Summer Edition 2016
The Voice of the Goan Diaspora Worldwide
Photograph: Cecil Pinto
Newsletter of the Alliance Of Goan Associations
th
São João - 24 June St.Peter & St. Paul (Sangodd) - 29th June Naga Panchami - 7th August Assumption/Independence Day - 15th August World Goa Day - 20th August Novidade/ Konsachem Fest - 24th August Raksha Bandhan - 18th August Bonderam - 4th Saturday of August
KETEVAN MUSIC FESTIVAL
Editor & Creatives: Kenelm Santana Lopes
As a young man growing up in Goa, I was enthused with that energy to change everything. I wished that every corrupt politician was shot dead, every project destroying the environment to be fined millions of dollars, our education to be world’s best, our agriculture the most rewarding, etc. I have gotten wiser since then. There is more likelihood of success if we approach a problem after breaking it down into little individually achievable tasks rather than getting frustrated at how we cannot change everything in an instant ! There is no quick fix to many issues plaguing our homeland today but luckily for Goans, there are many who are busying themselves with being the change. In a previous editorial I wrote of social entrepreneurship, treating social projects as one would treat an enterprise. I came across a wonderful example of this in the work Vincent Toscano and his associates are doing to increase the level of ‘relevant’ IT penetration in village schools, thus offering rural students the knowledge and opportunity linked to the Software industry. Many of the individuals in the same group are also tirelessly working towards ensuring the right ecosystem for software startups. A few weeks back at the Ketevan Music Festival at Old Goa, I attended the performance of the Bombay Chamber Orchestra with the Goa University Choir. I observed that many of the musicians who performed were diaspora Goans performing with local Goans. Similarly, many of the artists who performed during the festival were either Goan or of Goan origin. The musical genius that expressed itself in musical giants like Noel Flores in Austria and Anthony Prabhu Gonsalves in Bombay/USA was now finding a way to return home to inspire many Goans in Goa to music. A simpler example in the field of photography comes to mind. A Kuwait Goan, Cajetan Baretto, used drones to capture some fantastic aerial views
of Goa. Suddenly, Goa went crazy. They saw their beloved motherland from a new vantage point and his collection of pictures was extremely popular on social media. Suddenly, there was a spurt in amateur photographers rushing to capture Goa through
Kenelm Santana Lopes Editor, Global Goenkar, Bangalore Summer Edition 2016
their lens, some even investing in drones. On a personal note I was so enchanted, that I had Cecil Pinto give me an aerial view of the Pilar monastery to sneak into my wedding album. Fashion thathitherto had little to do with Goa suddenly saw Kunbi inspired prints and fabrics being showcased on the world fashion stage. And yes, it was an originally a Bombay based Goan now settled in Goa who made this happen, our much lauded Wendell Rodricks. He goes beyond this though, by his initiatives of Vera Moda, a fashion museum at Siolim and the interest he has revived in the exquisite ‘Pano Bhaju’, a garment that expresses a fantastic merging of Indian and Western traditions. The Food, Drink and Culture industry too has seen so many Goans coming back home after enriching their experiences in foreign lands. A whole string of names comes to mind, Hansel Vaz of Cazulo Feni, Vandani Naique of Bodega, Daegal Godinho of Carpedium to name a few of many. There is a good living to be made back home is the message, if you have the talent, skill and perseverance. In the face of much disillusionment on the political front, such stories are very inspiring and in sharing them it is our interest to assure every Goan that help and hope will come to those who ask for it! This ‘E-mag’ too is a similar exercise. Egged on and inspired by Rene Baretto, we have had an unprecedented response that required us to put aside some contributions for future issues ! Thank you very much and we hope to continue to
Project GEIT – Modern technology for Goemkarponn to flourish in Goa! THE VISION Restore the pride of our innovative, creative, enterprising and hardworking ancestors’ heritage by empowering Goans to prosper within Goa.
GEIT team has met Goa Chief Minister Lax- mikant Parsekar and Minister for Science & Technology, Alina Saldanha, to fix school infrastructure issues and modernize the Goan education system.
