Tag: #books

Events in Goa

Goa Book Festival 2026 Draws 1.25 Lakh Visitors, Sets a New Chapter for Literary Culture

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The first edition of the Goa Book Festival 2026 concluded on Sunday, 8 February, at the DB Bandodkar Grounds, Panaji, marking a significant milestone in Goa’s cultural and literary landscape. Held from 4 to 8 February under the theme “An Ocean of Books”, the festival attracted an impressive footfall of over 1.25 lakh visitors over five days, reflecting a growing enthusiasm for books, reading, and meaningful dialogue across age groups.

Readers, writers, publishers, educators, students, and families came together for a packed programme that blended literature with cinema, history, spirituality, language, music, and art. One of the highlights of the final day was the session “The Many Lives of Sachin Pilgaonkar”, where the veteran actor-director reflected on language, cinema, and the role reading played in shaping his creative journey. Sharing anecdotes from his early years, he spoke about learning spoken Urdu under the guidance of Meena Kumari, refining Marathi with support from his wife and Ashok Saraf, and memorable moments from films like Sholay and Brahmachari. He concluded the session with a soulful rendition of “Kaun Disha Mein Leke Chala”, leaving the audience visibly moved.

Spiritual leader and author Acharya Prashant, in his session “Understanding the Self in Everyday Life”, addressed the deep dissatisfaction many experience in modern life. He spoke candidly about how people often chase validation and material markers rather than true inner satisfaction, encouraging introspection and honesty as pathways to lasting fulfilment.

The Author’s Corner remained a vibrant space for ideas and dialogue throughout the day. Events included the prize distribution ceremony for the photography competition themed “Goa: Festival & Culture”, a book release by noted Konkani writer Vithal Gavde (Parvadkar), and a panel discussion on the development of the Konkani language featuring eminent speakers from literary and academic circles. Conversations on education, ancient wisdom, and multilingual poetry further enriched the programme.

The Children’s Corner emerged as a major attraction, with nearly 500 students participating in interactive storytelling, folk dance and music performances, creative design sessions, and introductions to digital reading platforms like the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya. Sessions celebrating Goa’s revived Kaavi Art drew enthusiastic participation from both children and parents, blending learning with hands-on creativity.

Evenings at the festival resonated with music and performance, culminating on the final day with an enthralling set by Kerala-based indie band Shanka Tribe, whose fusion of tribal rhythms and contemporary sounds created an immersive experience for audiences.

Across five days, the festival hosted conversations with prominent journalists, historians, filmmakers, legal experts, philosophers, authors, actors, and even an astronaut, ensuring wide-ranging engagement across disciplines. The book fair, featuring over 250 stalls from more than 100 publishers, remained abuzz throughout, with visitors exploring books in English, Konkani, Marathi, and several other Indian languages.

With strong participation, vibrant discussions, and a warm response from readers of all ages, the Goa Book Festival 2026 has laid the foundation for a lasting literary tradition in the state—one where books, ideas, and communities continue to meet and grow together.

Social

Vedanta Sesa Goa Promotes Community Well-being at Mayem Marathon 2026

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Intern Swara Bodke || Team Allycaral

Vedanta Sesa Goa, a leading iron ore producer with a legacy of more than seven decades in Goa, partnered with the Shri Mahamaya High-School Ex-Students Association for the Mayem Marathon 2026, held in Bicholim. The marathon has grown into one of the region’s most anticipated community sporting events and witnessed an overwhelming response this year, with over 1,500 participants from across the state.

The event featured multiple race categories, including 21 km, 10 km, 5 km and 3 km runs, along with dedicated races for school students across various age groups. The wide range of categories highlighted the inclusive nature of the marathon and encouraged participation from both seasoned runners and first-time participants.

Several dignitaries were present on the occasion, including Shri Premendra Shet, Hon’ble MLA for Mayem Constituency, and Guest of Honour Shri Deepak Narvekar, Deputy General Manager, Goa Tourism Development Corporation. Mr. Dhirajkumar Jagdish, Deputy CEO, Vedanta Iron Ore Goa, along with prominent community leaders, also attended the event. Vedanta Sesa Goa has been associated with all three editions of the Mayem Marathon under its ‘YouTheChange, YouThePower’ initiative.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Premendra Shet said the Mayem Marathon 2026 reflected the strong spirit of fitness, inclusivity and togetherness within the community. He appreciated Vedanta Sesa Goa for partnering with the marathon for the third consecutive year and acknowledged the company’s wider CSR contributions in the region, including the restoration of the historic Maem Bandhara and the establishment of computer centres and modern laboratories aimed at empowering youth.

