditional Goan musical instruments like shenai, surt, surpanvo, surpanvo and nagsher? No? Well these were played at temples, sacred ceremonies, gauda cantaram sessions, etc. Shenai: a musical instrument played at almost all auspicious occasions for Hindus.  Surt:  always played with the shenai, it provides the drone to the melody of the Shenai. Surpanvo: The shepherd flute. This instrument is simple bamboo-staff about 60-70 cms. Nagsher/Naksher: Played by the Dhangar or Gavli community. Chowgudo: Has two ‘Dhobe’ and ‘Zil’ placed in a cross form, facing each other, and played with sticks held in both hands.  Mhadelem: played by the Christian Gauda community is perhaps the most ancient of all the percussion instruments. It is mostly accompanied by the Ghumat. Most of the traditional instruments are dying out because these instruments do not interest the younger generations and since now adays there are no musicians who can play these instruments. The youth today should be encouraged to retain their very rich and diverse culture lest the increased use of electronic musical devices bring an end to a glorious culture.

Cansaulim monte-an artistic view Dionne

Cansaulim Monte is best known far and wide for the Chapel of Three Kings that is nestled here. The Three Kings' Feast is celebrated on the 6th of January with a pageantry procession of the three kings who traverse the village horseback from the chapel, and as per Goan customs the feast is accompanied by grandiose fete that is held on the village grounds to celebrate the occasion. 
Furthermore, this monte offers a full panoramic view of most of South Goa's beaches and much more. Its geographical location offers one the joy of a really great sunset which draws in tourists who celebrate their nuptials at the particular hour of sunset. One can see the Konkan railway, typical goan fields with farmers and bullocks ,narrow roads and the scintillating breeze received atop. Its a tourist destination with a  number of movies that have been shot at this place. Hence worthwhile watching this artistic picture.

Painting and Sketching a soothing experience - Dionne

Art for some talented people is a natural born gift. Let's face it some artists with no training are fantastic.Others draw and paint and think nothing will be good enough, perfectionists one could say. It could be that you do not need any encouragement to actually get enthused. If you are enthusiastic you probably will go from strength to strength.

From time you to time you will find yourself wandering round art galleries looking at various types of work by other artists. Usually artists probably bend towards a certain type of subject. You may see a whole collection of portraits (hard to do), or still life or coastal scenes.Personally I like to go from one thing to another, you learn as you go along. Painting is something you need to be in the mood for, although if you are stressed it can be soothing. It is gratifying when you paint from your imagination and see what transpires; but you may just stop and sketch something roughly on your travels, or even copy something that grabs you.

Surprisingly it is quite good to start with oils. In some ways this is easier to handle. If you do not find your painting satisfactory, paint over it and start all over again. Or simply scrape the paint off.

There are so many art products available in different price ranges to encourage you. Ranging from wonderful pencils, crayons, pens, inks, water colors, to pastels and acrylics.I find nature as scenic beauty and beaches,waterfalls as themes that inspires me to paint and sketch which is a soothing experience. Actually you get so engrossed in it - you lose all track of time. Generally you can appreciate the tranquility that surrounds you. If you are a working person sometimes it is hard to set aside the time for this. However there are benefits as you will come to the conclusion that this can be your peace time. We all need time to ourselves at some point.

ZUMBA HEY! - ADITI

It's the new dance cum fitness craze in town! That's right, I'm talking about zumba. This Colombian fitness dance program started in 2001 by Alberto Beto Perez. It is a fun mix of salsa and other latin dances, hip hop, Bollywood, and some belly dance moves too! The fun thinga bout zumba lies in the dance element. You pick up new steps that one could add to his or her repertoire. And you also at the same time shed those extra calories that have been weighing you down!

The class starts with a warm up, followed by the fun intsense dacing and a cooling down session that mostly comprises stretching.

There are minuses to this fun filled exercise regimen as well! Apparently, zumba is meant only for toning of muscles. So people who come to such fitness programs to lose weight don't benefit as much. I am of the opinion that zumba is a fun way of losing weight because you learn new dance moves and exercise your entire body.

A host of celebrities have taken to zumba, some of which include Victoria Beckham, Emma Watson etc. I say, if you want to have fun and be healthy at the same time, give zumba a shot!

DIONNE SHED LIGHT ON THE GHUMAT

There is an old saying in Goa that 'a Goan is said to be born with music in his blood and music accompanies him from his cradle to grave'. But the ghumat must never be lost. It is the symbol of the Goan essence.The Ghumat is played differently at the Shigmo, festivals, marriages, mandos, Ganesh aarti etc.

Ghumat is a percussion instrument of earthen vessel having both sides open; on the bigger opening a leather of monitor lizard is mounted secured with cotton string. The ghumat is suspended from the neck or tied to the waist of the musician. It is the most common folk percussion instrument in use. Generally ghumat is accompanied by 'samel', another traditional instrument with wooden drum and goat leather mount. This instrument is still very popular amongst by the Konkani diaspora. Ghumat forms an integral part of Goan folk, religious and temple music. It serves as an accompaniment to the folk songs and to the 'mando' music. But most importantly it plays a vital role in the muic played in Goa during the Ganesh festival. It also used in most of the Goan temples during the spring season in an orchestra called as Suvari Vadan.

For
the Goan traditional folk music, the ghumat is the most popular musical
instrument used since the hoary past. While defining the border of Goa,
the folk artists proudly says that wherever one hears the beats of
ghumat is the land of Goa. However, today, as the trade in monitor
lizard skin reaches its height a month before Ganesh Chaturthi, the poor
reptile is on the verge of extinction.
Every year more than
thousand ghumats made with the skin of monitor lizard are sold in the
various parts of Goa. But, whenever, Goa's forest department with the
pressure from the wild lifers has raided shops or centres where the
sales of these ghumats are taking place, they have seized more than
50-60 ghumats with the monitor lizard skins, mainly in Bardez and
Phonda.

