Issne No: 25

Friday, May 1, 2015 | Vol. No. 3 | Issue 25 | Price Rs. 10 | www.goastreets.com | G-2/RNP/Weekly/Goa-05/2013-15

Cleaning Campal Creek | Nepal Earthquake | Galleries

Keep Goa Beautiful!

From Fish Bones to Cooking Gas Margao's New Biogas Plant

Cover Story 3

Friday, May 1, 2015

KEEP GOA BEAUTIFUL From Fish Bones To Cooking Gas

The Story of Margao’s Biogas Plant And How One Green Dream Can Help Solve Goa’s Garbage Woes

By Vivian Maverick Martins and Crespo D’Souza

Editors’ Note: Keep Goa Beautiful. It’s a simple thought, but a deeply important one. That’s because our state’s garbage scourge has now reached the point of threatening our economy, our environment, and our quality of life. A lot has been said about the ubiquitous piles of garbage that blight the countryside, the propensity of the public to dump rubbish on the side of the road or toss wrappers out of car windows. To keep Goa beautiful, we must raise public awareness and together make a disciplined, concerted effort to manage the estimated 400 tonnes of waste generated throughout Goa every day. Keep Goa Beautiful is an initiative by Goa Streets to mobilise the community and stop this garbage madness. As part of the initiative, we will be highlighting some of the state’s most notable efforts to make a dent in the problem, starting with the story of a plant in Margao, written by Goa Streets writers Vivian Maverick Martins and Crespo D’Souza, to convert bio-waste into usable energy. Read on and, please, help keep Goa beautiful!

E

very evening as the dust settles on the bustle of the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) Market, a three-feet-high bright blue flame shoots toward the night sky. A spectacular sight it may be, but before you whip out your camera phone to take a selfie in front of what you think might be a typical gas refinery, take a closer look.

Powered by more than a ton of organic market material stands the state’s most successful experiment in bio-waste conversion, transforming fish bones, meat entrails and vegetable waste into methane gas.

“The gas is used in a restaurant in the market complex and very soon we want to generate power using this same gas,”

Vinay Kumar Chandra, member secretary of the SGPDA, told Goa Streets.

But there is a deeply sad, even tragic, aspect to this otherwise noble experiment. The SGPDA has few takers for its gas even though it’s cheaper than other gas and contributing something

TURN TO PAGE 4

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4 Cover Story FROM PAGE 3

Now let us pause for a moment and take note. This gas is significantly cheaper than other liquefied petroleum gas used for cooking, and it contributes to a cause that is sure to help Goa and, by extension, its restaurant industry (reminder to all establishments that use LPG: Goa’s garbage woes hurt the economy!). So if it’s a third the price and exactly the same as any other LPG, why has there not been a better response? It turns out that some of these restaurants have misgivings, believing that the biogas is dirty, that it will stink when burnt, and that it will affect the flavour of the food.

Let us be perfectly clear now and write the following in large, capitalized letters.

THIS TECHNOLOGY IS CLEAN AND THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR. METHANE IS METHANE WHETHER IT COMES FROM REFINERIES OR BIOGAS PLANTS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST OTHERWISE, AND PORTRAYING THIS GAS AS BAD IS TERRIBLY WRONG. IF YOU ARE A RESTAURANT OWNER IN MARGAO, YOU SHOULD BE JUMPING AT THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR CHEAPER GAS THAT WILL ALSO ALLOW YOU TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOUR FELLOW GOANS AS WELL AS YOURSELF. THAT’S BECAUSE A CLEANER GOA IS ALSO A MORE PROFITABLE ONE.

“The project was started with two primary objectives, one to treat the tonnes of waste generated in the market and secondly to produce biogas that is sold to commercial establishments within the complex,” says Parag Mody, owner of DeerTree Technologies Pvt Ltd. To tackle the waste, a biogas plant was built with a daily loading capacity of 1.2 to 1.5 tons, producing about two commercial cylinders of cooking gas every day (about 40 kilograms of pressurised gas). In addition, the plant produces 1,000 liters of nitrogen-rich fertilizer, which is given for free to whomever requires it.

The gas is piped directly to interested parties, and the popular Margao restaurant Mirchi-Go opposite the SGPDA market is using the gas offered to them at a third of the commercial rate.

“My intention is to show that it is possible to create a zero waste market by utilizing the waste as a resource and profiting from it.

I hope this model is replicated everywhere,” Parag said.