THE STRATEGY Starting with schools, a people’s movement con- THE PLAN ceptualized, planned, funded, organized, sup- Sustain monthly Science & Technology ported and monitored by Goans for their ecodemonstration sessions and the SCRATCH nomic self-empowerment using clean, green IT and related technologies to create modern enterprises and high-end intellectual employment in Goa leveraging the global Goan community and goodwill. THE PROGRESS GEIT started in 3 Goan village schools this academic year i.e. Gokuldem (Quepem), Neura and Chorao. Monthly demonstration sessions organized for latest global Science & Technology exposure. Cost effective Raspberry Pi2 kits and old donated hardware from individuals and companies used to fix 70% non-working PCs in school Computer Labs. Non-existent broadband connectivity addressed on need basis through community funded arrangements. 9-day Diwali2015 vacation camp on MIT’s (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA) child-friendly SCRATCH computer pro- gramming platform. Children shifting from consumer to the creator side of technology by learning logical thinking, graphics, animation, gaming, sounds and simple mobile apps. GEIT widely reported in Goan media. Search “GEIT” on Facebook for details.
Revamp current school-level Computers syllabus from clerical to highly creative and use free OpenSource software to reduce costs. Live online interactions between students and accomplished Goans/experts across the world. Simplified template to organize SCRATCH sessions in any village school and spread GEIT across Goa.
THE TEAM A couple of a dozen self-driven ad-hoc volunteers spanning an unexpected spectrum of the local society from Tech start-ups, academia, freelancers, professionals to even Secondary students from city schools. This small but expanding team has sparked a positive movement to safeguard our treasured Goemkarponn for posterity. THE LEADERS
learning process. Summer2016 camp on advanced SCRATCH, Hour of Code (code.org), Robotics, Moviemaking, etc, culminating in a state level SCRATCH coding contest. Start work on the online library of learning/ teaching material to make regular subjects interesting. Enable and pressurize Goa government to restore Computer Labs with Raspberry Pi2 kits (total cost just Rs.1.58 crores, proposal submitted) and fix broadband connectivity in all schools.
Sangeeta Naik, a daughter of Divar island, brings to GEIT her vast experience in education & an extensive network of invaluable local contributors besides plenty of time sacrificed from her family business.
Vincent Toscano (Also the author of this writeup) a son of Chorao island presently on a year-long sabbatical from work, brings to GEIT his vast IT industry experience, meticulous organization skills and high energy levels to execute things at the ground level.
The Unparalleled Coconut
Maria de Lourdes Bravo da Costa Rodrigues Columnist, Culinary enthusiast and acclaimed author of seven books on various diverse topics
The Sanskrit word for coconut narikera (or narikela) is of Austric origin, and the use of coconuts in Hindu ceremonies is believed to derive from prehistoric Austric practice. Coconut is used in literally hundreds of Hindu ceremonies. In the simplest form a coconut is broken before an image and offered to the deity. Instead of uncorking a champagne bottle in Western style, ships are now ceremonially launched by breaking a coconut on the bows. In Goa, pieces of raw coconut along with jaggery are served to the guests on the occasion of laying a foundation stone for building a new structure. Also on the sixth day of the birth of a child, grams mixed with coconut cubes are distributed to the relatives and friends. The Hindus will break a coconut at the time of taking the Ganesh idol for immersion, which will be distributed to those present. Coconuts offered for pujas are meant for the temple priests. However, if desired, a part of it can be asked for distribution as Prasad.
The coconut has a special significance for the Hindus. It provides both food and drink. It is a symbol of fertility and a magnified bindu or drop is put on it, and is kept in shrines for presentation to women who desire to become mothers. According to legend, it was created by the magic of Visviamitra, and is believed to be a substitute for the human head, the buck (the tuft of fibre at the end) representing scalp lock. The coconut is therefore offered in place of the human head as a bloodless sacrifice, yet having the potency of blood. If the tuft is missing its likeness is destroyed and it is useless for sacrificial purposes. Many Hindus will not eat any part of a coconut from which this tuft has been cut off for fear that it might have been removed in the name of some God or spirit other than their sectarian deity. A coconut is never broken in the presence of a pregnant woman in order to prevent a similar occurrence to the head of her child. It is further believed that the coconut has a face resembling a man’s, and its surface is divided into three parts representing Brahma, Visnu and Shiva, that the flesh is formed gradually as human flesh is formed, and that unlike other fruit it contains no seed. The coconut is closely associated with Shiva, since its three eyes symbolize the three-eyed God. In some religious rites Shiva is represented by a pot of rice and a coconut; in another representation of Shiva, a figure is made of a vessel filled with myrrh, spices, coins, flowers, rice and grass, topped by a coconut. The figure is garlanded and worshipped. As a child I was told a folk story by my grandmother. When St. Joseph and Mary were fleeing from the soldiers of King Herod, they came to seek shelter under a banana tree. It refused, by raising its leaves. Next, they rushed to a coconut tree, and it spread its leaves hiding the family. In gratitude, Our Lady blessed the coconut tree to give fruit throughout the year and that all its parts would not go to waste. The coconut kernel is consumed as a fruit or as oil, the leaves are used to shelter or protect and its veins to make brooms, the stem for timber and the husk and all the parts of the coconut tree are a good source of fuel and can also be converted into vermicompost. The coconut coir is used to make ropes, bags,etc, and its shell for making utensils. The poor use it to collect alms and it also serves the dual purpose of a plate to eat their meal. On the other hand, the banana tree was cursed to bear fruit only once and die thereafter. The coconut is a common ingredient in day to day cooking all over India and specially in Goa.
