Tag: Panjim Events

Events in Goa

Goa Open Arts Festival 2026 Returns to Celebrate Goa’s Creative Spirit

Swara Bodke

Written by Intern Swara Bodke || Team Allycaral

Goa Open Arts Foundation has announced the third edition of the Goa Open Arts Festival 2026, scheduled from 20–25 February at the Old GMC Complex in Panjim. The biennial festival will once again transform the capital city into a vibrant hub of visual art, music, performance, film screenings and hands-on workshops open to audiences of all ages.
Building on the success of its previous editions, the festival continues its vision of creating a collaborative space for Goa’s creative community to exchange ideas and showcase new work. Conceived as an artist-led initiative, Goa Open Arts offers opportunities for practitioners to present both curated and independently developed projects.
Among the highlights of the 2026 edition are two special exhibitions. ‘Threads Through Time: Textile Art from Goa’, curated by Sitara Chowfla, will present traditional and contemporary textile practices from across the state. ‘What Remains: Lens Based Work’, a photography exhibition conceived in collaboration with Museo Camera, will explore storytelling through visual narratives.
The festival will also showcase a special exhibition by Iranian-French artist Christine Khonjie, whose practice draws upon themes of ancient history, mythology and shamanism, reflecting her deep-rooted connection to Goa. The main exhibition will feature works by Bhisaji Gadekar, Kaamna Patel, Mrinal Bahukhandi, Owl House Art Collective, Ragini Deshpande and several others.


Three new programmes add further dimension to this year’s edition. The LiveBox performance space will host theatre, music, poetry and a specially curated evening of Queer Performance Art. Expanding its engagement with younger audiences, the festival introduces a SkatePark and a Children’s Pavilion, offering interactive workshops and creative activities for children and young adults.
The weekend segment of the festival will feature nine music acts by Goa-based artists, including Goa Jazz Academy, JazzMaTazz, Lojal and Mannequin Disorder, alongside over 15 feature-length and short films curated as part of the film programme.
The 2026 edition is shaped by four curators: Nariyal Paani (Music), Anveer Mehta (Skatepark), Sachin Chatte (Film) and Avril Stormy Unger (Queer Programme).
The foundation also announced its key sponsors for the 2026 programme. IFB Spice Secrets returns as the main sponsor for the second time, supporting the festival’s culinary offerings. RMZ Foundation joins as a key sponsor, enabling the Children’s Pavilion and Skate Park. The Entertainment Society of Goa returns as the primary venue partner.
Founded in 2019 by Prashant Panjiar, Gopika Chowfla, Sitara Chowfla and Diptej Vernekar, Goa Open Arts is a not-for-profit, artist-led foundation dedicated to nurturing creative practices across the state through grants, exhibitions, mentorship and public programmes.
As its flagship initiative, the Goa Open Arts Festival continues to celebrate Goa’s evolving artistic landscape while fostering dialogue, collaboration and community engagement.
The festival invites art lovers, families, and visitors to join in Panjim this February for a homegrown celebration of creativity and possibility.

Films

Cinephile Film Club to Screen Nosferatu with Live Music in Panjim

Tanisha Cardozo

The Cinephile Film Club of the Entertainment Society of Goa is set to offer audiences a rare and immersive cinematic experience on Thursday, 19 February, at 6.30 pm, with a special screening of Nosferatu at Maquinez Palace Theatre, Panjim.

Directed by the legendary F. W. Murnau, Nosferatu remains one of the most influential works in the history of cinema. Released in 1922, the silent horror classic is a defining example of German Expressionism, celebrated for its haunting visuals, dramatic shadows, and deeply atmospheric storytelling. Though an unofficial adaptation of Dracula by Bram Stoker, the film carved its own identity, becoming a cornerstone of horror cinema.

Over the past century, there have been numerous reinterpretations of the Dracula legend across film industries worldwide. Yet Murnau’s Nosferatu endures as a cinematic landmark — not because it relies on dialogue or sound effects, but because it demonstrates the power of pure visual storytelling. The chilling silhouette of Count Orlok ascending a staircase remains one of the most iconic images in film history.