The collection is handled by Green Goa Works, who have trained a staff of five to segregate organic and non-organic waste and bring the organics to the biogas plant in trolleys.

Sanjay Shahapurkar, who owns a shop opposite the plant, says, “We have now proven that such a plant can actually work. People expected there to be stink or there to be mess around the place, but one visit to the plant will convince you otherwise.

This can be replicated by Panjim and Mapusa as well.”

extraordinary to the cause of a greener Goa. The remaining, unused gas is burnt every night in a large furnace, engendering this three-foot flame that is alight every night. It seems the market rejects are not the only colossal waste in this part of Margao.

Still, the plant’s very existence provides a beacon of hope in a state yearning for a breakthrough in the garbage crisis. It reflects a burning desire to turn the tide of waste-management failure, and a willingness to explore creative solutions. Organizers say the plant could serve as a model for similar projects throughout the state, and they’re hopeful the concept – now in existence for just a year – will catch on with time.

The initiative to convert market waste into an energy plant was first suggested

by Goa Green Works and DeerTree Technologies to recycle large quantities of unused food and slash the amount of material sent to the Sonsoddo landfill on the outskirts of Margao. DeerTree Technologies Pvt Ltd has entered a 5-year agreement with SGPDA to own and operate this biogas plant treating one ton of organic waste generated daily from the market.

It’s a pity Sanjay’s attitude is not more prevalent. “We are struggling to find takers for the gas. People have misconceptions, forcing us to just waste the gas through burning. I wish more restaurants would be willing to take this cheaper and more eco-friendly gas,” Chandra said.

Unfazed, however, the SGPDA now has plans to generate electricity to use the power in offices as well as the market.

“Within the next six months we plan to install a gas-fired electricity generator,” Chandra said, but added that directly using the gas was always a better option.

“With every conversion there is a loss of energy. If you convert to electricity there is a loss in the conversion process,” he said.

Another Margao resident who lives near the Sonsoddo landfill feels that people need to be sensitized about the garbage problem so that projects for the good of Goa are not opposed.

“Many such projects are usually opposed by people as nobody wants garbage to be dumped or treated in their own backyard. But it is time we start recognising that when we throw something away, it just ends up in somebody else's backyard,” says Joao Fernandes, who lives near the Sonsoddo landfill.

Wendell Rodricks, fashion designer and Chairman of Green Goa Works, says, “I’m very happy that this initiative has worked as it goes to prove that if you really are intending to do good for the society, the people will definitely co-operate”.

Green Goa Works has accomplished much, but a much greater effort is required to solve Goa’s garbage mess. Around the world, garbage collection is recognized as primarily a government undertaking, along with providing basic health care, education and policing. Still,

because of the magnitude of the problem in Goa and the long history of official inaction (starting with the Portuguese failure to ensure proper civic amenities), strong citizen involvement is required to tackle the issue.

“It is a shame that garbage cannot be treated effectively for a small state like Goa,” Wendell Rodricks laments.

The facility in Margao is not the first plant to take in food waste, and hopefully won’t be the last. Many such initiatives are needed to make Goa green and clean.

Goa state Environment Minister Alina Saldanha lauded the efforts of Green Goa Works and DeerTree Technologies, saying such initiatives will definitely help solve Goa’s garbage crisis.

“Every citizen should act responsibly and take care of their own garbage.

If waste is collected, segregated and disposed off in the right way, half the problem will be solved”.

“The Government is very serious about the garbage issue and two garbage treatment plants are planned in North Goa and South Goa, despite the Government facing financial obstacles.

We will make sure that the garbage woes of Goa are solved and promises made to the people delivered in the months to come”, Alina added.

The SGPDA’s Chandra, for his part, said he’s hopeful that Goa’s garbage tide can turn, especially in light of projects such as the Margao biogas plant.

“Technology is evolving. Garbage now has value. Within five years the economics of garbage will ensure that the garbage problem will sort itself out,” he said.

We can only hope.

In addition to its other initiatives, the Goa government plans to set up plants which can re-engineer plastics into furnace oil, and a so-called “German technology” waste treatment plant is planned for the Saligao-Calangute plateau, despite myriad legal proceedings calling the project into question.

One major blot is the Corporation of the City of Panjim, whose plans for composting market waste has only resulted in an unbearable stench that has enveloped the entire Patto area for close to ten years now.