This penchant for coconut may be because of its abundant availability in the Konkan and the Western coast of India. Big orchards were cultivated in Goa and the sale of coconuts was an important source of income to the owners and also a source of revenue to the Portuguese government as coconuts, copra and oil are exported to the neighbouring Territories of Union of India. It is the base ingredient in the famous Goan curries, be it plain daily fishcurry or the elaborate special xacuti and it is also used while preparing a number of dishes. The Goans will not cook vegetables without adding coconut, if health permits. The Hindus use coconut in most of the dishes, especially in the preparations like ros, tonnak, ghanti, khatkhatem, etc. Ros is a curry prepared with boiled dal to which ground coconut and garam masala, a seasoning of mustard seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves are added. Tonnak is cooked as an accompaniment to the rice and curry, and normally prepared with beans or grams. In this case the coconut is fried and ground and garam masala added to the previously boiled pulses. If desired, curry leaves and onions may be added while cooking. Moogacheoganthi and khatkhatem are normally prepared during festive occasions and specially during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. The first one is prepared with sprouted moog and the second with assorted vegetables and green peas. In both cases fine ground coconut is used for cooking. Sweet dishes served as savouries at teatime or as desserts are also prepared with coconut. Sweet savouries served at teatime are mostly coconut based. For example a variety of godchem like onna, moogachemgodchem, fouachemgodchem are prepared using the coconut milk or coconut directly mixed with cooked beans, dal or sprinkled on rice cakes or stuffed in a pancake. The godchem is sweetened with jiggery, normally palm jaggery by the Catholics and cane sugar by the Hindus. Desiccated coconut goes into the manufacture of cakes , pastries and chocolates. A coconut can also be eaten raw and a tender coconut with its soft and jelly like kernel is a favourite delicacy. The juice is used as a refreshing and soothing beverage especially in summer and also to prepare cocktails like pina colada. Copra the dry kernel is used to extract oil, which is used for different purposes as medicinal or cooking and for cosmetics. Food cooked in coconut oil has a very distinct flavour and taste.
