Category: Events in Goa

Events in Goa

Goa-Born Rochelle Pinto to Deliver Centenary Lecture on Women in Leadership at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias

Tanisha Cardozo

As part of its ongoing centenary celebrations, Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias will host a special lecture on Women in Leadership: How to Build a Career in Media, featuring Goa-born Rochelle Pinto, Head of Editorial Content at Vogue India. The session will take place on February 7, 2026, from 6 pm to 7 pm at the club premises in Panaji.

Designed as an interactive conversation, the lecture will see Rochelle Pinto in dialogue with fashion designer Simran Dhond, focusing on leadership, career pathways, and real-world experiences within media and creative industries. The event is aimed at students, young professionals and aspiring creatives seeking clarity on navigating editorial spaces and building sustainable careers in an evolving media landscape.

Born and raised in Panaji and now based in Mumbai, Rochelle Pinto brings over 15 years of experience across print and digital media. Her career spans leading platforms including Tweak India and the Condé Nast group. At Vogue India, she currently oversees editorial vision and content across platforms, championing a digital-first approach while strengthening legacy publishing.

Beyond editorial leadership, Pinto has contributed to education as a faculty member at the Istituto Marangoni in Italy and St Paul’s Institute of Communication and Education in Mumbai. She is also actively engaged with initiatives related to education, environmental awareness and inclusion, reflecting a broader commitment to social impact.

The centenary lecture underscores Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias’ efforts to create meaningful knowledge-sharing platforms while celebrating 100 years of community, culture and dialogue, making it a significant addition to the club’s milestone year.

Events in Goa

Statewide Shigmo Festival 2026 to Be Celebrated Across Goa from March 5 to 18

rencygomes02

Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Panaji, February 2, 2026: Goa is all set to celebrate Shigmo 2026, one of the State’s most vibrant cultural festivals, showcasing its rich folk heritage through music, dance, and artistic expressions. A high-level meeting to review and plan the organisation of Shigmo float parades across various centres was chaired by Minister for Tourism, Rohan A. Khaunte, in the presence of Director of Tourism Kedar Naik and Managing Director, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Kuldeep Arolkar.


The meeting focused on ensuring the smooth and successful execution of the festival, with discussions covering logistics, adherence to timelines, inter-departmental coordination, and promotional strategies aimed at enhancing the reach and appeal of Shigmo 2026.

Following the meeting, a press conference was held where Director of Tourism, Kedar Naik, along with MD GTDC Kuldeep Arolkar and Deputy General Manager (Marketing/Hotels), GTDC Deepak Narvekar, officially announced the festival dates, centres, and key arrangements.

Addressing the media, Naik informed that Shigmo 2026 will be celebrated from March 5 to March 18, with colourful float parades organised across 19 centres in the State. The celebrations will commence in Ponda on March 5, followed by Calangute (March 6), Panaji (March 7), Mapusa (March 8), Mandrem (March 9), Bicholim (March 10), Sanquelim (March 11), Shiroda and Sanguem (March 12), Dharbandora and Cuncolim (March 13), Margao (March 14), Porvorim and Vasco (March 15), Valpoi and Curchorem (March 16), Quepem and Canacona (March 17), and will conclude at Pernem on March 18, 2026.

The Director further stated that the Department of Tourism provides two types of grants annually for Shigmo celebrations—infrastructure support and prize money. This year, infrastructure assistance has been enhanced by an additional ₹1 lakh per centre to further strengthen festival arrangements.

It was emphasised that parade routes must be finalised by the respective Shigmotsav Committees in consultation with the Traffic Cell and with prior permissions to ensure smooth traffic flow and public convenience. Committees were instructed to strictly adhere to all prescribed rules and regulations. A new set of guidelines for Romtamel groups has also been introduced, including a cap of 150 participants per group. Shigmo processions are to begin at 4:00 pm and conclude within the stipulated government time limits.

Representatives from various Municipal Councils, officials from the Police Department, Traffic Cell, Fire and Emergency Services, Assistant Director (Tourism) Jayesh Kankonkar, and other concerned departments were present, reflecting coordinated planning for the successful conduct of the festival.

Shigmo Festival 2026 is expected to once again bring together communities and visitors, offering an immersive experience of Goa’s living cultural traditions through vibrant floats, folk performances, and festive celebrations across the State.

Events in Goa

Anubhuti Goswami and Emon Goswami Lead Immersive Sound Healing Experience at Vivaan Festival

rencygomes02

Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Goa: The serene atmosphere of the Vivaan Handpan & World Music Festival transformed into a space of calm and introspection as renowned melodic sound healer and vocalist Anubhuti Goswami, along with handpan artist Emon Goswami, conducted a powerful sound healing session that resonated deeply with festival attendees.