“The reason is that the amount of waste that is sent to the composting plant is more than what the plant can handle,” CCP engineer Sachin Ambe lamented.

What’s worse is that the Corporation’s plans to set up a shed in an area behind the Heera petrol pump in Panjim are stuck in litigation and its plans for a comprehensive municipal solid waste treatment plant at Bainguinim in Old Goa have failed to receive the necessary funds from the central government.

Nonetheless, every cloud has a silver lining, and Goa’s might just be the precedent set by the biogas plant at Margao. 

3 cover story 8

biogas in Goa

7 feature

10 feature

tragedy in nepal

11 music & nightlife atmosphere

Publisher Marisha Dutt Chief Mentor Steven Gutkin Content & Marketing Co-ordinator Shubham Gupta Correspondents/Writers: Ethel Da Costa, Sheela Jaywant,

Charlane Pereira e Rebello, Bina Datwani, Karan Bhagat, Perin Ilavia, Dielle D’Souza, Anzil Fernandes, Crespo D’Souza, Sanket Sharma, Richa Narvekar, Vivian Maverick Martins

Consulting Editor Aparna Raut Desai Marketing Co-ordinator Radhika Naik Marketing & Event Co-ordinator Rahul Rivonkar Marketing Executive Alvira Rodrigues Circulation & Accounts Co-ordinator Nilesh Shetgaonkar Circulation Vijay Gadekar, Sarfaraz Beig

guru bar

14 what's On

Cleaning St inez creek

Who's in Charge?

food & drink

things to do in goa

& 16 arts entertainment

15 feature faith healer

art fairs & galleries

18 the corner kidzee pre-school vengaboys class act

Keep Goa Beautiful 7 Feature 7

Friday, May 1, 2015

Stinking Creek, Clueless Officials Will the St Inez Creek Ever Be Cleaned?

As part of Goa Streets’ Keep Goa Beautiful initiative, writer Vivian Maverick Martins explores one of the most pressing environmental issues on the minds of Goans – the St Inez Creek.

By Vivian Maverick Martins

R

ight in the heart of the Goa’s capital city sits Panjim’s most polluted watershed, befouled by generations of waste, and overflow from commercial and private establishments. It's not hard to spot – or smell — the filth in and around the St Inez Creek.

The creek, which runs through an area of urban homes, hotels and other commercial establishments, is presently — and has been for some time — an oily, rainbow-slicked “water” body chockfull of cans, plastic bottles and bags, raw sewage and decaying food. Perhaps the hardest thing to spot in all of this is the water itself.

What was once a clean, flowing creek is now a dull, gray gutter, or as many would like to call it, a ‘nullah’ that cannot sustain life.

Whatever you choose to call it, the creek needs urgent attention, and has for a long, long time. Efforts to clean it up, however, continue to move at a snail’s pace, despite signs that a multi-crore clean-up project could commence after the monsoons.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar set aside a whopping Rs 68 crores in his budget for the project, but those hoping for quick action have been repeatedly disappointed. The project was a burning issue during the Panjim by-elections; and of course a thousand and one promises were made on all sides, but now that the elections have been fought and won (by the BJP), there isn’t a whisper of a beginning of the actual work.

Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, Professor, Department of Botany, Goa University blames the Water Resources Department for stopping the natural tidal flow into this creek by raising the bed level near INOX. He feels that restoring age-old tidal circulation will be wiser and less expensive than costly beautification of the creek channel and encroached banks.

Dr. Kamat says a powerful lobby debases St Inez creek as a "nullah". “I can see how various forces political, builders, developers etc have come together to finish it off because of land development in the creek's catchment area.”

The St Inez creek is among the last relatively undeveloped spots in the

Panjim urban area. The area also offers a clear picture of the damage humans are wreaking on the city’s fragile ecosystem.

The fashion designer Wendell Rodricks feels that relocating settlements along the creek and dredging of sand should be given priority.

“I want the Government to look into two things immediately. Relocating settlements that use the creek as a toilet remains a top priority. They also have to dredge the sand out, so that the creek water can flow into the river and vice versa,” said Rodricks, who is active in environmental issues.

The Goa State Pollution Control Board conducted another study of the St Inez creek this week, which again has shown high raw sewage in the creek water despite clear cleanup recommendations issued to the Corporation of the City of Panjim.

However, a senior official from CCP who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the CCP has failed to act on the report submitted by GSPCB, as many houses that are responsible for polluting the creek continue to enjoy political backing.