Casa de Goa Warm greetings from Casa de Goa in Lisboa! In this brief write-up we wish to signal the importance of the contribution of 2nd and 3rd generation Goans to the dissemination of what Goan culture means to them. In all modern multicultural societies, in these days of globalization and migration, people hold multiple cultural affiliations. We benefit from our own life experience as migrants to describe ourselves as a community that has appropriated customs and traditions of our reception country (Portugal) but has intentionally retained our
Virginia Bras Gomes EKVATT
own specific cultural traditions, norms and references. One of the objectives of Casa de Goa is to provide 2nd and 3rd generation Goans with space and opportunities for them to become more sensitive to their Goan heritage and hopefully find in this heritage some cultural traits that can help them better reflect their own identity, the culture of origin of their forefathers and other affiliations. We would like them to celebrate their Goan osmithay, the konknni word for iden-
Lent in Goa There was a time when Goa was known as the Rome of the East. Her religious splendour rivalled that of Rome herself. Much of that monumental splendour has fallen to decay. There remains however, very ancient rites and observances that have been preserved till the present day. The best time to observe this is during the season of Lent. One of the rarest of these is the Procession of All Saints at Goa Velha (not to be confused with Old Goa) , which occurs on the 5th Monday of Lent at the Church of St. Andrews. This tradition, was started in the 17th Century by the Franciscans to encourage people to emulate the lives of the Holy Saints. By the 18th Century, there were 65 life sized statues of Saints, richly dressed and carried in procession in palanquins. When the procession was stopped for a few years during the suppression of the religious orders in Portugal ,more than half of these were destroyed by neglect. With a few statues along with that of Joseph Vaz being added, the total number of palanquins now stands at 31. It is a humbling
A bit of Goa …..in Lisboa
tity, in whatever ways they wish to. We have chosen to privilege two areas - promoting participation and promoting music. In terms of participation, our Momentos 4P (Moments 4P) initiative is essentially dedicated to people between 20 and 45. The 4P stands for 4 objectives – participar (participation); partilhar (sharing); progredir (progress); and promover (promotion). It happens 4 times a year and each session lasts for 4 hours. In the musical field, Casa de Goa’s EKVAT group that celebrated 25 years of existence in 2015 has a young group of dancers as one of its most admired features, because of the visual stage element, no doubt, but also because of their widely recognized enthusiasm and dedication. Not only have they been involved in a collective learning process, since we are all amateurs without any formal background in choreography, but they have also made attempts to contribute to new pieces based on their own contemporary understanding of traditional music and dance thereby contributing to what we would like to consider as a “culture in the making” process. Another musical group at Casa de Goa, GAMAT, is an intergenerational group where the main artists are young violinists, all of them music students, supported by older musicians. They play (and at times sing) different kinds of music, with a special focus on Goan music. Young people are among those most likely to think that cultural diversity is an asset in their
own growing up process. The idea, therefore, is to retain the interest of the young Gamat musicians in the music of the world, while increasing their awareness of the importance of Goan music as a cultural objective, and, hopefully, as an element of cohesion and an instrument for cultural dissemination in the Portuguese society. We, the older generations, can only plant the seed and hope that the flowers and the fruit will blossom in due time. Of the results we cannot be sure because we cannot see today what only the future will reveal.
A ncient Traditions sight to see ,these statues with their cloth robes ens on different Sunday’s in different parishes. A moving in the wind carried on the shoulders of massive statue of Christ carrying the cross and the Confraria, with devotes passing under the another one of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows is carried from the Church through the streets, with people in mourning colours walking along and praying fervently. On Good Friday most Churches have the lowering of the image of Christ from the Cross by the Confraria, which is then placed on a bier and carried in procession. However, in the Se Cathedral at OId Goa, a very ancient ceremony takes place, presided over by the Archbishop. The image of Christ is carried in procession around the vast Cathedral. The Canons in the Capa Magna (Capes) lead the procession. At the end of the route via the many chapels in the Cathedral, the image is then brought to the Chapel of the Miraculous Cross, where it is placed in the Sepulchre with the Archbishop and palanquin in their belief that this act will bless Canons reciting ancient prayers in Latin. them. To really experience the rich solemnity of these The Santos Passos is another procession that is ancient customs, one must participate in them in still seen in almost every Goan Church. This hap- person, in Goa.