What makes this screening truly special is the live musical accompaniment. In the early 20th century, silent films were rarely screened in silence. Pianists and small ensembles would perform live, interpreting the film’s emotional landscape in real time. This Thursday’s screening aims to recreate that tradition.

The live score will be performed by cellist Martin Melendez, who studied music in Cuba, alongside accomplished pianist Guy Hershberg, who will perform on piano and synthesizer. The duo will improvise throughout the screening, responding intuitively to the shifting moods of the film — from quiet dread to stark beauty. Because the music is improvised, each performance becomes unique, ensuring that this is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Live accompaniment transforms the act of viewing into something communal and immediate. The musicians do not merely support the film; they engage in a dialogue with it, heightening tension, amplifying emotion, and occasionally allowing silence itself to resonate.

Through curated screenings such as this, the Cinephile Film Club continues its commitment to bringing meaningful cinema to audiences across Goa — extending beyond the festival circuit and fostering year-round film appreciation.

For film lovers, music enthusiasts, and anyone curious about cinema’s origins, this screening offers an opportunity to rediscover how movies once felt: intimate, experimental, and alive.

Screening Details:
📅 19 February
⏰ 6.30 pm
📍 Maquinez Palace Theatre, Panjim
🎟 Tickets available at the venue on a first-come, first-served basis.

Events in Goa

Serendipity Arts Festival 2025 Opens in Panjim with a Grand Celebration of Heritage and Innovation

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The landmark 10th edition of Serendipity Arts Festival opened in Panjim on December 12 with a powerful celebration of India’s cultural heritage and contemporary artistic expression. Returning to Goa for ten days of immersive experiences, the opening day reflected the festival’s enduring vision of bridging tradition and innovation through art.

The evening commenced with the inauguration of Barge at the Captain of Ports Jetty in Old Goa, where Founder-Patron Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal welcomed audiences to the milestone edition. Reflecting on the journey of the festival, he described Serendipity Arts as a movement that has grown into a shared cultural space connecting artists, communities, and audiences across disciplines. The 10th edition, he noted, is dedicated to Mukta Munjal, whose early initiatives in the arts continue to inspire the festival’s spirit.

Curated by Veerangana Solanki, Barge transformed a floating structure into an experiential space exploring absence and presence through spatial, architectural, and sonic responses. Drawing from earlier exhibitions, the installation invited visitors to activate the space through movement, sound, and perception, leaving behind fleeting yet personal imprints.

The opening continued at Nagalli Hills with Palette(s), a striking performance by Cédric Gagneur and Marc Oosterhoff that reimagined wooden pallets as both object and collaborator. Blurring the lines between dance and circus, the performance explored gravity, vulnerability, and repetition in a raw and physical expression.

The night concluded with Clay Play, curated by Shubha Mudgal and Aneesh Pradhan, a mesmerizing performance that foregrounded percussion instruments crafted from clay. Rooted deeply in Goan traditions, the sounds of the ghumat and other instruments resonated through the space, reaffirming their place as living cultural practices rather than relics of the past.

Across the city, Beasts of Reincarnations: Mythical Beings in the City began appearing along Panjim’s streets and waterfronts. Curated by Diptej Vernekar, the large-scale installations reimagined Goa’s effigy-making traditions, inviting the public to encounter ritual memory through forms suspended between destruction, renewal, and contemporary urban life.

As the festival unfolds, exhibitions opening from December 14 will further expand this dialogue. These include Not a shore, neither a ship, but the sea itself at the Old GMC Complex, OTHERLAND at the Old GMC Building, and several immersive installations exploring systems, food memory, loss, movement, and sensory experience across multiple venues.

Day 1 of Serendipity Arts Festival 2025 set a compelling tone for the days ahead, weaving together local and global voices, traditional and contemporary practices, and transforming Panjim into a living, breathing canvas of artistic discovery.

Business

Goa Sparkles as C. Krishniah Chetty’s Jewellery Exhibition Lights Up the Diwali Season

allycaralgoa

Goa, 10 October 2025: Goa is glowing with festive brilliance as C. Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers (CKC), one of India’s most prestigious jewellery houses with a 155-year heritage, brings its dazzling Jewellery Showcase to the sunshine state.