Mr. Dhirajkumar Jagdish said Vedanta remains committed to fostering a healthier and more sustainable future for the communities it serves. He added that the Mayem Marathon stands as a powerful example of collective action, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together on a common platform, and expressed gratitude to the organisers, dignitaries and the Bicholim community for making the event a success.

Vedanta Sesa Goa continues to promote community well-being through partnerships in initiatives such as the Republic Run and the Mayem Marathon. Through its flagship CSR programme, the Sesa Football Academy, the company also conducts football camps and tournaments including the Vedanta Women’s League, Vedanta Youth Cup and Vedanta Football Championship. These initiatives reflect Vedanta Sesa Goa’s ongoing efforts to foster a culture of health, fitness and holistic development across Goa.

Music

Paul John Single Malt Whisky Becomes Official Pouring Partner for ‘Tribute to Human Bondage’ Concert Series in Goa

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

India’s rock legacy is set to resonate across Goa as Paul John Single Malt Whisky comes on board as the official pouring partner for Tribute to Human Bondage, a nostalgia-soaked concert series celebrating the iconic 1970s rock band Human Bondage. The series brings together founder member Henry Babu Joseph and the contemporary sound of the Rajeev Raja Combine, with Air India Express supporting the initiative as the travel partner.

The tribute honours Human Bondage’s enduring influence on Indian rock music, uniting Henry Babu Joseph with Rajeev Raja, Adrian D’Souza, Paul Santiago, Hitesh Dhutia and John Thirumalai. The Goa leg of the multi-city tour unfolds across three venues — Cohiba, Candolim on January 22; Take 5, Candolim on January 24; and Goa Chitra Museum, Benaulim on January 25 — offering audiences an immersive live music experience rooted in memory, musicianship and cultural continuity.

Paul John Single Malt Whisky’s association reflects its deep connection with art, culture and craftsmanship. Drawing parallels between music and whisky, the brand highlights how both are shaped by patience, precision and authenticity, with each note and every cask carrying character refined over time through Goa’s tropical climate.

The collaboration builds on Paul John’s cultural presence at the Serendipity Arts Festival Goa 2025, where it unveiled an immersive Paul John Experience Centre celebrating Indian single malt whisky as a cultural craft. Through guided tastings and storytelling, the installation positioned whisky alongside art, music and creative expression.

Speaking about the tour, Rajeev Raja described Human Bondage as a formative influence on his musical journey and credited Babu Joseph as a mentor. He expressed gratitude to Paul John Visitor Centre and Air India Express for supporting a tribute that brings alive a defining chapter in India’s rock history.

Through Tribute to Human Bondage, Paul John continues its commitment to supporting Indian music, live performances and cultural storytelling, reinforcing the shared language between whisky and music — both born from tradition, elevated by creativity and perfected through time.

The series also aligns with Air India Express’s ongoing engagement with India’s cultural landscape, including its ‘Tales of India’ initiative that showcases indigenous art across its aircraft fleet. Together, the partnership celebrates craft, culture and creativity, reaffirming Goa’s place as a vibrant hub for live music and artistic expression.

Human Interest

Phytoplankton Art Project Brings Marine Ecology Awareness to Bengaluru’s Children

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

From Goa’s coastline to a landlocked city, a children’s art initiative developed by the Goa-based Children’s Art Studio and co-supported by the Museum of Goa is carrying marine education beyond the sea. Phytoplankton World: The Unseen Heroes of Marine Life will be presented in Bengaluru from January 16 to 25 at Freedom Park as part of Makkala Hubba under the larger BLR Hubba cultural festival.