Ancestral Goa - the “Ethnicity” and the celebration of our past The very concept upon which the ideology of the landscaped open-air museum; Ancestral Goa is based upon is a celebration of the ethnic roots of the Goan society. The very initial stages, the amalgamation of the cultural identity and the colonial imposition and finally the essence of a serious and potent mix of Goanness is what this tiny land, so beloved, is all about. In his day, Luis Vas de Camoes had a very strange abhorrence for this place and he referred to it in the most derogatory terms possible in his letter back home. He had been sent to Goa in disgrace and incidentally that worked to his advantage whereby Portugal got its greatest hymn to fame with the “Lusiadas”. A recent disavowal of sorts is in a blog that denounces the changing face of the ethnicity that is essentially Goan which begins with the statement that “Goa was in the History of Portugal…..” Essentially the diatribe is against the infusion of pseudo-nationalistic trends that have brought about a change to the social face of what was once considered a “Pearl of Culture” in the upward trend of westernization that came about because of the colonialism. “……Almost 5 centuries of influence, and of course we are different...” says an article that enhances the differences, social definitions and moreover the very spirit of the people of Goa, a state that fiercely fought for its own identity and gained it. The tragedy though lies in the very heart of its populace who, “incidentally” says the afore mentioned article, is less Goan and more cosmopolitan. The changes that have wrought havoc have been induced to accommodate the “others”! It is a very tongue-in-cheek tirade and though it hits closer to home than is easy to handle it is a humorous picture of the mindset of what many of the “Diaspora” feel about their land, close to their hearts and far from their mind’s eye. And we, at “Ancestral Goa”, understood the sentiment and decided to get to the very heart of the matter by defining for the present generation of “Goans” what their land was all about. Besides the evolutionary architectural listing of structures, the social and cultural lifestyles and above all the trades, we decided to enhance the whole with an aspect of “Difference”. Like one visitor said, “My heart stuttered at the scent, the feel and the emotions evoked with my very first step onto the land of Parashurama. Museums are generally an elaborate virtual list of things, artistic and ethnic, cultural and ethereal, etc, preserved for posterity. What we wanted
was to be different and therein lay the challenge. We wanted to give the visitor a glimpse and feel of what Goa, was and in many instances, still is. Detailing and categorizing the various aspects is not what this open-air museum is all about. The “much more” that was a dare was conquered with the tracing back in time of what was beyond the mere structural evolution, it lay in the culture; dance, music, festivals, food and activities, pre and post conversion. The norms had to be carefully studied and then highlighted. Care had to be taken not to create a furor in the difference of opinion and hurt the sentiments; religious, social and intellectual. This land had a brilliantly hued past that over the period of time had evolved and translated itself to suit the passage of everything; time, change, rule, society and colonialism. We began with “Carnaval” and the rural traditions practiced; Khell tiatr, Moné and even the disguise and mascaradas. Every year, Ancestral Goa celebrates this aspect of the festival with the adherence to tradition so as to showcase every factual aspect. Holi, Raksha Bandhan and Friendship Day; “make a tree a friend for life”, are all celebrated for the infusion of “National Integration”, for the benefit of the various ethnic groups who live and work at the premises. They also work to promote the ongoing “protection and preservation of the environment and eco-systems programs” at Ancestral Goa. Sant Khuris on the 3rd of May is held at the “Divlleancho Khuris”. Santo Antonio, on the 13th of June is venerated, with the prolonged litany of prayers and requests is celebrated at the cross and boiled gram, pieces
of coconut jaggery and pieces of the coconut kernel are served. São João on the 24th of June is held with all the fanfare of the Brass band, coconut and jaggery sweets, kanjee (a rice broth) and salt fish and chepnim (salt water mango pickle). A recently
Ancestral Goa - a center for preservation of Art, Culture and Environment created by Maendra Jocelino Araujo Alvares, situated at Bigfoot, Loutolim
inaugurated installation highlights the various traditional practices for the visitor. The Khajekar, selling local sweets made from sugar, coconut, jaggery and gram flour, the temple dances, the performers of the Mando, Fugddi and the various other festival cultural show pieces are displayed in various installations. These come alive at the optimum festival celebration times. The “Ladainha” with the procession of singers, candles and devout and “Ganesh mahotsav” are also a part of the ethnic display features. The festival of traditional games enters its 3rd year and has been a great success with the local and urban schools. World Goa day on the 20th of August is a highlight of all this and more. On a singularly enhanced platter of richly hued colors we offer every visitor a “Feast for the senses”.