The exhibition opened at Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim (10–13 Oct) and continues at Hotel Nanutel, Margao (15–16 Oct), marking yet another successful year of CKC’s bond with Goa’s luxury market.

The inauguration was graced by businesswoman and professional autocross racer Ashrafi ShetDesai Gaikwad, who praised CKC’s fusion of tradition and innovation. “It’s wonderful to see a brand with such a long history bring something so fresh to Goa. Their designs feel like a collaboration between heritage and the new generation’s sense of style,” she said.

Visitors are enchanted by collections that embody timeless artistry and innovation — from glowing citrines and regal emeralds to ethically crafted lab-grown diamonds. Among the highlights are:

  • The Hoysala Collection – celebrating the architectural grandeur of ancient temples
  • The Pharaoh Collection – inspired by the mystique of Ancient Egypt
  • crash.club™️ Lab-Grown Diamonds – a bold statement in sustainable luxury

Adding festive sparkle, visitors enjoy exclusive Diwali offers:
💍 2% off on Silver Jewellery
💍 4% off on Gold Jewellery
💍 6% off on Diamond Jewellery
💍 9% off on diamond jewellery worth ₹18.69 lakhs & above

Additionally, Rare Scents™️ fragrances and 925 Silver Jewellery starting at ₹599 are part of the celebration, with proceeds supporting rhinoceros conservation, reinforcing CKC’s commitment to ethical luxury.

Speaking about the event, Mr. Gopal Singh, Store Manager, said, “Goa has always been special for us. The warmth and enthusiasm of Goans make this exhibition truly memorable every year.”

For over a century and a half, C. Krishniah Chetty Group has defined artistry, innovation, and ethics in jewellery. This Diwali, their Goa showcase isn’t just an exhibition — it’s a celebration of legacy, luxury, and light.

Automobiles

Goa Auto Show 2025 Gears Up for Grand Showcase from Sept 26–28 at Kala Academy

Tanisha Cardozo

Panjim, Goa – The vibrant city of Panjim is set to host the much-anticipated Goa Auto Show 2025 from September 26 to 28 at the iconic Kala Academy, Darya Sangam. This dynamic three-day showcase of mobility, technology, and lifestyle is poised to become India’s newest premium auto experience.

Bringing together over 20 top automotive brands, the event promises a dazzling lineup of new vehicle launches, electric mobility solutions, biking culture exhibitions, performance machines, and lifestyle experiences—all against the picturesque backdrop of Goa’s capital.

Curated by international automotive exhibition expert Satish Menon and organised by India Intercon with marketing by Indus Media, the event is supported by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, underlining India’s commitment to future-ready transportation.

With more than 10,000 visitors expected over three days, the Goa Auto Show will attract auto enthusiasts, prospective buyers, investors, influencers, and high-net-worth individuals from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Over 2,000 automobile enthusiasts have already registered in advance on the official event website, goaautoshow.com.

Among the most awaited showcases are the Maruti Suzuki Victoris and Lexus RX350-h, both being revealed for the first time ever in Goa. These exclusive premieres, alongside a lineup of electric vehicles and lifestyle automobiles, aim to capture the attention of both buyers and automobile lovers.

The Goa Bike Show, a major feature of the event, will bring the biking community to life with superbikes, vintage motorcycles, custom builds, live stunt performances, and a high-energy biker parade.

Autocross racer and Goa’s fastest female driver, Ashrafi ShetDesai Gaikwad, expressed her excitement for the event: “I am delighted to be part of Goa Auto Show—this is going to be an awesome event on behalf of the organisers. I invite all Goans to visit the show in huge numbers.”

For the content creator community, a Reels Contest with cash prizes will be hosted by School News Unmute, offering automobile storytellers a platform to shine.

Visitors can also enjoy interactive zones including the Accessories & Vehicle Services Zone, Finance & Insurance Zone, and vintage car exhibits. There will also be tech talks, road safety campaigns, influencer meet-ups, food trucks, live music, and exclusive giveaways throughout the venue.

With free entry and open access to all, the Goa Auto Show 2025 is more than an expo—it’s a full-blown festival of mobility and automotive innovation.