Tag: Community Festival

International

First-Ever Ekvottachem Fest Unites Leicester’s Goans in a Celebration of Culture and Community

Tanisha Cardozo

Leicester, UK – 21st August 2025: A historic cultural milestone will be marked in Leicester this August with the city’s first-ever Ekvottachem Fest – a people-powered celebration of Goan identity, togetherness, and tradition. Held at John Bosco Hall from 6:00 pm onwards, the festival is the brainchild of globally renowned Festakar Marius Fernandes, the visionary behind over 100 grassroots cultural festivals around the world.

What is Ekvottachem Fest?

Rooted in the Goan word “ekvott”, meaning unity, the festival brings the Goan community together in a celebration that transcends borders. True to its ethos, the event is completely community-driven – with no sponsors, no VIP guests, and no commercial backing. Instead, it shines a spotlight on shared heritage, volunteer spirit, and cultural pride.

Festival Highlights Include:

  • Balcaoacho Gozalli – Goan-style chats capturing the essence of village balcaos (balconies), promoting intergenerational storytelling.
  • Kottiacho Nach – A vibrant traditional coconut shell dance conceptualised by Dr. Gwendolyn de Ornelas.
  • Festacarachi Pasoi – A Leicester-style heritage walk inspired by Goa’s rich history.
  • Karyashala – Interactive workshops teaching the making of traditional Goan sweets.
  • Goenche Jevonn – An authentic Goan food experience.
  • Live Music & Dance Performances – Celebrating Goan rhythms and local talents.

One of the festival’s major highlights will be the launch of “Saxtti Beats”, a youth-led Goan music band based in Leicester. This debut symbolises the vibrant energy of the next generation carrying forward the cultural torch.

The Leicester edition marks Marius Fernandes’ 103rd community festival globally, and the third in the UK, under his visionary movement: “Festakar Without Borders”. Past editions have empowered communities across continents to celebrate their culture without the constraints of commercialisation.

Local cultural champions Espirito Roy Sequeira, Melba Fernandes, Elvina Maria Fernandes, Steven Gonsalves, and Jancia Da Silva Almeida have played a pivotal role in shaping and supporting this event.

Beyond the festivities, Ekvottachem Fest is a call to UK-based Goans – especially the youth – to reconnect with their language, roots, and traditions, while embracing the diversity and inclusivity of modern Leicester.

As Festakar Marius Fernandes says:

“Goans everywhere share a common bond of unity. Whether in Goa, the UK, or anywhere in the world, our heritage, values, and togetherness are what keep our community strong.”

The Ekvottachem Fest is not just a one-day event – it’s the beginning of a cultural reawakening for Goans in the UK and beyond.

📍Event Details:
 Ekvottachem Fest – Festival of Unity
 📅 Saturday, 23 August 2025
🕕 6:00 PM onwards
📌 John Bosco Hall, Leicester
🎟️ Entry: Free

International

Leicester Hosts First-Ever Inclusive Ekvottachem Fest Celebrating Goan Culture, Unity & Community

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

On Saturday, 23rd August 2025, Leicester will become the stage for a historic cultural milestone — the first-ever Ekvottachem Fest, an inclusive celebration of Goan culture, heritage, and togetherness. This unique grassroots festival will be held at St John Bosco Hall from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and best of all, it’s free and open to all.

✨ Curated by Festakar Marius Fernandes

With 101 festivals already under his belt, community-builder Marius Fernandes (affectionately called “Festakar”) brings his festival-making magic to Leicester for the very first time. His mission is simple but powerful: use festivals as tools for inclusion, joy, and connection.

“This is not just a festival,” says Marius. “It’s a gathering of hearts — no barriers, no tickets, no exclusion.”

🎭 What’s Happening at Ekvottachem Fest?

  • Kottieacho Nach: A traditional Goan coconut dance choreographed by Dr. Gwendolyn de Ornelas
  • Ghumtacho Avaz: A musical journey with the ancient Goan percussion instrument, the ghumot
  • Karyshala: Interactive workshops and creative spaces for all ages
  • Festakarachi Pasoi: An exhibit tracing Marius’s 100+ festivals
  • Balcaoacho Gozalli: Balcony-style chats reflecting on memory, identity, and belonging
  • Goenchem Jevonn: A delicious Goan food experience
  • Goan-Inspired Fashion Show: Celebrating traditional and modern Goan designs

🎶 Leicester Sunshine Band – Debut Performance

A highlight of the evening will be the launch of the Leicester Sunshine Band – a multicultural music ensemble formed specially for the festival. Their music will symbolize harmony, creativity, and community.

🕊️ Why It Matters

The Ekvottachem Fest is not just about culture — it’s about inclusion, heritage, identity, and joy. In a world where people often feel divided, this festival invites everyone — Goan or not — to come together, share stories, and dance in celebration of diversity.

📌 Event Details

📍 Venue: St John Bosco Hall, Leicester
📅 Date: Saturday, 23rd August 2025
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
🎟️ Entry: Absolutely FREE | All are warmly welcome – the Festakar way!

Events in Goa

First-Ever Baattachem Fest (Paddy Festival) in Chinchinim Celebrates Goa’s Agricultural and Cultural Heritage

allycaralgoa

Chinchinim, Goa – February 23, 2025: The picturesque village of Chinchinim, Salcette came alive with the vibrant Baattachem Fest, a unique celebration of Goa’s agricultural traditions and rich cultural heritage curated by the festival man of Goa, Festakar Marius Fernandes and hosted by Adv. Agnelo Furtado, this landmark event brought together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate farming, sustainability, and community spirit in an atmosphere of harmony and togetherness.

The festival began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by distinguished guests, including Agnelo and Elaine Furtado, Dean Suresh Kunkalikar, Miguel Braganza, Prakash Kamat, Fr. Victor Ferrao, Alexyz and Festacar Marius Fernandes. This auspicious start set the tone for a day filled with culture, nostalgia and shared learning.

Baattachem Fest welcomed attendees from across Goa, including Corlim, Panjim, Mapusa, Divar, Nuvem, Navelim and other parts of Goa, reinforcing its spirit of inclusivity. The festival actively involved individuals with diverse skills, ensuring that it was a celebration for all, regardless of background or ability, compered and coordinated by festakar team members Prakash Kamat, Dr. Gwendolyn de Ornelas and Dominic D’Souza.

The stage was artistically decorated by Marcos D’mello with natural farm tools and locally coordinated by Rozario Rebello.

A key highlight of the festival was its strong commitment to zero-waste practices. By embracing eco-friendly traditions and sustainable living, Baattachem Fest set an example of how cultural celebrations can be environmentally sustainable.

One of the festival’s most engaging features was the Balçaoacheo Gozalli, a platform where Miguel Braganza, Professor Carmelito Andrade, Jovito Lopes and Fr George Quadros shared their knowledge and experiences. Visitors were transported back in time with demonstrations of traditional fishing net making, Goan bread preparation, and local delicacy cooking, offering a nostalgic glimpse into Goa’s way of life.

A spectacular Kottieacho Nach (coconut shell dance), conceptualized by Dr. Gwendolyn de Ornelas, captivated the audience, while live musical performances by Oluv and Zagor performance by Santos Rebello, Valentino Baretto and others filled the air with the melodies of classic Konkani songs, celebrating Goa’s vibrant music heritage.

The festival was also a feast for the senses, showcasing Goa’s rich culinary and artisanal traditions. Attendees explored stunning displays of Goan bread, fresh produce, fruits, and traditional percussion instruments.

Interactive workshops on local delicacies such as bread by local baker Elvina Lacerda and koyloreo by Leticia Furtado provided an immersive experience, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural pride.

As festival director Marius Fernandes nears his 100th community festival milestone, he was honoured with a commemorative Momento presented by host Adv. Agnelo Furtado. Reflecting on the festival’s success, Marius Fernandes shared:

“We are deeply grateful to our visitors, performers, and everyone who made this event possible. A special thanks to Adv. Agnelo and Elaine Furtado for their generosity in hosting us. This marks our 97th community festival, and we look forward to continuing this journey of celebrating unity.”

Baattachem Fest 2025 left a lasting legacy with a profound impact on all who attended, standing as a testament to Goa’s agricultural roots, cultural richness, inclusivity and commitment to sustainability. More than just a festival, it was a heartfelt celebration of unity in diversity, bringing the community closer in a truly special way.