Communicare Trust Teaching local and foreign languages in Goa One language sets you in a corridor for life. of Languages”, sought views from various states Two languages open every door along the on teaching foreign languages in schools. A news way - Frank Smith report in one of the national dailies stated that, "In what could compel the drafting committee of A group of young students and few adults gather the new education policy to take a stand in faat Communicare Trust regularly for their lan- vour of teaching foreign languages in schools, 11 guage classes. Most of these participants speak States and Union Territories (UTs) have come three languages— English, Konkani and either out in support of students learning French, Gertheir mother tongue or Hindi. They have come man and Mandarin, among others, for better to Communicare Trust to learn a fourth lan- employment opportunities." Teaching foreign guage, precisely a foreign one—Portuguese, languages is now one of the key discussion French, German, Spanish. For the students points for the new education policy, which was learning a foreign language, it is not a fad or a expected to be unveiled on February 29. means to show off. They know 'English is not But then one can ask, why should one learn a enough' and learning a foreign language will foreign language? After all, the whole world only increase their advantage in the job mar- speaks English! To begin with speaking more ket. Even Shakespeare's great comedy "Twelfth than one language helps one in multi-tasking. It Night" has a gentleman being praised, "He plays also helps one educationally, economically, dethe viol-de-gamboys, speaks 3 or 4 languages velops one's personality and culture—it gives us and hath all the good gifts of nature." access to a whole new culture, where our lives This brings to the fore the importance of learn- can take on a whole new dimension. The Gering another language apart from English. The man poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1827 English language has only 26 letters, whereas said, "Whoever is not acquainted with foreign German, Portuguese and Spanish have a number languages knows nothing of his own." of accents that give rise to new sounds. Mind At Communicare Trust when we teach students you, we are not saying that English is not need- a foreign language we not only take texts from ed. But, every language is special and worth that language, but we focus and walk students learning in its own right. Knowing multiple lan- through that particular region where the languages is always good for diversity, as it has a guage has originated. Students learn about the number of psychological benefits when taught rich social, political and cultural history associatfrom a tender age. The power that other lan- ed with that particular language. In short we get guages have in their form makes English as a into the heart of the language. language appear weak. Learning a language can be compared to a jourEven the HRD ministry while drafting the new ney of discovery—exciting and enriching for our education policy, under the head of “Promotion minds. However, this journey can only take
Nalini Elvino de Sousa Manager Communicare Trust
place when it is done with dedication and patience. February 21 is celebrated as International Mother Tongue Day. Sarah Caldwell said, "Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can; there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did." While the primary pride will continue to remain with English, it is time we each begin a love affair with languages. To know more about Communicare Trust log on to: Official website of Communicare Trust teaching local and foreign languages in Goa.
Viva Carnaval ! Carnival in Goa has evolved from it’s early days. From its humble origins of being played amongst friends in the streets with ‘cocotes’ to the big jamboree it is today, King Momo has become the reigning crown of four days of fun, frolic and much merriment. The much awaited cultural festival in the calendar sees tourists flock from across India and the world. Dates are booked in advance and this year the Indian railways introduced a special train to carry visitors across the border into Goa. That’s not all. The 2016 edition turned the spotlight on the Destination Carnival project. Dept of Tourism recently tied up with UK based Brouhaha International that linked the cultures of South Africa, UK and India through dance. The exchange program seeks to create a intercontinental mingling of arts and talent. The four from Goa-Milroy Quadros, Seby Gauncar, Agnelo D’Souza and Raul Singh of Dance Illusions joined 11 of their counterparts from the other two countries and put on a splendid cross cultural act that saw a combination of
Update 2016 African moves, contemporary with Latin. They were the star acts after the lead float that had King Momo and his smiling queen Nachom ia Kumpasar lead actress Palomi Ghosh, who en-
Photo: JoeGoaUK
thralled audiences with a Lorna number. In Panjim the parade wound it’s way through the usual route in the city and had it’s share of traditional elements and modernity. There were depictions of Goa’s rural life, the usual clowns, sponsored floats and some added an interesting
eco-friendly touch to their floats. One shaped old plastic bottles into a fish, while another reused cold drink bottles to make a huge minion. There were plenty of after parties around as visitors could choose from the Samba Square and the Grapescapade. In the South, the carnival took on a different turn with city planners diverting the float parade to the Ravindra Bhavan-Fatorda stadium route. The throngs gathered along the roads, climbing on buildings, walls to catch a glimpse of the floats. The entertainment program ensured the party continued for three days. The merriment continued for the four days, before it was time to bid King Momo adieu for the moment, only to return next year.