He added that housing colonies constructed by influential builders are also responsible for polluting the creek. However, no action has ever been initiated against them. Sewage connections have still not been provided to many houses along the creek, further exposing the lack of commitment within the government to clean up this mess.

CCP has a crucial role to play in restoring the creek but it seems oblivious to the issue.

When I asked CCP Mayor Shubham Chodankar about the city’s response to the GSPCB’s recommendations, he redirected me to the corporation’s legal cell, where there was no one to comment on the issue.

“I do not have the details but some action must have been taken on the St Inez nullah. There is nothing much that we can do,” said Chodankar. It was hard to figure out what was most astonishing, his referring to the creek as a “nullah”, his ignorance about one of the most important issues facing the city he governs, or his no-can-do stance.

He did say, however, that he expected the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation to begin work on the creek at some point. “We just have to wait,” he added.

When questioned about the need to take action against houses and buildings discharging sewage into the creek, Chodankar said, “Yes, we are well aware about the problem, however all stakeholders need to be taken into consideration to initiate action, some sewerage connections have to be given to houses along the creek and we will work out a solution to that.”

Newly elected Panjim MLA Sidharth Kuncalienker from the ruling BJP insisted that the government is serious about the issue. He echoed the sentiments of Dr. Kamat about the builders’ lobby and acknowledged it is hampering the

restoration process.

“Today I don’t feel like even looking at the water, but I would love to see the sight of my children swimming in it someday, and it is possible only if everyone works positively towards this project”, added Kuncalienker.

When asked for an assurance on the project’s completion, the Panjim MLA was decidedly less exuberant. “Nobody can give assurance about anything.

However, we can strive our level best to complete the project. It is a very complex project and will definitely take time for completion”.

After generations of neglect, the first, tiny steps are being taken in a multipronged clean-up that could take years and cost crores of rupees. The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation has floated a tender seeking bids from established contractors to fence off St Inez creek to prevent people from dumping garbage into the water body.

A GSIDC official said that even the fencing work will take at least 2 to 3 months to start, and most likely the ground work will start only after the monsoons.

But even the most hopeful of officials acknowledge the watershed may never be clear of all pollutants.

NIO oceanographer Dr. Antonio Mascarenhas said, “To my knowledge, no creek has ever been restored in India and they are only being killed. St Inez Creek is never going to be pristine, the way it was years ago, but we can make it dramatically cleaner than it is now." 

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Guru of all Bars and Restaurants in Anjuna Has Come a Long Way Since 1967

By Shubham Gupta

N

estled in the hippie junction of Anjuna is a beach-side restaurant that has been on the grounds for over 48 years now. Guru Bar and Restaurant, a true Goan beach shack, stands for its name when it comes to food, service, and stateof-the-art music acts. This iconic joint is one of those places that managed to drift modern-day hippies from psychedelic trance to old-school reggae. But that’s not all. Apart from the musical acts, it boasts of its tremendous variety of delectable food offerings.

As I entered Guru Bar and Restaurant, sat down, and gazed at the Arabian Sea, my consciousness was grooving to reggae concerts featuring the legends themselves projected on a big screen. While everyone in the joint was having a ball with the reasonably priced drinks and a mesmerizing sea view, one of the friendliest stewards in Goa came to wait on my table. I have this habit of making small talk with the ones serving me food and where many waiters get annoyed by this habit, this one was rather pleased. After me and my colleague shared a beer, we got lost in the endless possibilities of what we could order as a blend of Goan, Italian, Chinese and Indian aromas gripped us. We finally settled on the butter garlic calamari for starters and the non vegetarian tandoor platter for mains as suggested by owner

Guru Bar Rocks! Head There On May 4 For A Concert Benefiting Nepal Quake Victims Swapnil Naik, who makes sure to greet every guest if he gets a chance.

By the time we finished our first beer, our starters were served. The calamari, cooked with red, yellow, and green bell peppers in a subtly flavoured butter garlic sauce served with pickled onions, salad, and potato chips, took my palate by surprise.

Confession to be made, I am not a huge calamari fan but that fresh catch cooked to perfection with just the right amount of flavours won over my critical self. Even the potato chips were not the limp ones that you’d usually get in a beach shack but were freshly chopped and fried to be perfectly crisp on the outside and tender inside. The salad included three types of bell peppers, cucumber wedges, a lemon slice, and fresh parsley. The bell peppers cooked along with the calamari left behind an unusual freshness and sweetness that soothed the strong flavour of the garlic.