RAISA CHATS UP DANCER ANSAR KHAN

Ansar khan says he was born to dance. “Ever since I was a kid I loved dancing,” states Ansar. When he completed standard X, he joined David Furtado as a dancer and within a year’s time he moved up to being an instructor himself. Ansar then moved to Mumbai where he worked with Bosco, Caeser and Geeta Kapoor and tried to pick up a few dance moved by himself. A few years ago Ansar launched his AK Dance Academy alone with a friend Aryan who helps him manage classes. Ansar teaches different dance forms from ballroom to hip hop and has now started Zumba in Goa Velha. Over the years Ansar has participated in the auditions for the Dance India Dance where he cleared the theatre round. He also won first place at the Slipdisc All Goa Dance Competition and was selected for a Zee Marathi Dance reality show. He has also quite literally danced with the stars having worked with celebrities like Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapur, and Bipasha Basu at Stardust event and has also choreographed a dance for a Marathi film. Ansar hopes to have dance classes all over India in a few years and be known as the best choreographer. He believes that he has a long way to go and has dreams aplenty.

HAND IN ART - DIONNE

When your “style” is personal content, the images you make can only be original.  It demands you be open to thinking in new ways, reassess your drawing and painting skills, put your creativity on the line and free  your imagination.

In today’s world people are becoming aware of eco-friendly items.For instance as Fine Arts is gaining importance students who are creative set up amazig decorative items as take-aways and centre pieces for weddings and occasions.Hence  we find many exhibitions in goa featuring jute items, handicraft artices, home-made items which makes it affordable and environtmental-friendly.One notices a lot of workshops being held to train students and house –wives to portray their creative ability. It can also bring economic benefits to certain areas even to boost tourism.

While these sound good, there are some who say that there are advantages.One such festival was Lokhatsav wherein articles from various states were exhibited. We even have jute exhibitions recently held where a variety of products like bags, slippers ,holders made of jute were displayed. Jute is bio-degradable fiber which is 100% eco – friendly. The golden fiber is used extensively in manufacturing sacks or bags which are used as packaging material for agricultural and industrial products. Since in India jute is produced in wide scale, the price is competitively less comparing to other country. Jute is not only used for manufacturing textile products but is ideal raw material for non textile product. Unlike other materials, manufacturing of jute items do not produce harmful chemicals and thus reduces global warming.Jute is considered the eco-friendly alternative due to its bio-degradability and recyclable property. Other features like soft & silky texture, high tensile strength and heat resistance to heat makes jute as ideal fiber for manufacturing fashion items, different baggage, home furnishing, decorative and textile 

If you are interested in an eco-friendly rug, natural fabric carpeting is an ideal option. Unlike synthetic rugs, natural fiber carpets are biodegradable so they create less wasteBeing creative helps in a big way as we can avoid having event-management people to cater to parties and avoid huge bills to be paid to them. Paper –bags, simple wall-hangings made of paper, recycled waste can be put to use for decorative purposes.  In these fields, originality is considered to be a sufficient condition for creativity, unlike other fields where both originality and appropriateness are necessary. Within the different modes of artistic expression, one can postulate a continuum extending from "interpretation" to "innovation". And turning  your favourite hobby or craft into a profitable part-time business is handy.If you can create something that's special or out of the ordinary, you could soon find yourself in demand, such as supplying unique or customised Birthday, Christmas or Wedding gifts. Craft sales have become more popular with the advent of ebay - it's easier than ever to sell to anywhere in the world, so no matter how unusual your product is, you're likely to find someone somewhere wants to buy it!If you're already experienced in a particular craft or hobby, you'll find it much easier to turn it into a money-making small business, plus you get paid for something that you're already doing for enjoyment and fun.Embroidery can be used for decorating cushions, clothes and soft furnishings, with a popular earner being adding value to plain items with the addition of appliqué or embroidered designs. Embroidery skills can be used to personalise gift items, or to embellish simple clothes and give them a unique look. There are lots of resources online for the home embroiderer which cover sewing tips, techniques

Batik and Tie Dyeing as an art-This century old craft is basically a technique where you put wax on fabric, silk, cotton, wool, linen, muslin, paper or even wood and ceramics where you don't want the colour to go and then dye the item. Synthetic fibres are not suitable as they cannot hold dye sufficiently. For more elaborate designs this technique is repeated using different dyes. The wax is then removed. It is a good idea to learn this craft technique in classes or a craft workshop.Tie-dye can be used for clothing (not just retro 70s T shirts), accessories, hangings, soft furnishings .Another piece of art would  would be calligraphy-Even in the age of desktop publishing, there is a steady demand for the work of the calligrapher. Despite the ready availability of computer created graphics, there is a requirement for hand-drawn items, such as presentation and commemorative scrolls and certificates, awards, greetings cards, wedding, christening and party invitations, business cards and books. Advertise your skills locally with cards in shops, ads in local papers,

Also try creating home-made candles for special occasions, or simply creating a special ambience - filling your home with a beautiful fragrance. Scented candles have really caught on over the past few years, and people don't mind paying a little extra for quality hand-made items.Aromatherapy candles containing essential oils are very popular and can promote an improved feeling of wellbeing with calming, uplifting, energising and relaxing scents using natural ingredients, such as: lavender, rose, geranium, cinnamon, patchouli and sandalwood. Essential oils are more expensive than basic fragrance oil, but if you have decided to make quality scented candles they will give you a good result and will command a higher price.
Taking a class in candle making before you start is highly recommended, for your own safety and to perfect your technique. There are lots of sites offering free tutorials, forums and advice.

