Tag: Art and Culture Goa

Human Interest

Applications Invited for Handicraft Artisans and Food Stalls for Lokotsav 2026

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The Directorate of Art & Culture, in association with the West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur, will organise the annual National Folk Festival “Lokotsav 2026” at Darya Sangam, Kala Academy, Campal, Panaji, Goa. The festival will bring together around 500 performing artists from various states across India, presenting a vibrant showcase of folk dances and folk music representing the country’s diverse cultural traditions.

Alongside the performances, more than 600 craftspeople and traditional food vendors from different states of India and from Goa will set up stalls to display and sell handicrafts, handlooms, traditional jewellery, and regional food items during the festival period. The event offers a major platform for artisans and food vendors to reach a wide and diverse audience.

Applications are invited in the prescribed forms from interested Goan craftspeople who possess a valid handicraft artisan card or licence and are engaged in producing handicrafts, handlooms, traditional jewellery, and related items. Applications are also open to Goan individuals holding valid food licences for setting up packed or serving food stalls offering traditional Goan and Indian recipes, including Goan snacks.

Stall charges will be applicable to all selected participants. Handicraft and packed food stalls will be allotted on a sharing basis between two vendors, with charges shared accordingly. Payments must be made at the time of stall allotment through debit card or UPI only. Application forms are available at a nominal cost of Rs. 10. It is mandatory for handicraft applicants to carry a valid artisan card issued by the competent authority along with a photo identity proof such as an EPIC or Election Card. Food stall applicants must also carry a valid photo identity proof.

A limited number of application forms will be available at the Directorate of Art & Culture, Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, on December 23 and 24, 2025, on a first-come, first-served basis between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm. Duly filled application forms must be submitted to the department on or before December 29, 2025, by 5.30 pm. Late applications will not be entertained. Only one application form will be issued per vendor against a valid artisan card or licence.

Books & Literature

Art & Culture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar Releases “Perni Zagor” Book by Dr. Pandurang Phaldesai

Tanisha Cardozo

Art and Culture Minister Shri Ramesh Tawadkar released “Perni Zagor”, a book written by Dr. Pandurang Phaldesai, at a function organized by the Department of Art and Culture in Panaji. The event celebrated Goa’s vibrant cultural traditions and the continuing efforts to preserve its folk heritage through academic and creative works.

On the occasion, Minister Tawadkar felicitated Dr. Pandurang Phaldesai in recognition of his extensive contributions to the study and promotion of Goan culture. Dr. Phaldesai, a well-known cultural scholar and author, has worked for decades to document and promote various forms of Goan folk performance and traditions, with “Perni Zagor” being his latest contribution.

The event was attended by Director of Art and Culture Shri Vivek Naik and Deputy Director Shri Milind Mate, along with cultural enthusiasts and members of the artistic community. The book release underlined the Department’s commitment to nurturing and showcasing Goa’s artistic and cultural identity.

Through works like “Perni Zagor”, Dr. Phaldesai continues to bring attention to Goa’s traditional art forms, helping to ensure that future generations appreciate and preserve the region’s unique cultural heritage.

Events in Goa

“Konkani is Our Identity”: Vivek Naik Inaugurates Official Language Training for Government Employees

Tanisha Cardozo

In a resounding affirmation of cultural pride and linguistic heritage, Director of Art and Culture, Vivek Naik, inaugurated the second batch of Official Language Training for government employees in Goa. The initiative is part of the state’s ongoing effort to integrate Konkani — Goa’s official language — into day-to-day administration and governance.

The Official Language Training program equips government officials with the skills and confidence to use Konkani in written and verbal communication within the administration. The second batch includes employees from various departments who will undergo structured modules covering:

  • Administrative vocabulary in Konkani
  • Official correspondence formats
  • Grammar and usage
  • Cultural context in communication

The initiative is aimed at ensuring that Konkani is not just ceremonial, but functional and widely used in governance.

Goa has always been a unique cultural mosaic, and the state’s commitment to Konkani as its official language is enshrined in the Constitution. Yet, ensuring its use in everyday governance remains an ongoing challenge.

Naik’s emphasis on language training is a step toward aligning administrative practices with constitutional values and public sentiment. The Department of Art and Culture is playing a key role in mobilising resources, creating curriculum, and generating awareness among officials.

As more government employees are trained in using Konkani professionally, the state moves closer to a fully inclusive, culturally-rooted administration. Beyond efficiency, this initiative nurtures a deep cultural consciousness among public servants.

The Department aims to expand the training further in coming months, involving more departments and reaching rural administrative units where local language usage is vital.