By the time we downed our second beer, my colleague prompted, “I wish that platter would come to our table. It looks gorgeous.” As a matter of fact, it did come to our table and it smelled as gorgeous as my colleague said it looked. The non-vegetarian tandoor platter included chicken garlic malai tikka, chicken tikka, and chicken tandoori accompanied by garlic butter naan served on a bed of shredded capsicum and red cabbage. Being from Delhi, tandoori chicken and chicken tikkas are staple Friday snacks for me and trust me, they were spot on. The chicken garlic malai tikka was soft, creamy, and gently flavoured with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The shreds of coriander on top and a pinch of chat masala sprinkled evenly on the well-marinated boneless chicken chunks made it the best offering of the night. Next up was the chicken tikka which was intact with traditional flavours. They say that you can’t really go wrong with chicken tikka, but the truth is most places in Goa do.

But this spicy roasted treat marinated in paprika, turmeric, yogurt, ginger garlic paste, ground coriander seeds and roasted cumin took me back to the streets of Delhi, which in fact is the best place to try chicken tikka. The chicken tandoori had an unusual sourness that neutralized the spice in its entirety.

The traditional tandoori masala was accompanied with dried mango powder which brought a twist to the roasted chicken but did not fail to satisfy my taste buds. The crispy burnt bits on the chicken pieces brought out the flavour from the coal fired tandoor, which is why it’s called tandoori chicken after all.

After this spiced up tandoori adventure, it was time to drench my palate with a sweet and savoury offering.

This is where their special dessert, namely, Hello to the Queen took charge.

Scoops of vanilla ice cream topped with hot chocolate fudge served on a bed of sliced bananas mounted on not-sosweet biscuit crumble did its job just fine. The subtlety of the crumble kept the sweetness of the ice cream and hot chocolate fudge from over powering the overall experience while the bananas added a fresh, fruity, and tropical touch to it.

Guru Bar and Restaurant is well known for their expertise in seafood and Goan cuisine but you will find a continental touch to their menu as well.

For instance, the wood fired pizzas are quite a catch and are surprisingly affordable starting from INR 180/- only.

Unfortunately I was too full to try them but remembering the aromas I got from their brick oven makes me hope that you will.

While I satiated myself with this scrumptious food, I got struck with an instinctive guilt that our brothers and sisters in Nepal are trapped, homeless, injured, and in many instances, helpless.

I did my part by donating what I could spare to Charities Aid Foundation India by logging on to www.partnerships. cafindia.org/caf/c/himalayanrelief.

Thankfully, Guru Bar is also finding a way help the quake victims. On the 4th of May, 5PM onwards, Guru bar owner Swapnil Naik is organizing a fund raiser featuring over 15 artists including the legendary Elvis Lobo and Varun Carvalho. Every rupee that you spend at this concert will be donated to the Nepal quake victims.

This is a bar & restaurant with heart.

• The Food: Everyone knows it’s a bar. But who knew their food was THIS delicious?

• Service: Extremely warm • Atmosphere: It’s on the beach. Nuff said.

• Something Special: A May 4 event to aid Nepal quake victims • Contact: St. Anthony Praise, North Anjuna, Bardez. Ph. 09823383257

Friday, May 1, 2015

Every Thursday Thursday - Seafood Night Market For a ‘Grand Goan Night Market’ ambience with artifacts, jewellery and handicraft stalls. Select from a variety of seafood delicacies and enjoy the unlimited fresh catch of the day, combined with live entertainment.

At The Dining Room, Grand Hyatt Goa, Bambolim 7 pm to 11:30 pm +91 832 3011510 grandhyattgoa@hyatt.com goa.grand.hyatt.com

Every Saturday Barbeque Nights - With Caroline Treat yourself to assorted grilled delights from the live barbeque station while listening to some lovely music.

Caroline on the saxophone.

Rs 1500++ per person At Alila Diwa Goa, Majorda +91 832 2746800 diwagoa@alilahotels.com www.alilahotels.com/diwagoa Brunches Every Sunday The Waterfront Sunday BBQ Soal up the Summer sun as you splash about in our infinity pool & Unwind to the smooth tunes of Our live band.

1200 per person At Acron Waterfront Resort, Baga 11.30 am to 4 pm 77220 16888 Sol de Goa Relax over the weekend with lazy Sundays by the poolside. Sol de Goa presents Mexicana-Spanish Brunch with Sangrias, unlimited food and LIVE acoustic entertainment.