Ceramics and Potttery,this encompasses everything from planters to plates, if you can produce eye-catching and attractive designs, you've got it made. Ceramics is one of those things that everyone thinks they can do but very few can do really well.Sculptures can sell for hundreds, but creating useful one-off plates, bowls and vases can be a good earner. You can create cups and bowls on a wheel, or hand model them before firing in a kiln.There are a wide variety of electric and and mains or propane gas-fired kilns available for the hobbyist, but it's essential that you do some research before you buy so that you get one that's suitable for your needsThe easy one would be Card-making where home-made cards say so much more personally than the manufactured variety. Offer customised cards with pictures, calligraphy, scents, sounds or a local interest. You could also make custom scrap books for birthdays, anniversaries and retirements etc - a well-presented scrap book makes a really special present. With the internet it is now much easier to get reasonably priced quality supplies for card making at home, such as unusual paper, stickers, beads, feathers, ribbons, decoupage, gems and other embellishments 

Caricatures, Cartoons, Drawing and Painting lovers  If you have the artistic ability, then creating caricatures can be a good earner. If you live near somewhere with a good footfall of potential customers, you can set up shop and wait for the customers to arrive. These days you can also work off photographs sent via email or post. Don't forget to do some pictures of famous people first so your potential customers can see what they're getting.Drawing and painting local attractions and beauty spots can be popular in tourist areas. Talk to local cafes, restuarants, pubs and craft and souvenir shops about displaying your work, and selling on commission on a sale-or-return basis.Another one is Someone who has been artist all his or her life does not see being an artist the same way than someone who is just becoming aware that being an artist is a possibility.

In the end all artists are unique individuals and each of them has a different idea of what an artist is.

DEKNI - CIRAGAL

Dekhni Dance Goa is a form of a Devdasi dance performed by women in temples and social ceremonies. Dekhni is a semi classical Goan dance form. Dekhni represents mixture of Indian melody and Western rhythm, performed by girls adorned in Indian dress. It is a song cum dance popular in Goa. The word 'Dekhni' means 'bewitching beauty' in Konkani language. It is performed exclusively by women-folk to the beat of the Ghumat, a folk drum. Dekhni Dance usually enacts the life of a Devdasi girl meaning servant of God. Their job is to perform dance in temples and social ceremonies like weddings. One of the popular Dekhni songs is Hanv Saiba Poltodi Vetam by Carlos Eugenio Ferreira.

The theme is of a Devdasi girl who comes to a riverbank to take a ferry to reach the other side where she has an appointment to dance in a wedding. She requests the boatman to take her to the other side of the river. The boatman rejects and says as the water id rough it would be unsafe to travel. The Devdasi keeps requesting him and is even ready to offer him her golden earring for taking her across urgently. So the dancers dance for the boatman and this time he ferries them across the river.

The dance is set in combination of western rhythms and Indian melody. The performance becomes graceful by the conversation between the girl and the boatman in the form of a lilting song. The dancers carry pantis which are small clay lamps with a wick floating in oil or even artis. Only two or three dekhni songs that were composed and scored a long time ago are still existent.

This dance is much performed throughout Goa.

WESTERN DANCE GAINS IMPORTANCE IN GOA - DIONNE

The state of Goa is rich in culture and heritage, and art - especially performing art in Goa - in a unique feature of the state. Though all these forms fall under the wide classification of dance, drama and music, yet the Dance in Goa has a distinct Goan flavor and can be easily be distinguished from those of the other states. Dance is a type of art that generally involves movement of the body, often rhythmic and to music. It is performed in many cultures as a form of emotional expression, social interaction, or exercise, in a spiritual or performance setting, and is sometimes used to express ideas or tell a story.

Many youngsters have deviated from their studies to cultivate their passion for dance.The famous dance sports of Goa by Dr.Flossy and Martin trains students wherein it sets the mark for these youth as they discover their talent .Dr. Martin makes every effort to learn, practice and teach with perfection authentic ballroom dancing, all this between his work and his family. He hopes that in future Goans will dance the International Style of ballroom, the authentic ballroom and that Goa will always be National champions. The Sports Authority of Goa needs to recognize this achievement and encourage team Goa financially .We also have Jason and Sylvia ,the x-tremers dancing schools through which new choreographers emerge. Lately schools too have been training their students to evolve as budding artists and even in Indian styles .Many students go for regular classes and participate in various competitions within the state and all India .Many have brought laurels to our little state and rising to the level of the West in Ballroom,Chacha-cha,Tango,Jive,Salsa. Of late Goa Trance has also made an impact in the international music circles. The music is so much in demand in parties that they are now called the trance parties. 

The most significant part about the Dance in Goa is the fact that it colorfully illustrates the unity in diversity of Goan heritage

CIRAGAL TALKS ABOUT FUGDI AND MANDO

Fugdi is a Goan folkdance performed by women in the Konkan region. These dances are performed in many Hindu religious festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and religious occasions. Fugdi is an art form that can be traced to cultural traditions of Goa.

Fugdi is usually performed in the month of Bhadrapada the women sing and dance. Fugdi has two major variations; it is danced in a circle or by rows of dancers. In the villages they have a dance in a circle but forest settlements have it in rows. The dance is performed by enacting few fixed steps and hand laps. The dance begins with invocation to Hindu Gods. The pace is slow in the beginning but soon gains momentum finally reaching climax. The dance is not accompanied by any instrument. Fugdi songs are innumerable and the songs relate Puranic stories, family life, complaints, rivalries or people. The dancers blow air through the mouth at maximum pace. This sounds as 'FOO' hence the name Fugdi is kept.