Blending the purity of Indian classical vocal tonality with the soothing, resonant vibrations of the handpan, the duo created a soundscape that many participants described as “deeply calming,” “transformational,” and “meditative.” Attendees shared that the synergy between Anubhuti’s voice and Emon’s handpan performance elevated the experience, with several calling it one of the highlights of the festival.
The session invited listeners into a space of inner stillness, emotional release, and mindful awareness, aligning seamlessly with the festival’s ethos of global musical connection and conscious living. The immersive experience encouraged participants to slow down, tune inward, and engage with sound as a tool for wellbeing.
Anubhuti Goswami, a Mumbai-based singer and sound healer rooted in Indian classical music, has been integrating melody, mindfulness, and therapeutic sound practices into wellness spaces across India. Together with Emon Goswami, she has been conducting melodic sound healing sessions, retreats, and workshops nationwide, reaching diverse audiences through the healing power of music and vibration.
Their ongoing work continues to bridge art, healing, and holistic wellbeing, positioning melodic sound healing as a meaningful and accessible wellness practice within contemporary lifestyles.

Events in Goa

Philanthropist Dr. Dinesh Shahra to Grace Vivaan Handpan & World Music Festival with Green Gold Harmony Award

rencygomes02

Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Renowned thought leader, philanthropist, and cultural promoter Dr. Dinesh Shahra will grace the Vivaan Handpan & World Music Festival at Bambolim Beach Resort, Goa, where he will present the Green Gold Harmony Award and take part in a symbolic tree plantation drive promoting sustainability.



As the founder of the Green Gold Movement, Dr. Shahra has consistently advocated for building deeper connections between music, nature, and human consciousness. His presence at the festival underscores the theme of harmony between artistic expression and environmental responsibility, encouraging musicians to use their creativity as a force for global healing.

“Music and nature are two expressions of the same divine energy,” said Dr. Shahra. “When we create music or plant a tree, we nurture the same vibration of life. Through this initiative, we aim to inspire artists to perform not just for applause, but for awareness and transformation.”

Festival organiser Mr. Deepak Thakkar expressed his gratitude for Dr. Shahra’s participation, stating that it was an honour to host him at the Vivaan Festival. He noted that Dr. Shahra’s vision of Green Gold seamlessly connects music with sustainability and would inspire artists from around the world to carry this message forward.

During the event, Mr. Alok Lahiri was honoured as the first recipient of the Green Gold Harmony Award, presented by Dr. Dinesh Shahra. The award recognises artists who use music as a medium to inspire balance between humanity and nature.

The festival also serves as a prelude to Green Gold Day celebrations on February 22, marking Dr. Shahra’s birthday. The day is dedicated to promoting music, wellness, and environmental harmony through community initiatives and tree plantation drives.

Together, these efforts reflect Dr. Shahra’s belief that when music and nature unite, they become the true Green Gold of the planet — nurturing peace, joy, and sustainability for generations to come.

Events in Goa

People’s Carnival Parade 2026 to Bring Goa’s Carnival Back to Its Roots in Porvorim

allycaralgoa

Porvorim, Goa | February 2, 2026: The Porvorim Carnival Committee has announced the return of the People’s Carnival Parade 2026, a community-led initiative aimed at reviving the original spirit of Goa’s Carnival—where people, culture, and creativity take centre stage over spectacle and commercialisation.

Scheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2026, from 3:30 pm onwards, the parade will take place at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg, Art Park, Porvorim. Built around the philosophy “No Engines, No Generators, Only Joy,” the event marks a conscious shift towards a walking, dancing, people-powered celebration reminiscent of Carnivals from the past.

Speaking about the vision, Shri Rohan Khaunte said Carnival has traditionally reflected Goa’s social and cultural fabric through satire, music, humour, and collective participation. He noted that increasing motorisation and excessive amplification had diluted its essence and stressed that initiatives like the People’s Carnival Parade are crucial in restoring Carnival’s inclusive, environmentally conscious, and community-driven character.

Representing the organising committee, Reena Fernandes highlighted that the parade is designed as an open platform encouraging citizens, families, institutions, and performers to actively participate rather than remain spectators. Early bird incentives have been introduced to reward participants who creatively revive Carnival traditions through innovation.

Setting a strong precedent, participation in 2026 will be strictly people-powered—no motorised or fuel-driven vehicles, no generators, and no large sound systems. Only acoustic and portable music will be allowed, encouraging storytelling, costumes, live music, dance, and movement.

Committee member Abigail D’Mello, overseeing participation and rules, emphasised that removing engines, noise, and commercial floats allows genuine interaction and cultural expression, reflecting a Carnival many Goans remember fondly and wish to pass on to future generations.

Another committee member, Martha Pinto, described the initiative as a breath of fresh air, noting the strong public response and the need to safeguard what is culturally special to Goa while welcoming tourism responsibly.

The parade will feature People’s Floats (minimum 20 participants), a Family Category (minimum four members), and individual performers including clowns and jokers. A structured prize scheme will award cash prizes up to the fifth position across categories such as Traditional, Club/Institution, Family, and Clown/Joker, along with consolation prizes.

Early bird incentives include ₹6,000 for the first 25 registered People’s Floats and ₹3,000 for the first 25 family entries, reinforcing early and active community participation.

Open to all, the People’s Carnival Parade 2026 invites citizens to walk, dance, and celebrate together in a safe, inclusive, and noise-free environment—keeping Carnival people-powered, participatory, and deeply rooted in Goan identity.