At Sol De Goa, Nerul 11.30 Onwards +91 9552134385 Sunday Brunch Highlights: Free Use of Swimming Pool, Rain Dance with DJ, Lavish Buffet with live counters, Unlimited house brands alcohol & Cocktails & Games & Activities Cost: Rs. 1500/- inclusive of all Taxes (with alcohol); Rs. 1100/- inclusive of all Taxes (without alcohol) At Resort Rio, Tambudki, Arpora 12 noon to 3 pm +91 8322267300 / +91 8322267302 Sunday Brunches@ 899/head Burger Pizzas Beer Salads Cocktails Desserts House – Spirits Beverages At Cheenos, Baga 12 pm to 4 pm. +91 8806564991 Champagne Brunch Begin your brunch with lobster and Champagne, and then proceed towards five interactive kitchens – the salad counter, Indian, Italian, Grills and end at the dessert station. Pool is accessible to brunch guests, while your little ones enjoy various activities at Camp Hyatt.

At The Dining Room, Grand Hyatt Goa, Bambolim 1 pm to 4 Pm +91 832 3011510 grandhyattgoa@hyatt.com goa.grand.hyatt.com

Brunch at Cantina Bodega This is one of the more interesting spots in town to have a meal. Under the supervision of Vandana Naik, a former top chef in New York City and easily one of Goa’s most notable culinary experts, there’s a wide variety of delights on offer, including pizzas, soups, salads, hummus and meat balls, plus an eclectic mix of Indian, Mediterranean and other world cuisines.

That’s not to mention the desserts, another top draw here. Noon to 4 pm At Cantina Bodega, Sunaparanta, Panjim. +91 832 2421315 info@sgcfa.org www.sgcfa.org Bikini Brunch Sunday BBQ Brunch @ Rs. 950 ++ with unlimited drinks Enjoy Live Karaoke with Emmanuel At The Park, Calangute 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm. +91 8805028194 resv.goa@theparkhotels.com www.theparkhotels.com

South Goa Restaurants Da Luigi Experience flavours from the streets of Rome, Venice or Milan at this surprisingly authentic Italian fine-dining restaurant.

At Park Hyatt Goa Resot and Spa, Cansaulim +91 832 2721234 Portofino Coffee Shop Multi-Cuisine This all day dining restaurant is an ideal place to head for a midnight snack or after party munchies.

At Kenilworth Resort & Spa, Utorda Open 24x7 +91 832 6698888 Peppers Gourmet Cuisine Seafood, Tandoor Indulge into innovative desserts and local flavours at this exciting food joint.

At near Child care school, Margao +91 832 2711125. +91 9822133506 Ruta's World Café World Cuisine Located on a quiet street near the City’s Latin Quarter, Ruta’s offers some of the most delectable fares in Margao.

At Dr Miranda Rd, Behind Nanutel, Margao 9 am to 6 pm +91 832 2710757 Allegria Goan, Portuguese This fine-dining restaurant at the Taj Exotica serves mouth watering food.

On offer are all the classic Goan dishes like Chicken Cafreal, Pork Sorpotel, and Kullanche Mass Kottnim, which is crab meat in a shell, and of course, the all time favourite, Fish Curry Rice.

At Taj Exotica, Calwaddo, Benaulim, Salcete 7.30 pm to 10.45 pm +91 832 6683333

Alcoves Goan, Indian, Chinese Some excellent choices to be tried here would be Chinese Crispy Chicken, Cafreal, Veg Kolhapuri, Veg Crispy, and Chicken Vindaloo.

Near Cine Vishant, Aquem, Margao 8.30 am to 11 pm +91 83 22735062, +91 832 2730536

North Goa Restaurants Aunty Maria This quaint little café in Hotel Fidalgo is an upscale coffee shop and bakery offering fresh home-made bread, cakes, cookies, chocolates and quick bites that could make for a wonderful breakfast or tea time snack.

At Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim +91 832 2226291 secgoa@fidalgogroup.com www.fidalgogroup.com Bhatti Village Indian (Goan) Looking for a cozy goan joint? Head to Bhatti Village where there are no menus and you can discuss your food preferences(and whatever is there in the kitchen) to order.

At Bhattiwaddo, Nerul 7.30 pm to 11 pm +91 9822184103 Horse Shoe A taste of Portugal in Goa A 300-year old Portuguese house in the latin quarter of Panjim, overlooking the Ourem creek, is the site of a Goan culinary institution.