There are diffrent types of Fugdi. Kalashi Fugdi is performed before Goddess Lakshmi during the vrata. This form of dance is performed to break the routine work of fetching water from long distances. The dance is not accompanied by any songs. The women would carry the large vessels called kalashi or and blow into them rhythmically as they spin around. Katti Fugdi is another popular form, performed with coconut shells in their hands. Altogether twenty-seven types of fugdi have been found in Goa so far.

Mando or Manddo is a musical form that evolved during the 19th and 20th century among Goan Catholics of Goa. It represents the meeting point of Indian and western musical traditions. The music has elements of both Indian and western culture. The males wear formal coats, showing Portuguese influence, while females wear a unique Indian costume torhop-baz worn during the mando dance was of velvet or silk, red, blue or green in colour, embroidered with gold threads. A white or blue shawl was worn. The socks had to be white and the slippers ornamented. This was all graced with a fan, which enhanced the lady's mood with a charm during the dance.Now a days mandos are highlighted with their dance respective of their song. The plural of manddo in Konkani is mande.The major theme of mandos is love, the minor ones being historical narratives, grievance against exploitation and social injustice, and political resistance during the Portuguese presence in Goa.

The dialect used in the classical mandos is Salcete, particularly as spoken in the villages of Benaulim, Curtorim,Loutolim, Chinchinim, Assolna, Betul, Velim, Cuncolim, Navelim and Raia where most of them originated. It is the most musical of the Konkani dialects. One of the characteristics of this dialect is that words are stretched out in pronunciation with the addition of an extra vowel sound either in the middle of the words or at the end. Thus the word dista is lengthened to disota and sanddlear into sanddilear. The possessive pronouns in the mando have the Salcete form, as tugel´lem for tujem, mugel´lem for mujem or mojem. Shorter forms are derived when the music needs to cut off a syllable, e.g. tuj´ kodden (koddem) instead of tuje koddem and mak´ naka instead of maka naka. Not only the phonetics correspond to the Salcete dialect but also words like masoli (masli) for “fish” instead of nishtem, e.g. “Dongrari fulo nam, doriant masli pun nam”. The Brahmins address a girl or a woman with “rê” instead of “gô” and use the pronoun “ti” instead of “tem”.

The mando is mostly a monologue, in the first person singular or plural, except for the historical narratives. In some mandos, however, one person addresses another, who in turn replies. Singing is accompanied by gentle turning sideways to the rhythm, thus creating both a visual and auditory performance.

CARNIVAL OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS :D ELTRIN GOES BACK IN TIME

Every year with great pomp and show comes the most colorful and enthusiastic festival that is the carnival. Carnival is celebrated all over Goa. But what we see today is the Modern phase of this festival. Let us go to the yore and see how carnival was enjoyed by all the goans.

Though today we see that carnival is a festival of not only Christians but it has become of the masses. All sects of religions take active part in it. However it was not so years down the line. No doubt that the carnival came to Goa through the Portuguese. According to the scriptures of the catholic Bible, Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights before his death and on the third day he was resurrected. Thus the Catholic Church underwent a forty days of lantern period wherein all Catholics should repent and ask forgiveness for their sins. Thus during this forty days one should keep fast. He /she should not eat meat, drink liquor or make merry, no festivals and no colorful garments. Because one used to take such fast the church celebrated four days before Ash Wednesday to eat, drink and make merry. Thus the seed of carnival was sown.

During the early times of carnival khell tiatr’s were played in the villages. The batkars or the landlords used to hire a troupe to in act and the villagers came to see in his compound. Other than this some men used to dress like women also and move from door to door enacting a particular scene and the crowd used to follow them. Besides this Zagors ,Mando’s and such other folk dances were danced. Approximately the floats that we see today emerged in the 70’s. During that time it was mostly the cultural dances, and advertised floats. Like today Margao , Panjim , Vasco, Mapusa were the main centers where such floats were on parade.

As years passed gradual modern changes were seen. The cultural dances became rare and more advertised and general themes were paraded. Some of such were: a big fish, a ship, Teddy bear, ghosts etc. In recent years one can see vulgarity. Whole of the Brazilian carnival was imported to Goa including the clothing attire. In the name of carnival girls and boys started having sexual affairs. Many girls became victims of the men’s lusts. In certain cases girls were intoxicated and were taken to cheap hotels. Drugs and other immoral activities became common during this festival, and thus the church immediately stopped the celebration of carnival.

Though it was stopped by the church, the festival had become an inseparable part of the goans. Thus the entertainment society in collaboration with the tourism industry promoted and continued the celebration of this festival.

TIATR TAKE TWO: ELTRIN FOCUSES ON MODERN TIATR

The modern form of Tiatr is quite different from the khell tiatr. One of the differences are that khell tiatr was performed door to door while modern tiatr is acted on a selected raised platform.  However one should note a point that though tiatr is the most exciting folklore of Goa, the first tiart was staged in British Bombay.

Being familiar with both Zagor and khell was well as the songs vocalized on various occasions, both Lucasinho Ribeiro and Joao Augostinho  Fernandes were the pioneers of building a Konkani tiatr in Bombay.  Having worked for the Italian opera company Lucasinho found the first tiatr and had elements borrowed from the Italian operatic form and even titled the drama Italian Burgo.  However some writer while trying to identify the pioneers of tiatr credited Joao Augostinho Fernandes as the founder of modern Konkani drama.  However, Joao augostinho himself had set the record straight, with reference to the pioneer, by writing in the Ave Maria newspaper on November 25, 1943.  The article is highly important in tracing the history and development of tiatr.