Nicole Suares Journalist and Photography Enthusiast
Football
Bringing Goans Together…….in the Gulf GR Crasto
Di Taka... Grace, power and pace. Drama and excitement. This is football, the incredible game which has captivated hearts of players and fans all over the world. Football loving Goans in the Gulf are not immune to the fever either. Throughout the year, one can see players and teams playing their hearts out as they try to better their game with renewed interest and tactics. The summer heat and winter chill does not deter the spirits of football fans and players in the Gulf. The Kuwait India Football Federation (KIFF), an umbrella of the Indian expat football clubs is dominated by a large number of Goan football teams. KIFF, the only one of its kind in the Gulf conducts an annual 11-a-side football league. Several other one-day tournaments are also held under its patronage. The majority of the league titles and tournament championships are won by the Goan clubs. United Goans, Goan Overseas Association (Goa Maroons), Santos Football Club, CRC Chinchinim, AVC, Curtorcars United, Colva United Centre and Navelim Youth Centre are among the top Goan clubs that have carved a niche in Kuwait expat football. Bahrain is considered as family-friendly nation of the Gulf. Bahrain has much more relaxed rules and customs compared to other Gulf States. This
Shigmo 2016
Cecil Pinto Ethnographer, Photographer & Event Manager, Aldona
Editor—Xitt Koddi Newsletter ,Bahrain Goans
environment has been very favourable to that was at the top in expat football in yesteryears, is now finding hard to field a strong team of its own with good players donning colours of other Goan outfits. Salcette United, Assagao Sporting, Panjim Footballers and Canacona are formidable teams that play quality football in Bahrain. Dubai is another major hub of Goan football activity. The inter-village football league of Goan Cultural Society played regularly for over 25 years attracts as many as 20 teams. Such is the football fever among Goans in Dubai. Vanxim Divar, FC Bardez, ABC Benaulim, Varca, Panjim, Vasco, Raia, Morjim and AVC are some of the popular teams that fight out for the top spot in this competition. Goans, who organise a large number of social There are sporting headlines of Goans uniting activities on this island. However, football re- under football in Oman and Qatar as well. The mains regular sports throughout the year that Goan Community of Oman and the Goan Welfare brings a pretty good number of Goans together. Association Doha help promote football among ‘Bahrain Goans’, a group of handful of die-hard Goans in their respective Gulf States. Football football loving fans have been at the forefront of among Goans in Gulf fulfils its function to divert organising football in Bahrain for over 2 decades one's mind from work whilst bringing the Goans with their slogan ‘promoting friendship through together on off days and holidays. The coming sports’. Bahrain Goans are also indebted or or- together of Goans on football fields in the Gulf ganising several football tournaments for Gulf also turns out as a meeting place, where they Goans in Bahrain. The Young Goans Club, the talk and discuss a wide range of topics on Goa only registered institution of Goans in Bahrain, over a match of football.
Through the lens
GLOBAL GOAN UNITY
Someone envisaged bringing as many Goan’s onto one common platform and what better way than to celebrate a day together all over the world, as one entity. And this gave rise to the WORLD GOA DAY CELEBRATIONS which has now taken root and gained momentum in most parts of the world where we GOANS come together, on one designated day, each in our own country/region, to each celebrate in our own way, the beauty of having originated from this special land GOA! And so once again, we now want to transcend all remaining barriers, in order to bring all of our GOAN COMMUNITIES, ASSOCIATIONS and GROUPS.. TOGETHER, onto one common platform to UNITE and PROJECT ourselves, our language, our culture and our being, for the entire world to see. To be able to speak out with one voice, on issues that plague us as Goans, or even to simply be able to express ourselves clearly to those who hold authority over us wherever we may be or to just share of ourselves, our thoughts and our talents for the good of society and mankind and thus be able
to tap into the vast potential of our existence. Our current groups, associations and communities will continue their individual existence but we shall be one force to reckon with, when we also partake of being A GLOBAL GOAN COMMUNITY. Lets imagine a scenario where a particular Goan group has some problem and inspite of best efforts is unable to find a solution and say it sadly lacks good sound lega advice. Now at the very same time, there exists in our other groups elsewhere in the world, this much needed expertise, which problem therefore if not placed and discussed in such common forum or platform like the Global Goan Community, the ailing group would end up being the loser for not being able to tap into the existing potential of our very own people, our very own Goans. This is but one such example. The talent of our experienced elders, our budding youth, our hard working members of our entire Global Community could thus be showcased here on this one common platform. Oh well, this mostly seems to be my understanding of wanting to have Global Goan Unity. However for this to happen, we would need to put aside our personal agendas, our personal issues and reach out wanting to be ONE, we would need most of all to WORK TOGETHER, to share our ideas together, to freely give of our time and our talents, not for commercial gain or for fame
