Tag: Arambol

Events in Goa

Raponkarancho Sea Food Festival 2025 Opens at Arambol, Celebrating Goa’s Coastal Heritage

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Arambol came alive with aromas of fresh seafood, lively music, and vibrant coastal traditions as Day 1 of the Raponkarancho Sea Food Festival 2025 unfolded, setting a festive tone for the days ahead. The festival offered a heartfelt tribute to Goa’s maritime heritage, blending culinary excellence with cultural expression and community participation.

The festival was formally inaugurated in the presence of Hon’ble MLA Shri Jit Arolkar and Director of Tourism Shri Kedar Naik, along with Shri Deepak Narvekar, Deputy General Manager (Marketing), GTDC, and other dignitaries and community representatives. Their presence marked the beginning of a celebration deeply rooted in Goa’s coastal identity and fishing traditions.

Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism Shri Rohan A. Khaunte emphasised the importance of such festivals in preserving traditional livelihoods and cultural practices. He noted that the Raponkarancho Sea Food Festival plays a crucial role in safeguarding Goa’s fishing heritage and culinary legacy, while also strengthening community-led tourism that reflects the state’s authentic character.

Director of Tourism Shri Kedar Naik echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the festival serves as a platform to bring fishing communities, local cuisine, and cultural traditions together. He underlined that initiatives like these promote experiential tourism while ensuring that local communities remain central to tourism development in Goa.

Visitors were treated to a diverse spread of traditional seafood preparations, thoughtfully curated by local fishermen and culinary experts. Each dish reflected the flavours of coastal Goa, offering an authentic gastronomic experience rooted in age-old recipes and fresh local produce.

Adding to the festive ambience were live cultural performances that showcased Goa’s rich artistic traditions, creating an immersive experience for both locals and tourists. Music, dance, and community interaction transformed the venue into a lively celebration of coastal life.

The Raponkarancho Sea Food Festival 2025 stands as a vibrant celebration of Goa’s coastal traditions, community spirit, and culinary richness. As the festival continues over the coming days, it promises more flavours, performances, and experiences that reinforce Goa’s vision of sustainable and community-driven tourism.

Events in Goa

Raponkarcho Sea Food Festival 2025 Celebrates Goa’s Fishing Heritage in Arambol

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, will organise the Raponkarcho Sea Food Festival 2025 from December 28 to 30 at the Main Parking Area, Arambol, highlighting Goa’s rich seafood heritage, traditional fishing culture and vibrant coastal lifestyle. The three-day festival aims to offer visitors an immersive cultural experience rooted in local cuisine, music and community participation.

The festival will feature traditional Goan seafood cuisine stalls, cultural programmes and live musical performances, with entry free for all visitors. Programmes will begin daily from 6.00 pm, while the inaugural ceremony will take place on December 28 at 5.30 pm in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, Tourism Minister Shri Rohan Ashok Khaunte, senior government officials and representatives from the tourism sector.

Speaking ahead of the festival, Tourism Minister Shri Rohan Ashok Khaunte said fishing has been central to Goa’s way of life for generations and continues to shape its coastal communities and food culture. He noted that the festival provides a platform to honour the skills of the fishing community while promoting authentic Goan seafood and strengthening cultural tourism through community-led initiatives.

Director of Tourism Shri Kedar Naik stated that the festival has been curated to bring together cuisine, music and cultural engagement in a festive setting, with Arambol serving as an ideal venue to showcase Goa’s cultural diversity and local traditions.

The opening night on December 28 will feature a musical line-up led by iconic Goan singer Lorna, along with performances by Purple Rain, Black Slade and Afroz Sayyed. December 29 will see performances by Gravity, Brainwash, 24K India and Teri Miko, while the festival will conclude on December 30 with performances by Forefront, The Imperial, Usman and Sartek.

Through initiatives like the Raponkarcho Sea Food Festival, the Department of Tourism continues to promote Goa’s traditional cuisine, cultural expressions and community participation, enhancing the festive tourism experience during the year-end season.