Tag: Art

International

Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris Reopens for the Feast of the Assumption 2025

Tanisha Cardozo

The heart of Paris will beat anew this August as Notre-Dame Cathedral hosts its first major religious celebration since the devastating fire of 2019. Marking a deeply symbolic return, the Cathedral will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption on August 14 and 15, 2025, restoring a centuries-old tradition to one of the world’s most beloved sacred spaces.

This two-day event carries both spiritual and historical significance. Since the 17th century, France has commemorated the vow of Louis XIII, who consecrated the nation to the Virgin Mary in 1638. In keeping with that legacy, the Feast of the Assumption is not just a liturgical celebration, but a national one — a reminder of France’s deep-rooted Marian devotion.

The program begins on Thursday, August 14, with reduced tours and access to the Cathedral as it opens its doors to the faithful. The evening is filled with solemn vespers, mass, and the Jubilee procession — a sacred moment inside the Cathedral that includes the ostension of the Crown of Thorns, one of Notre-Dame’s most revered relics. The evening concludes with the proclamation of the Gospel, a reminder of the enduring vow made by the French monarchy nearly four centuries ago.

Friday, August 15, the official day of the Assumption, begins early with morning masses and Lauds. The highlight of the day is the grand city procession, which begins at 3:45 pm from the Cathedral’s forecourt, led by Mgr Emmanuel Tois, Auxiliary Bishop of Paris. Carrying the Virgin and Child of Charles X, the procession moves through the streets of Paris, inviting the faithful and the curious alike to witness a public expression of devotion rarely seen since the Cathedral’s closure.

The day concludes with solemn vespers and a final mass, again presided over by Mgr Tois, capping a moment of immense spiritual and cultural renewal for France.

As Notre-Dame once again becomes a living space of prayer, music, and community, the 2025 Feast of the Assumption stands not only as a celebration of faith but as a testimony to resilience, heritage, and hope reborn.

Social

JCI Pilgao Elite Celebrates World Environment Day with Tree Plantation & Student Competitions

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Pilgao, Goa | June 5, 2025 – In a meaningful celebration of World Environment Day, JCI Pilgao Elite, in collaboration with the Goa State Biodiversity Board, organized a series of impactful activities aimed at spreading environmental awareness and engaging the local youth in climate action.

This year’s theme, “Ending Plastic Pollution Globally”, inspired a full-day program that combined hands-on activities, creative expression, and public speaking to emphasize the importance of sustainability and plastic-free living.

Tree Plantation Drive at Mahadev Temple

The event began with a tree plantation ceremony at the historic Mahadev Temple in Pilgao. Members of JCI Pilgao Elite, along with community participants, came together to plant saplings and promote greener surroundings. The initiative reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and community involvement.

Elocution Competition: Young Voices Speak Out

Following the plantation drive, an elocution competition was held for students from 5th to 7th standard, centered around the theme “Ending Plastic Globally.” A total of 15 students showcased their oratory skills, raising their voices on the pressing issue of plastic pollution and suggesting creative solutions for a plastic-free future.

The competition was judged by JC Shruti Parab Desai of JCI Bicholim, who also took the opportunity to encourage and motivate the students to become active agents of change. The competition served as a platform for young minds to express their concerns, hopes, and visions for a cleaner planet.

Bag Painting Competition: Creativity Meets Sustainability

To further engage students and reinforce the message, a cloth bag painting competition was organized for students from 8th to 10th standard. Also based on the year’s theme, this activity saw another 15 students unleash their artistic talents in designing eco-friendly messages on reusable cloth bags.

The competition was judged by Mudrika Chari and Saisha Fulari, who applauded the efforts and creativity of the participants. In solidarity with the students, JCI Pilgao Elite members themselves joined in, painting cloth bags to show their support for the cause.

Program Highlights & Organizers

The event was smoothly compered by JC Saujanya Parab Gaonkar, ensuring a seamless flow of activities. The overall program was directed and led by Project Director JC Jyotsna Parab Gaonkar, whose coordination brought together the various elements of the day’s celebration.

A formal vote of thanks was delivered by Secretary JC Swati Shirodkar, who appreciated the efforts of all participants, judges, volunteers, and guests.

Also present and actively involved were JCI members:
JC Shanaya Narvekar, JC Siya Parab Gaonkar, JC Diya Parab Gaonkar, JC Ritu Kavlekar, JC Ankita Walavalkar, and JC Pooja Narvekar, all of whom played vital roles in the success of the event.

Leadership Acknowledgment

The program was held under the leadership of:

  • JC Jayesh Valavalkar, President
  • JC Swati Naik Shirodkar, Secretary
  • JC Jyotsna Parab Gaonkar, Project Director

Their dedication and collaborative spirit were evident in the event’s success, making this World Environment Day not just a celebration, but a call to action.

A Small Step, A Big Message

The event concluded with smiling faces, painted bags, planted trees, and most importantly—an inspired community of young students who now understand the power of their voice and actions in protecting the planet.