GOAN GROUPS ACROSS THE WORLD with Goans looking very chic in their ARUSHA INSTITUTE-Tanzania, East Africa white cottons, linens and casuals for CASA DE GOA -Lisbon, Portugal CULTURAL SOCIETY-GOA DIU -MACAU the white themedDAMAN event.&The MC Lloyd EDMONTON ASSOCIATION-Edmonton,Canada SequeiraGOAN rolled off festivities with the FENNY FEVER - UK gamesCanada session including ‘stampin the G.N.A.T.tail’..(Get a crepe paper tail and are G.O.A. Kuwait, UAE GLOBAL GOANSto- Dubai, required pull UAE it out with legs; one GOA HERITAGE ACTION GROUP, Goa-India partner had to protect it and the other GOAN ASSOCIATION CALGARY, Alberta-Canada tried to remove), balancing the balls(a GOAN ASSOCIATION OF DC, USA GOAN ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA-USA mushy affair involved couples balancGOAN OF HUDSON, USA the nose, ing ASSOCIATION plastic balls between GOAN ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY-USA forehead and lips) and loads GOAN COMMUNITY OF OMAN-Oman of others withINSTITUTE interesting Goa-UGANDA related quiz quesGOAN KAMPALA GOAN INSTITUTE FRANCISCO-USA tions being SAN thrown to the crowd for GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION -GERMANY prizes. GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION -NSW - Sydney, Australia OurOVERSEAS president Louella -TORONTO made a -speech GOAN ASSOCIATION CANADA GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION-Vancouver,Canada though her effervescence said far more GOAN thanSHUTTERBUGS her few lines as she gushed with GOAN VOICE UK happiness the beaming Quatar crowd and GOAN WELFARE at ASSOCIATION-Doha, the IN huge contingent of young Goans GOANS BANGALORE-India GOANS HOUSTON -USA whoinwere so enthusiastically attending GOANS in NETHERLANDS and participating for the first time in GOANS INTERNATIONAL KGAOf history. GOANS America ,LA-USA GOANS of MOZAMBIQUE A few dances were in order of course GOANS PAKISTAN and ofthe long time KGA members led GOANS of UGANDA the way to the dance floor. It was obviGOANS WORLDWIDE ous at this stage that the event was a GOENKARANCHO EKVOTTDelhi, India KARACHI GOAN ASSOCIATION runaway success to be- KARACHI celebrated with KARNATAKA GOAN ASSOCIATION - Bangalore, India the mouth watering starters that were KONKANI ROCKS & HERITAGE JAZZ - Panjim, Goa being GOA sent across by the India courteous MUMBAI ASSOCIATION-Mumbai, QUEBEC - Quebec, OpusGOAN staffASSOCIATION faster than we Canada could eat SERULA ARTS AND CULTURE ACADEMY them. All pretensions of diet and ST XAVIERS SOCIETY - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania gluttony being sin were abandoned THE CANORIENT CHRISTa ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN TORONTO-Canada as we sunk GOAN our teeth into YOUNG LONDON SOCIETYUK the chouris
but simply to show the world… WE ARE GOAN AND ARE PROUD TO BE SO! Would you agree or do you think that there probably are so many more reasons why we must unite and present one common front globally. Tell us then what you think.. tell us how we can achieve this, tell us the ways we can commence and get this beautiful idea off the ground, tell us what are the other reasons we must unite and speak out in one forum and on one common platform, as one voice. Today, we have Goans living all over the world, on different continents, in different countries and regions, amongst diverse and multi cultures, so don’t you think that we need to be able to express ourselves to the rest of the world, to be visible to others and share with others, the richness of our origin, our land, our language, our music, our sport, our dance and who we truly are. If you agree, if your association so deems it fit, if your Goan community wherever you are thinks along these lines, or even if as individuals, you feel you have so much more to give, then come along and join the band wagon, we have floated the GLOBAL GOAN COMMUNITY, but we NEED EACH OF YOU TO HOP ON!!
Maria Romano Fernandes Arusha, Tanzania & P.O. Box 28717, Kampala, Uganda.
We thank all our contributors. Please ensure that your contributions are sent well ahead of time for future editions. Due to the tremendous response, we might not have the space to include it at the last minute. Any errors/omissions are unintentional. Presidents of Goan Associations/Groups enrolled with us are requested to update information/logos with Mr. Rene Barreto The content and details of the contributors are published as received. Any differences over details may be settled with individuals directly for redressal if any. We welcome you to contribute enthusiastically to upcoming editions. E-Mail: goanint@yahoo.co.uk, globalgoenkar@gmail.com