He wrote “(………) I find it necessary to convey (….) some history regarding the goan of pioneer of Konkani theatr and one who deserves the prominent position of honor in this Endeavour. Mr caitaniaho , who employed at the Bombay Gazette ,happened to meet me one day and spoke about tiatr. I went along with him(…) to meet Mr. Riberiro(…) I would  visit Mr Riberiro (…) one day ,the three of us ,thought of searching for youngsters(…) nine boys were required to stage the opera, and so taking two or three roles each , we started rehearsing every evening in order to put up a theatr. Thus having seen our readiness Mr. Ribeiro laid the foundation of Konkani theatr.”

Taking a close look at these two pioneers, we realized that on April 17 1892 that is Easter Sunday is generally regarded as the date on which the first documented performance of a modern tiatr (Italian Burgo) in Konkani was stage.   This play was composed by Lucasinho Ribeiro.  However, is the original pioneer of Konkani tiatr he is not being given enough important today.  It is Joao Augostinho who is called the father of Modern Konkani tiatr and is generally called a “Pai tiatrist”. In his remembrance the Pai tiatrist auditorium has been constructed at Margao. He was the pioneer in many ways. He was the first to cut a disc in Konkani when he recorded songs with his master voice in 1908.

In a need to publish his plays, Balcara I was presented in and a few years. later Balcara II was published o n June13th 1916. In 1937 three of his plays appeared in a single volume: Balkara, Padr Jose Vaz and Dotichem Kistavem.  He printed a total of 5 volumes.

Kunbi Jaki {volume Four) is one of his most celebrated plays.  He portrayed the indigenous people’s lifestyle capabilities.

Joao Augostinho was the 1^st person to bring kunbi dances ad songs onto the stage with original rhythm.

In a career spanning over fine decades 1892 – 1949 – Joao Augostinho scripted a total 30 plays.  20 of these were originally created and only four were translated from the sources.  Some of his well known plays were the Belle of cavel, Revolt de Sattari, Cazar Matarponnar, Geraldina, Vauradi, Madian Racho Devchar and others.  Through his various plays it has become evidence that the primary objective of Joao Augostinho was to bring about transformations in society through elimination of its various evils such as caste and class prejudices, dowry etc.

There are several teatrist who have acted and directed plays on the Konkani stage.  Even today we find a quite increasing number of tiatrists.  Some of the many well know are J.P. Souzalin compared over forty plays.  He was liked by Hollywood’s great director Cecil B. D .Mella for his directorial abilities.  Some of his plays are Dream of Lisbon, Oxem kelear Sudhrot Goem (Goa might improve by this).  Paichi chuk vo maichi (Mother or Father mistake). 

Kid boxer’s 1^st tiatr was ostori but Kidache Sopon became the most popular of his dramas.  His one more tiatr Somzonment chuk zali explores the human psyche ad the tendency of prejudice that leads to terrible misunderstanding.

Prem Kumar is the screen name of Pedro Xavier da Costa.  He directed his first plays Mhozo Put.  But before reverting to tiatr’s he acted in many Hindi films.  He has earned a reputation of bringing in many innovations in Konkani drama such as the jackknife stage, revolving stage, half sliding stage, etc.  Scenes such as a rice field, ploughing, a railway station, waterfall and so on.  He tried to enrich the standard Konkani tiatr through added technical brilliance in stage setting and light effects.

Thus we see that the modern Konkani tiatr has taken huge steps ahead from the roots of the two main pioneers of this folklore.  Both of them are to be equally credited to the same.

REVLLONE TALKS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

Fine art photography

Love clicking pictures? Got an eye for beauty? Well then fine art photography is for you. J Fine art photography is photography created with the vision of the artist as photographer. Fine art photography stands in contrast to photojournalism, which provides a visual account for news events, and commercial photography, the primary focus of which is to advertise products or services. "Fine art photography": Also called "decor photography," "photo decor," or "wall decor," this "involves selling large photos... that can be used as wall art" "It is a picture that is produced for sale or display rather than one that is produced in response to a commercial commission". In 1961, Dr S.D.Jouhar founder and Chairman of the Photographic Fine Art Association, said that their definition of Fine Art was “Creating images that evoke emotion by a photographic process in which one's mind and imagination are freely but competently exercised.”  

Rhein II

There’s a relatively short list of really hot names in the photography market that consistently do well at auction, such as earlier twentieth century photographers like Richard Avedon and Irvin Penn, Helmut Newton, and living artists such as Cindy Sherman and Andreas Gursky. A 1999 Andreas Gursky work, Rhein II, holds the record for the most expensive photograph to be sold at auction after it fetched $4.3 million.

Historically, prices for fine art photography have tended to be much lower than those fetched by artists working in other medium, but that seems to be changing. Prices are definitely creeping up, but it’s not a steep curve, more of a gradual slop.

"A created image is like a painting," says Chennai-based photographer Varun Gupta, who has been showing his work since 2007. "You conceptualize it using space and light just like you would on canvas," he says. Photography as art is catching on in the city.

But can the gap between fine art photography and the rest of the fine art market ever be fully closed? Arthur Goldberg, a major US collector of contemporary photography for the last 40 years, said that it was up to history to decide if there should be equality between the two when he spoke at the Artelligence conference in New York . However, he thought that buying photography was a real opportunity to own great art at a lower price. “Great art is great art,” he said, “whatever the medium.”