📍 Organising Body: Department of Art and Culture, Goa
🗣️ Speaker: Vivek Naik, Director
📘 Program: Official Language Training for Government Employees

Books & Literature

Hema Sardessai Inaugurates “Monsoon Expression” – A Cultural Extravaganza in Panaji

allycaralgoa

The soulful spirit of Goa was on full display as the celebrated singer Smt. Hema Sardessai inaugurated the Monsoon Expression program at Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji. This vibrant cultural initiative, organized by the Directorate of Art and Culture, aims to celebrate the essence of Goa’s artistic traditions during the monsoon season.

The program brings together diverse artistic expressions including music, theatre, dance, folk art, literature, and visual arts, culminating in a striking painting exhibition by local talents.

The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of notable dignitaries including Shri Sagun Velip, Director of Art and Culture, and Shri Milind Mate, Deputy Director, among others.

Addressing the gathering, Hema Sardessai applauded the Department for its sustained efforts in nurturing Goan heritage and creating platforms for emerging artists. The event was met with enthusiastic participation and appreciation from attendees across the cultural spectrum.

Monsoon Expression is not just a program—it is a movement to reinforce Goa’s vibrant artistic roots and create meaningful engagement between artists and audiences.

With its inspiring blend of performances and exhibitions, the event is set to run through the monsoon, turning rainy days into moments of artistic celebration.

Books & Literature

Ronak Kamat’s I Am Nothing Captures Goa’s Reclusive Artist, Vamona Navelcar

allycaralgoa

By Maryanne De Souza || Team Allycaral

~ As part of MOG Sundays, Goan filmmaker Ronak Kamat screened his documentary ‘I Am Nothing,’ chronicling the life of reclusive artist Vamona Navelcar, whose journey spanned Goa, Mozambique and Portugal.

~ Kamat talks about his experience directing the film, eight years in the making, that included candid conversations with artists and collaborators.

Panaji, July 2025: According to Goan director and writer Ronak Kamat, the late Vamona Navelcar was a reclusive, but exceptional Goan artist from Pomburpa, whose life spanned stories from Goa, Mozambique and Portugal. An exclusive screening of I Am Nothing, Kamat’s documentary on Navelcar, was held at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne, followed by a discussion with the director as a part of its MOG Sundays series.

Navelcar, who died at the ripe old age of 91 in 2021, wasn’t someone who opened up easily to others and Kamat did not want to make him feel uncomfortable in the course of his interviews. “Instead of aiming for a swankier film, I thought, why not go for an honest film (with) Navelcar, two members of the crew and a simple setup where he could speak freely,” says Kamat, adding that the process of filming lasted eight years, which included engaging with various individuals associated with Navelcar. 

In the course of his lengthy career as an artist, Navelkar twice received Gulbenkian Fellowships and won an international award in Monte Carlo. A master of line, his murals and bas-reliefs feature in collections across the world. 

It all started when Kamat was in his second year of college, in the middle of filming his previous project Caazu, when Anne Ketteringham, author of Vamona Navelcar: An Artist of Three Continents, invited him to visit the artist’s home. “So we went and met him. I thought he was a great artist. I had heard about him, but I didn’t expect to be sitting and talking with him for four hours,” Kamat recalls. After that meeting, the director began asking around, speaking with family members, abstract artist based in Goa, Suhas Shilker, his initial introducer Anne Ketteringham and several others to learn more about the artist.

As Kamat dug deeper, he realised that, while many people knew of Navelcar, no one was making an obvious effort to preserve his story. “He’s not going to be around forever. He has so much to tell us about his life and his art, which is impeccable. So that was the impulse.”

During the shooting process, there were days when Kamat would arrive at the artist’s house with a plan and find Navelcar not wanting to shoot. “We would start chatting and after an hour, he would gesture to bring out the camera,” he narrates. He emphasises the importance of ethical filmmaking, saying, “I think that’s a big part of creating documentaries. Because otherwise everyone is so focused on just getting a film made.”

After completing a draft of the documentary, Kamat sought guidance from various producers, including Arindam Mitra, producer of Black Friday, a popular 2004 Indian crime film, but soon realised the need for an artist’s viewpoint to shape the film more thoughtfully. He then consulted Viraj Naik, an artist known for his printmaking and paintings. 

Kamat is also known for his writing work for OTT platforms. His works have reached numerous film festivals worldwide and have won the ‘Best Documentary’ and ‘Best Short Film’ awards. His last short film, ‘Bare’, won the ‘Best Film on Women’ Award at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival (CICFF) in 2021 and an ‘Honourable Mention for Best Director’ at the Eastern Europe Film Festival in Romania. I Am Nothing is now set to be screened in Portugal on September 5.