Rooted in Goa’s coastal ecology, the immersive project introduces children to phytoplankton—microscopic marine organisms that form the foundation of ocean life and play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Designed for children aged four to twelve, the experience transforms complex marine science into accessible learning through glow-in-the-dark installations, sensory environments and hands-on creative activities, reflecting how Goa’s close relationship with the sea can inspire environmental learning far beyond its shores.

Aligned with the philosophy of Makkala Hubba, a children-focused platform known for its emphasis on climate awareness and sensorial engagement, the project invites young visitors into an underwater-inspired space where curiosity drives learning and exploration unfolds through making and play.

Sharada Kerkar, Director of the Museum of Goa and Co-Founder of the Children’s Art Studio, said the project originated from a personal encounter with bioluminescence. She recalled kayaking at night in Vasco and witnessing the sea glow in shades of green and blue, caused by phytoplankton. The experience, she said, sparked a desire to create glowing environments that others could experience while learning about these unseen marine heroes.

The project evolved through extensive research into various types of phytoplankton and their forms, which were visualised at an enlarged scale through sketches, digital 3D imagery and architectural models. The team experimented with glow-in-the-dark and reusable materials to suit the underwater theme, eventually shaping an immersive environment that guides children through a layered learning journey.

Artist and educator Tincy Paulose from the Children’s Art Studio described the creative process as deeply engaging, noting that working with glowing materials brought out a sense of wonder and play. She said the project went beyond art-making, becoming a space for discovery and learning about the fascinating world of microscopic marine life.

Two guided workshops form a central part of the programme. Glow Beneath the Sea allows children to create glowing sea creatures while learning about the marine food chain and the foundational role of phytoplankton. Glow Microscopic Worlds encourages participants to imagine and design glowing phytoplankton inspired by organisms such as diatoms, dinoflagellates, cyanobacteria and coccolithophores, translating scientific knowledge into creative expression.

Special Occasion

Always… Alan Rickman: Ten Years On, His Magic Still Lives

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Ten years have passed since Alan Rickman left the world on 14 January 2016, but time has done little to dim his presence. For many, he remains Professor Severus Snape—the black-cloaked Potions Master of Hogwarts whose story unfolded not in grand declarations, but in quiet sacrifice. Through Snape, Rickman gave audiences one of cinema’s most emotionally complex characters, redefining loyalty and love with a single word that still echoes today: “Always.”

Rickman’s portrayal of Snape was built on nuance. Every pause, every look, every controlled outburst carried weight. Privy to Snape’s full arc long before the final Harry Potter films, Rickman played the role with remarkable foresight, allowing the character to grow darker, deeper, and ultimately more tragic as the series progressed. In a world of spectacle, his Snape stood as a reminder that true power often lies in restraint.

Yet Alan Rickman was never defined by a single role. Long before Hogwarts, he made an indelible mark as Hans Gruber in Die Hard, crafting one of cinema’s most stylish and intelligent villains. Gruber wasn’t loud or chaotic—he was precise, cultured, and chillingly calm, a performance that set a new standard for screen antagonists and announced Rickman as a formidable force in film.

His versatility shone just as brightly in romance. In Sense and Sensibility, Rickman’s Colonel Brandon was a study in quiet devotion, offering tenderness without theatrics. In Truly, Madly, Deeply, he portrayed love that transcends life itself, while in Love Actually, his performance as Harry—a man grappling with guilt and emotional distance—proved that heartbreak could be conveyed with a single glance and a restrained voice.

Rickman also left his mark behind the camera, directing films such as The Winter Guest, and lending his distinctive voice to characters like Marvin the Paranoid Android in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he remained deeply connected to theatre, often returning to the stage and championing the craft of storytelling in its purest form.

Off screen, Rickman was known for his kindness, discretion, and unwavering support for the arts. He shunned celebrity excess, preferring thoughtful conversations, mentorship, and meaningful work. His diaries, published posthumously, revealed a man deeply engaged with the world—curious, compassionate, and fiercely committed to creativity.

On his 10th death anniversary, Alan Rickman’s legacy continues to cast a long, gentle spell. From Hogwarts’ dungeons to Hollywood’s brightest screens, his characters live on—not as performances, but as emotional memories etched into popular culture.

After all this time, we remember him not just as an actor, but as a storyteller who trusted silence, honoured complexity, and believed in the enduring power of love.

Always.