Alfred Stieglitz's photograph The Steerage (1907) was one of the first works of artistic modernism. Stieglitz was notable for introducing fine art photography into museum collections

REVLON TALKS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

ALIUSKA TALKS FASHION AND THE FINE ARTS ;D

What if I told you that you could get a whole new wardrobe almost free? Would you be interested? Well you can! And it only takes a little creativity and hardly any time J ! Now that winters almost over and springs near, we can all gear up for a mix of warm and vibrant colours. Here’s a rough list of what you can work with. The list can vary depending on your personal style but you can work with the basic ideas.

Long sleeved polos or turtle necks, for those of you who have long sleeved salwars that you’re tired of then they’ll do too! Your brother’s or dad’s worn out formal shirts, leggings, old jeans that are either faded or that you’re tired of, old shorts, etc.

Why not start with casual wear in this post. To make your polo or turtle necks more apt for the semi cool weather of Feb and warmer March evenings all you need is a pair of scissors, some paper, ribbon, elastic, buttons, hooks and piping.

The basic idea is to cut of the sleeves in order to get a sleeveless chik look. Since the material of your polo or turtle might be stretchy it may tend to lose shape around the arm hold. To avoid this when piping or stitching the sleeve holes, tacking a thin strip of paper to keep the arm-hold’s size fixed it suggested. The paper may be ripped away slowly after the stitching is done. Or another idea is to tack a thin strip of starched material into the new sleeveless arm-hold’s fold.

To accessorize you can team up the top with a fine belt of contrasting colour or go safe with a fine white belt at low waist, worn over the top.

To turn your dad’s or relative’s old shirts into fun tunic length dresses all you have to do is stitch in darts on the back and front, or on the side that you prefer and use a well matched belt or ribbon to accessorize your high waist. To make an elastic ribbon belt: cut the broad ribbon a little longer than enough to wrap around your high waist ( just an inch below the bust). Stitch the sides keeping both ends open in order to insert the elastic band. Using a safety pin, pull the elastic( a little shorter than the ribbon’s length) through and then stitch up both ends of the ribbon. You can either stitch both ends together and wear the belt by slipping it or you can attach a hook-and-loop to make it easier to wear.

The sleeves can either be rolled up or cut or completely removed depending on your preference. If the shirt has a deep you cut you can give it a more linear cut to make it look more like a tunic top or tunic dress! The tunic can be worn with either a pair of leggings or even just a as a dress, depending on what length you are working with or are comfortable wearing. 

Remember…the key is to enjoy and be you! A little creativity is all that’s needed ! Dont forget to look up for Part2 next week! We’ll talk about transforming your salwars and Indian wear into fun causals and even sheek formal wear!

CARPE DIEM

Seize the Day-Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem is an Art and Learning Centre equipped with an Art Gallery as well as creative workshop and performance spaces located in an ancestral house in Majorda, South Goa, India. A space, where you can explore the creative self that burns inside you recently held an art exhibition  by  Gautam Benegal on 23rd January to 29th January '13

                     His paintings  is about the soft corners and spaces of Bombay and the people who inhabit them and in their own way complete this great city. They complete us too because what we are today is the sum of all our experiences, the good and the bad, the profound and the mundane. To forget would be to divest ourselves of our shares in the collective memory of our communities and spaces that make up the entities that are you and me. Those paintings reflect the enduring and powerful images in the retina of our collective psyche even as the soft corners of this city are shaved off and Mumbai shrugs off the old to reinvent itself again in true survivalist fashion.

This venue Carpe Diem in the past was ignored and now the house has been renovated for various performances and exhibitions .For instance yoga classes and dance classes  were organized which  helps us to rejuvenate and binds the people together. India's leading Nutritionist Ryan Fernando tutored people on how to maintain a healthier lifestyle with good Nutrition. A 2 hr personalised Workshop on techniques and concepts directed at eating nutritiously for fat loss, maintaining a healthier weight and beating the bulge helped in a big way. Local artist Oscar de Sequeira Nazareth is currently preparing his fourth picture exhibition, “Fachadas”, a photography exhibition held at Carpe Diem.

Having grown up in Portugal and spent the last 10 years in England,he was absolutely fascinated by the beautiful and unique facades of Goan houses.  They show a profound combination of Indian and European influences, yet the resulting fusion is something authentically Goan. As a result,his very first exhibition featured several Goan facades, and hislast exhibition was totally dedicated to Goan houses.” Drawing, I think, is more about seeing and thinking than it is about marks on the page. Sure, the mark-making part is important, but it all begins in the eyes and the mind. You need to observe and consider your subject, decide on a composition and make visual notes about it. When drawing, the medium almost disappears, becoming an extension of your hand, enabling to you describe your subject effortlessly.  The drawing is like a brainstorming session, an interactive dialogue where the problem is laid out and solutions discussed. The painting, by contrast, is often more like a complete poem or a finished novella: the plot or the theme established, and followed through to its conclusion. Of course, many paintings are exploratory in nature, but then one might say that the artist is drawing with paint!

Music ,art and dance are performing arts where if one has the passion in them can achieve great heights.Carpe –Diem is one such venue to bring out your talents.

RIA CHATS UP ROY D'SA

Interview with Roy Dsa, member of the band Crimson Tide
Q. Since when have you been in the industry?
A: 13 years
Q. Why does music mean so much to you?
A: Music to me is a form of release. After a hard day’s work it helps you release your stress. It also makes other people happy.
Q. If you had an alternative career to choose from what would it be?
A: I would want to be a teacher.
Q. What instruments do you play?
A: Keyboard, guitar and drums.
Q. What do you do other than playing in a band?
A: I teach kids music.
Q. Did anyone inspire you to get into this field?
A: Well it was my father at first who pushed me to learn music but later I began liking music once I started experimenting myself.
Q. At what age did you start?
A: At the age of 14.
Q. How did you get into the band?
A: My friends got together and we began playing on cruises, and one of the ‘Crimson tide’ band members noticed me. They needed a keyboardist in their band and so they asked me to join.