JCI Pilgao Elite continues to uphold its mission of building better communities through civic engagement, education, and sustainability-focused initiatives.

Social

Unleashing Creativity: 20th Annual Drawing Competition Celebrates Young Artistic Talent

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The 20th Annual Drawing Competition, organized as part of Shri Sateri Devi’s Vardhapan Divas celebrations, was a resounding success. Held at Corjuem, this highly anticipated event brought together young artists from various age groups, providing a vibrant platform for them to showcase their creativity and talent.

A Legacy of Fostering Artistic Excellence
Over the past two decades, the Annual Drawing Competition has consistently provided a nurturing environment for children to express themselves through colors and creativity. The event has borne witness to exceptional artistic skills and innovative ideas, as participants demonstrate their unique perspectives and talents.

Celebrating Young Artistic Talent
This year’s competition saw enthusiastic participation from children across different age groups, each showcasing their artistic prowess. The event served as a wonderful opportunity for young artists to gain confidence in their abilities, as they proudly displayed their artwork for all to admire.

Empowering Future Generations
As the Annual Drawing Competition continues to inspire and empower young artistic talent, it remains a testament to the power of creativity and self-expression. By providing a platform for children to explore their artistic potential, this event plays a vital role in shaping the future of art and fostering a community that values and celebrates creativity.

Events in Goa

Rajeshri Creations Presents Triveni: A Celebration of Art and Connection

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Rajeshri Creations is thrilled to announce its latest endeavor, Triveni, a unique initiative that seeks to connect hearts through the universal language of art. This exciting project promises to bring people together, fostering a sense of community and understanding through the shared experience of creativity.

What is Triveni?

Triveni, which means “confluence of three rivers” in Sanskrit, represents the coming together of art, culture, and community. This initiative aims to provide a platform for artists, art enthusiasts, and individuals from all walks of life to connect, share, and learn from each other.

Stay Tuned for More Details!

As Triveni prepares to launch, Rajeshri Creations invites you to stay tuned for updates on this exciting project.

Events in Goa

Australian First Nations Art and Digital Storytelling Exhibition ‘Walking Through A Songline’ Strikes a Chord in Goa

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~ ‘Walking Through A Songline’ at The Museum of Goa, resonates with India’s own indigenous oral traditions.

Panaji, March 2025: Ancient Australian First Nations’ knowledge meets cutting-edge technology at ‘Walking Through A Songline,’ an immersive and digital art exhibition that brings the storytelling of Australia’s First Nations’ people to Goa.

Hosted at the Museum of Goa (MOG) in Pilerne, the ongoing exhibition, which was inaugurated by Christian Jack, Australian Deputy Consul General in Mumbai recently, reimagined the Seven Sisters Songline, one of Australia’s oldest indigenous narratives, through digital artistry, drawing unexpected connections to India’s own oral and artistic traditions.

Songlines, also called dreaming tracks, are a way of holding and passing on knowledge in non-text-based societies. These are millennia-old pathways of knowledge in the form of story, performance and art, that span the entire Australian continent, forming its foundational stories. The Songlines map the routes and activities of ancestral ‘creator beings’ that explain creation and transmit cultural values, including protocols of behaviour and living sustainably on the continent.

Presented by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the National Museum of Australia and produced by the Melbourne-based Mosster Studio, the exhibition uses digital craft to take a relook at Australia’s epic Seven Sisters Songline, an ancient tale of pursuit, survival of the continent’s First Nations’ people and cosmic connections. Interpreting the work of more than 100 artists, the exhibition transported visitors into the heart of Australian First Nations’ storytelling, drawing unexpected parallels with Goa’s own prehistoric art, like the Usgalimal petroglyphs in Quepem.

“Indigenous art is often sidelined as ‘primitive’ when in reality, it is as contemporary as any other form of artistic expression,” said Museum of Goa founder director Dr Subodh Kerkar. “This exhibition extends the spirit of Reconciliation Place in Canberra and Australia’s efforts to celebrate its First Nations’ people.” Reconciliation Place in the Australian capital of Canberra is a public space dedicated to acknowledging the continent’s indigenous history, culture and the ongoing journey of reconciliation in Australia.

Australian Deputy Consul General, Christian Jack, highlighted the exhibition’s broader significance. “We are thrilled with the response ‘Walking Through A Songline’ is receiving in Goa. Songlines, like India’s oral traditions, are ancestral maps of knowledge, passed down through generations. The multi-sensory art exhibition showcased the power of digital storytelling in preserving one of the world’s oldest cultures and it has been an honour to share this experience with the people of Goa.”

The exhibition at the MOG in Pilerne represents the last leg of the exhibition’s India tour and will be open for public viewing till April 4.

Beyond the digital installation, the exhibition features workshops, storytelling sessions and interactive activities, ensuring engagement beyond the screen. The India tour of ‘Walking Through A Songline’ has been organised in tandem with the Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR), Deakin University, Tata BlueScope Steel and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ).