Tag: GoaNews

Events in Goa

No IFFI Inaugural at Shyama Prasad Stadium This Year; Parade to Open the 56th Edition

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The 56th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will open with a new approach this year. Instead of the customary inaugural ceremony at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, the festival will begin with a vibrant IFFI Parade that will celebrate Goa’s culture and cinematic spirit. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant will flag off the parade, which will feature colourful floats inspired by Goa’s carnival and Shigmo traditions.

Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Chairperson Delilah Lobo confirmed that the change was necessary as the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium is booked for the FIDE World Cup during the same period. However, the festival’s official dates remain unchanged, ensuring that IFFI’s schedule continues as planned.

The IFFI Parade will serve as the festival’s new inaugural event, offering a public celebration that merges film, art, and Goan culture. Designed as a street-level spectacle, it will invite participation from locals and visitors alike, capturing the festive atmosphere that defines Goa.

Organised by the ESG in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, IFFI remains India’s most prominent international film festival, bringing together filmmakers, actors, and cinema enthusiasts from around the world. The decision to replace the stadium opening with a parade reflects an inclusive vision — one that extends the festival’s reach beyond formal venues and into the community.

As Goa prepares to welcome delegates and film lovers for IFFI 56, the parade promises to set a celebratory tone for the festival, transforming its opening into a showcase of both local culture and global cinema.

Sports

Advocates Cricket League Auction Held; Legal Luminaries Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycarl Sports Desk

The seventh season of the Advocates Cricket League (ACL) began on a celebratory note with its player auction held in Porvorim on Saturday. The event brought together members of Goa’s legal fraternity for a day that blended sportsmanship, recognition, and camaraderie.

The occasion also saw senior members of the legal community being honoured for their outstanding contributions to both law and cricket. Aldona MLA and Senior Advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Senior Advocates Saresh Lotlikar, Subodh Kantak, Nitin Sardesai, and veteran Advocate Shantaram Naik. Each awardee was felicitated with a memento and a shawl, and their video messages recalling memorable cricketing and professional experiences were screened during the event.

Addressing the gathering, ACL President Adv. Iftikhar Agha lauded the dedication of the organising committee and appreciated the continued enthusiasm of advocate players and franchise owners, noting that their involvement has been key to the league’s success.

The player auction featured spirited bidding, with several advocate-players drawing impressive numbers. Adv. Dattaprasad Shirodkar emerged as the highest-valued player of the auction, purchased for 63 lakh points by Adv. Iftikhar Agha’s team, Lawyer Challengers. For Risers, owned by Adv. Anup Kudchadkar, Adv. Abhishek Dhawaskar became the costliest pick at 43 lakh points. Lotlikar Lions, co-owned by Senior Adv. Saresh Lotlikar, secured Adv. Vaibhav Bandekar for 37 lakh points, making him their top acquisition.

Other teams were equally active in building their rosters. Legal Titans, led by Adv. Kedar Shirgaonkar, picked up Adv. Satyam Ghogale for 57 lakh points, while 18 Juners, owned by Adv. Dattaprasad Lawande and Senior Adv. Yogesh Nadkarni, bought Adv. Viraj Tar for the same amount. The defending champions UB Warriors, managed by Adv. Pankaj Dabolkar and Senior Adv. Coelho Pereira, signed Adv. Raghunath Parab for 45 lakh points. Each franchise completed its 16-member squad by the end of the auction.

Adding to the day’s excitement, the trophy for ACL Season 7 was officially unveiled, symbolising the league’s continued growth and the enthusiasm it brings to Goa’s legal and sporting circles. The Advocates Cricket League continues to serve as a platform where professional excellence meets sporting passion, strengthening bonds within the legal community through the spirit of the game.

Human Interest

Goa Records Fifth Highest October Rainfall in a Century

allycaralgoa

Goa experienced one of its wettest Octobers on record, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting 374.6mm of rain during October 2025. This makes it the fifth highest October rainfall total in the state in nearly 100 years of data.

The wettest October on record for Goa remains 2019, when 546.8mm of rain was recorded, followed by 2006 (423.8mm), 1955 (413.2mm), and 1985 (394.3mm). The latest figure places 2025 in fifth position, highlighting the unusual intensity of this year’s late monsoon surge.

Meteorologist and retired NIO chief scientist M. R. Ramesh Kumar explained that about 60% of the month’s rain fell during the last week of October, driven by a depression system over the southeastern Arabian Sea that caused widespread precipitation across Goa.

Rainfall, however, was uneven across the state. IMD data showed Pernem and Mormugao received the highest totals at 498mm each, while Valpoi recorded the lowest at 209mm till the morning of October 31.

Kumar described the pattern as “lopsided,” noting that most rain was concentrated in the second half of the month. “There was no rainfall on October 12 and 13, and only trace amounts were recorded on the 8th, 14th, and 18th,” he said.

The other years that make up the top 10 rainiest Octobers in Goa include 2009 (351.8mm), 1931 (344mm), 1928 (332mm), 2010 (325.5mm), and 2024 (300mm).

The data underscores how unpredictable the post-monsoon period can be — with global weather systems and sea surface conditions increasingly influencing local rainfall extremes.

Human Interest

12-Year-Old Pranav Tate Prevents Fire Disaster at Home in Goa

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Goa: A moment of quick thinking and bravery saved a home in Goa from going up in flames, thanks to 12-year-old Pranav Tate. The young boy had just returned from play around 9:30 am when he noticed smoke coming from his house.

Upon entering, he found fire engulfing the refrigerator and some clothes. With no one else present, Pranav immediately acted, attaching a pipe to a water tap and dousing the flames. His swift response prevented what could have been a major mishap, safeguarding his home and avoiding potential injuries.

Pranav’s actions are a shining example of courage, awareness, and quick decision-making, particularly in emergencies. The incident also serves as a reminder for families about the importance of fire safety measures and vigilance, even during seemingly ordinary days.

Neighbors and residents have praised Pranav’s bravery, highlighting how one alert and responsible individual can make a significant difference during emergencies.

This inspiring story of heroism by such a young child resonates as a lesson in responsibility and courage for people of all ages.

Special Occasion

A Day of Daughters: Love, Pride, and the Power of a Smile — Leaders Across Goa Celebrate National Daughters Day

Tanisha Cardozo

National Daughters Day is not just a celebration—it is a feeling etched deep into the hearts of parents, families, and communities. It’s a reminder of the unconditional love, boundless energy, and quiet strength that daughters bring into our lives every single day. This day offers an opportunity to reflect on the joys of raising a daughter, to honor their spirit, and to amplify their voices in a world that hasn’t always treated them equally.

In its earliest form, the day was created to counter harmful cultural norms in societies where daughters were undervalued. It served—and still serves—as a powerful reminder that every girl deserves to grow up in a world that sees her as strong, capable, and irreplaceable. Over time, the meaning of the day has deepened. It’s become personal, emotional—a celebration of identity, of dreams, and of the unbreakable bond between a daughter and her parents.

Goa echoed this emotion as National Daughters Day was met with warmth and admiration from leaders across the state. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant shared a heartfelt message about empowering girls and supporting their ambitions. MLAs Rohan Khaunte, Michael Lobo, Yuri Alemao, Delilah Lobo, Jit Vinayak Arolkar, Chandrakant Shetye, and Speaker Dr. Ramesh Tawadkar also expressed their love and pride—reminding their communities of the beauty and power daughters bring into our world.

These tributes transcended political boundaries—they came from a place of genuine love. They celebrated daughters not as future leaders or citizens alone, but as individuals who matter deeply in the present moment. Girls who are strong, curious, creative, and brave. Girls whose dreams deserve to be nurtured and whose presence brings life to every home.

Across the world, Daughters Day is celebrated on various dates—September 25 in many places, the fourth Sunday of September in India, or even September 28 or October 1 in other regions. But the meaning remains timeless and universal. It’s a day rooted in the heart, not just the calendar.

Families mark the day in different ways. Some take their daughters out for special meals or create small keepsakes. Others simply spend time together—talking, laughing, reflecting. Social media fills with warm photos and tributes, filled with pride and emotion. In more challenging parts of the world, the day becomes a platform to advocate for education, safety, and equality for every girl.

At its core, National Daughters Day is a love letter. A promise. A moment to say: You are valued. You are powerful. You are loved.

In a daughter’s laughter lives our hope. In her dreams, our future. In her strength, our pride.

And that is worth celebrating—not just today, but always.