COLIN D'CRUZ

From working with bollywood icons like Sonu Nigam, Asha Bhosle and Shubha Mudgal to symphony orchestras, rock bands, pop bands, electronic, fusion, reggae and with other bands creating new genres of music that have yet to be recognized, Collin D’Cruz has achieved what very few Indian musicians have.

Being in the music industry for over 30 years, he is one of the few bass players worldwide who has been a member of over a hundred different music ensembles. His unique style has earned him an individual voice in the music world. His journey into music began with playing at some of the best hotels in Mumbai, the JW Marriot Hotel and Taj Land’s End and has expanded to global platforms.

One of his most important projects has been his band, The Brown Indian Band, which has released three albums under Goa’s Rock and Raga label. Apart from his band Collin says that one of his most prized accomplishments was his performance with the Hennessey XO smooth and mellow international tour. “We were the first band outside the American Blue note label invited to perform on this world renowned series of jazz concerts” he said.

Collin’s zeal for music, especially his love for jazz and helping young musicians with their musical dream, led him to set up Jazz Goa. The organization was set up to help young musical talent in Goa have a platform and launch themselves. . “When I started off over thirty years ago it was a struggle. Helping youngsters interested in a career in music is my way of saying thank you to music”, he explained.

Recently Collin also started Jazz Radio that can be followed up on Soundclip.com, where members of Jazz Goa can upload their music and be heard online. Jazz Goa has helped young artists get gigs both locally and internationally and continues to be an important pillar in the Goan music scene, with Collin D’Cruz continuing to be its cornerstone. So for all you young Goan artists and those musically talented in general, you can check out the Jazz Goa site at www.jazzgoa.com for details. Hats off to Colin for his zealous drive and visionary work here in Goa!

THE INDIAN TEMPEST....WHAT A STORMY PERFORMANCE

I am ever so glad I made the decision to attend the peformance of 'The Indian Tempest' by the Abhinaya Theatre Village and Kala Academy and the Footbarns Travelling Theatre and Guimaraes, European Capital of Culture. Originally written by William Shakespeare, this production was directe by Paddy Hayter and was produced by Tapas Bhatt and Fabien Granier.

Initially, the play took time to soak up the interests of the audience. However, the capturing performances by the actors who played the roles of Prospero and Ariel, not to forget that of Caliban were enthralling. The backing music which was a fusion of the sitar, harmonium and tabla along with violins and a viola was a very unique and beautiful concept. The lighting lifted the performance to a large extent.

What really blew me away was the way the actors threw their voices so loudly that even we who sat on the last rows of the open air auditorium could hear them very clearly. I have always wondered how actors say their dialogues without microphones and that night I was convinced that what I witnessed on that stage was real theatre!!

The linguistic brilliance of the play lay in the usage of not only English but Malayalam, Sanskrit and French. On the whole, a very enjoyable performance and one really worth attending, especially for a theatre enthusiast like moi!!

THE LAND OF ARTISTES AND CRAFTSMEN

Goa is a land of crafts and craftsmen, where aesthetic quality finds a natural expression. Goa has a rich and magnificent tradition of the classical arts. Over the years, Goans have excelled in poetry, music and the fine arts.

The exquisitely carved rosewood and teak furniture, the terracotta figurines, the classic brass items and the unique gold jewellery designs all speak of an age still valuable in this technology obsessed world.

The folk paintings of Goa have been traced to different places from ancient temples, churches and palatial manors to humble households. They mostly depict episodes from the epics - the Mahabharata and the Ramayana and the Puranas and also scenes from the New Testament.

During the Portuguese colonisation, local craftsmen played a major role in the development of the exquisite furnishings and decorations used in residential houses, churches and chapels. This art can still be seen in the Christian Art Museum at Old Goa.

Goans have contributed greatly to the world of music. Many famous names on the Indian music scene originate from Goa. Famous singers such as Lata Mangueshkar and Kishori Amonkar in the classical variety and Remo Fernandes in pop music are from Goa.

Konkani literature has produced many great names such as Bakibab Borkar who have contributed to the development of Konkani as a national language with some superlative writing.

Local craftsmen in Goa produce a wide variety of crafts ranging from terracotta pottery and figurines to superb brass lamps and decorative items.

A large number of Goans have also played a major role in drama and Hindi film industry in the neighbouring state of Maharashtra.

Goa does not lag behind as far as local arts and crafts are concerned and with the superb craftsmanship of the local artisans has managed to carve out a niche for itself in this highly competitive field.

It can be said that artistic talent virtually runs in Goan blood, which is manifested, in many artistic crafts that have attained commercial proportions over the years.

Local artists make excellent souvenirs from a wide range of materials. These items are crafted by professional artisans in their ethnic ambience in the rural areas, and also by artisans working at the arts and crafts complexes run by the government.

The products are sold through various handicraft emporia and at stalls at all the major tourist spots. The art and craft of Goa is the product of the aesthetic blend of Portuguese and Indian cultures.

The crafts of the state are intricately beautiful, capturing the fancies of tourists and locals alike. These crafts are a mirror of Goa's perennial beauty and they have won critical acclaim of the connoisseurs of the art world.

Goan lace is here, as are colourful masks, cotton bags, wooden toys and the excellent shopping bags and table mats woven from sisal or banana, coconut or pineapple fibre.

