Panaji, November 2025: The second edition of the Heritage First Festival, a flagship initiative by the not-for-profit collective Heritage First Goa (HFG), commenced on November 14 at Panaji’s Azad Maidan, setting in motion a vibrant three-week exploration of Goa’s living, built and natural heritage.
The festival’s inauguration brought together seasoned resource persons, affectionately called “pilots,” who will lead 41 expert-curated walks and workshops across Goa. These experiences aim to help residents and visitors rediscover the layered histories, cultural stories, ecosystems and architectural marvels that define Goa.
Stories, Memories and Reflections at the Inaugural
The opening ceremony featured insightful reflections from senior journalist and author Sandesh Prabhudesai, historian and academic Dr. Maria Lourdes Bravo da Costa Rodrigues, and writer Shylendra Mehta—each offering glimpses of Panaji’s past and its cultural evolution.
Rodrigues shared vivid memories of the Central Library as a hub of learning and community interaction, noting how the city’s urban design drew from Lisbon-style planning with squares, promenade spaces and evocatively named streets.
Prabhudesai stressed the importance of linguistic heritage, delivering his speech in Konkani. He recalled the powerful role of spaces around Azad Maidan—like Café Prakash and Varsha Bookstore—as incubators for discussions, debates and public movements that shaped Goa’s civic landscape.
Mehta, a long-time Panaji resident, reflected on the life of the common man in earlier decades and concluded with a poetic tribute to the Mandovi River by Pandurang Bhangi.
Walks and Workshops Across Goa
The festival’s programming delves deep into Goa’s cultural and ecological diversity through curated experiences led by experts such as:
- Subodh Kerkar: Art and heritage walks
- Kilian Hughes: Environmental and nature trails
- Katrina Fernandez: Ecological explorations
- Pritha Sardessai: Architectural trails
Participants can choose from trails such as:
- Khazan ecosystem walk in Chorao
- Village walk in Saligao
- Chicalim caves walk
- São Jacinto river island walk
- Night trails through Panaji
Hands-on workshops further bring culture to life, including:
- Kaavi art sessions by Darpana Athale
- Kunbi weave sessions with Mahalaxmi Bhobe
- A community kitchen experience in Chorao led by Amreen Sheikh
- A poetry walk through Parra’s fields with Meera Ganpathi
- Petroglyph workshop at Usgalimal by Onkar Kshirsagar
Community, Collaboration & Cultural Preservation
Founded by heritage advocates Heta Pandit, Jack Ajit Sukhija, and Snigdha Manchanda, Heritage First Goa continues its mission to highlight stories, influences and traditions that have shaped Goa’s identity over centuries.
“It’s encouraging to see people of all ages come forward to experience aspects of Goa’s heritage that may even surprise long-time residents,” said HFG co-founder Heta Pandit. “This festival is about sparking curiosity about our collective past and using that awareness to preserve it.”
A unique element this year is the community adoption model where participants and local patrons sponsor individual heritage walks—strengthening grassroots involvement and sustaining festival operations.
Each walk or workshop is capped at small group sizes to ensure meaningful engagement and protect heritage spaces. Tickets are priced at ₹750 per session, with advance registration mandatory.
With immersive storytelling, expert-led explorations and hands-on cultural experiences, the Heritage First Festival 2025 promises to take Goa on an unforgettable journey through its layered history and vibrant cultural fabric.