The best items are perhaps the fabulous terracotta and brass items from Bicholim. Items made from exquisite sea shells ranging from chandeliers to mirrors to idols are also much in demand.

The major art forms of the state include bamboo craft, woodcarving, brass metals, seashell craft, Papier-Mache, and wooden lacquer ware. Other important crafts are Jute Macrame, Fabric Collage, Plaster of Paris, Crochet and embroidery, fiber and Batik prints, fiber stone carving, Coconut shell carving, metal embossing, silver and imitation jewelry, cotton dolls, soft toys, woolen tapestry, and artistic weaving.

DIONNE TALKS DANCE :D

Portuguese influence on music and dance of Goa

Goa, the smallest Indian state, was under the Portuguese rule for more than five centuries. The European powers left in 1961. Being dominated for centuries, the Goan culture heavily reflects the Portuguese influence. The Portuguese culture is known for their happy go lucky nature, love for drinks, late night parties and gala dinners. The Portuguese captured Goa in the 16th century and ruled for over four centuries

Goans are a talented lot when it comes to music and dance. They don't leave an occasion to pull a string or shake a leg. Music is in the blood of Goans since time immemorial, in almost every family you would find a pianist or a guitarist. Being a part of the culture, the music of Goa is a blend of the East and the West. While the rural areas still stick to the traditional forms of music, the urban areas have shifted to a more modern version. The committee of Semana da Cultura Indo-Portuguesa (Goa) has organized a business-related interaction where Goan and Portuguese entrepreneurs can share industry views and boost business relations. Addressing a press conference, Anil Counto, chairman of the executive committee of Semana da Cultura Indo-Portuguesa (Goa) said, "India and Portugal, both regions are steeped in rich heritage and culture. Semana da Cultura Indo-Portuguese (Goa) celebrates the diverse cultures; the language, architecture, art, literature, music and other elements. Goa has assimilated the essence of both regions where people coexist in harmony and joy."

Antonia Sabido Costa, consul general of Portugal in Goa and convener of the committee added is of the view that throughout the event he hopes to offer a diversified presentation of some of the most innovative and contemporary art forms and creators, each of which are rooted in traditional culture including the singing competitions, azulejos and talks on Portuguese as a language. One of the key highlights of the week long festivities is the sumptuous buffet of Goan - Portuguese cuisine being put together by Goa’s popular celebrity chefs from Cidade de Goa. The chef and his team have carefully planned an elaborate spread of Goan and Portuguese delicacies and sweet treats for the gala dinner to be held in Lisbon. Screenings of Goan films such as that of ‘O Maria’ directed by Rajendra Talak, award winning ‘Pultadacho Munis’ (The man beyond the bridge) by Laxmikant Shetgaonkar and ‘Jagor’ an award winning film at IFFI 2009 by Sangram Singaikwad was held at the Museu de Oriente and Cinemateca which is a prestigious film institute in the country. The screenings were followed by a discussion. An interaction was scheduled at Cinemateca where film makers from Portugal and Goa were able to interacting with each other. Screening of Portuguese films take place on Saturdays at Chowgule College too. The Goa University too offers Portuguese courses in Portuguese theatre.

Goan fadista Sonia Shirsat is famous for her fado. Fado songs typically narrate sad tales of separation, longing and unrequited love. But Shirsat says that it’s not all melancholic and morose. “There are some lively and upbeat fados as well,” says Shirsat, who idolises Amalia Rodrigues, the Portuguese singer credited with popularising fado worldwide. An exhibition of photographs by celebrated Goan photographers Pantaleao Fernandes, Assavri Kulkarni and Sanjeev Sardessai was organised at the Fundacao Champalimund over an evening of cocktails. Breathtaking images of Goa’s landscapes were showcased to guests through the weeklong event.

Successfully running for 11 consecutive years, Vem Cantar, the Portuguese singing competition jointly organized by the Heritage Cell of Rosary College, Navelim and Fundação Oriente resonated through the interiors of Kala Academy. Started in 1998, as an initiative taken by the Heritage Cell of Rosary College of Commerce and Arts, Navelim, Vem Cantar was staged on the college premises and was restricted to a few solo participants, and an even smaller number of groups. The Fundação sees this as an opportunity to build a strong level of interest in the Portuguese language through music. Every year, we see the involvement of participants, that but for the song, may have no knowledge of the language. But through this medium, interest develops.”One person that has taken a keen interest in the development of the competition on the whole is Delfim Correia da Silva, director of Instituto Camões, based in Panjim. For the last three years he has been actively involved in conducting audio-visual sessions on contemporary Portuguese music, so as to expose participants to various genres of music in the Iberian language.

Corridinho is a form of Portuguese dance performed in Goa. It is popular amongst the dances of Goa and is considered a beautiful example of Portuguese cultural influence. It is also known to be a peasant dance which is popular among Goan elite youth. Corridinho is considered to be a popular form of the Portuguese dance named Algarve. It is performed by couples in which the girls wear long skirts and tie a scarf for their hair and the boys wear a hat. The colourful costumes are a feast to the eye. Corridinho Marcha de Fontainhas is a well known folk art that involves singing and dancing. It is performed for many competitions and festivals in Goa. This form is usually performed by 6 couples and is known for its exquisite and rhythmic footwork.

To conclude the long period of Portuguese rule has left behind an indelible influence on Goa. From Goan food, culture, religion to fairs, festivals and music everything reflects the Portuguese influence on this Indian state. It is rather difficult to imagine Goa without the Portuguese connection. Goa is a unique blend of western and eastern culture and this unique blend is reflected is almost every Goan aspect, art to architecture to food and music.