At Fonthainas, Panjim +91 832 22431788/ +91 9823240379 Goenchin Chinese, Pan Asian Yes the Chinese food here is Indianized. But is that necessarily a bad thing? It depends on your taste.

At Mandovi apartment, Dr Dada Vaidya Road, Panjim Noon to 3 pm, 7 pm to 11 pm +91 8322227614 reservations@hotelmandovigoa.com www.hotelmandovigoa.com Casabela Continental, European A cozy place to hang around with your folks has been around since the 70’s and has mouth watering hand tossed pizza’s.

Off Chogm Rd, Porvorim 7 am to 11 pm. +91832241558 mail@casabelagoa.com www.casabelagoa.com Marbela Beach Italian, Seafood One of the finest beach resorts in the state, Marbela Beach is an ultimate destination to party or to unwind during the sunset with refreshing cocktails and decent food to hog on to.

At Morjim –Ashvem Road, Morjim 7 am to midnight +91 832 8450599

Mum’s Kitchen Goan Among the best upscale Goan kithcens in Panjim, this restaurant draws foodies from all religions and walks of life.

At Panjim-Miramar Rd 11 am to 11pm. +91 9822175556 Hotel Sanskruti Chinese, Goan, Indian, Oriental It’s a pure vegetarian restaurant which is packed during lunch time. It’s really good for south Indian food, Thali, and chaat.

At Near HDFC Bank, Porvorim 8 am to 11 pm +91 832 2414400/ +91 94233323822 Casa Bhonsle Indian & Goan All meals here are prepared in the authentic hindu Goan Style.

At Above Café Bhonsle, Near Cine national, Panjim Noon to 3.30 pm & 7 pm to 11 pm +91 832 2222260/ +91 9822100684 Florentine Multi Cuisine This restaurant which gets packed during lunch time is known to have revolutionized Chicken Cafreal getting it global acclaim. The cafreal and raw fried seafood are the major attractions in their menu.

At Behind Saligao Church, Calangute +91 832 2278249 Sur la Mer French, Indian, Italian Located on a cut above the rest of the Ashwem stretch, this marvellous restaurant has got an Interesting décor with rooms to spend a night in.

At Morjim-Ashvem Rd, Morjim 11 am to midnight +918326453102/+919850056742 Chat Streets For a pop spicy and crunchy snack or fresh juice, this is the place to be.

On Sunday open only till 4 pm Near Don Bosco High School, MG Road, Panjim 11 am to 9 pm. +91 832 9922480076 Peep Kitchen Indian, Continental, Goan, Chinese A family restaurant with a bar run by a Goan family serves food with an authentic goan and homely touch.

At Caranzalem, Near Petrol Pump, Panjim Noon to 2.30 pm and 7 pm to 10.30 pm +91 832 6454474 Forrest Veg Food Court Continental, Chinese, Indian Serves a wide range of fast food including chaat, noodles, pav bhaji, sandwiches, burgers et cetera.

At BhagwanMahavir BAL Vihar, Panjim 11 am – 11 pm +91 832 6454353/9225903392 George Bar and Restaurant This tiny little joint may seem tacky from outside but is clean and hygienic serving delectable Goan food.

Near Mary Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim 10 am to 3.30 pm, 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm +918322426820

O’Asia Pan Asian This is the ultimate destination for your pan Asian culinary fix.

At The O Hotel, Dando, Candolim Noon to 3 pm, 7.30 pm to 11 pm +918323047000 House of Lloyds Continental, seafood, and hearty Goan cuisine.

The restaurant recommends the Goan roast pork, apple salad with tender greens, crispy sardines, stuffed crab, and steaks.

At Saipem Road, Candolim 7 pm to 3 am +91 9823032273 Bombay Darbar Take Away and Catering Services A family restaurant is replete with surprisingly scrumptious Indian fare.

At Sairam Residency, Shop no 1, Alto St.Cruz Road, St.Cruz, Tiswadi +91 832-2458877 / +91 832 2458588 A Lua Chinese, European, Goan, North Indian, Seafood 11 am to 11 pm At, Bella vista, Sangolda, contact: +91 832 2416671/ 73 At Porie Bhatt, Verna, Contact: +91 832 2782760/ +91 9881272080 At Bhueem Bhatt, St Cruz, Merces, Panjim, contact: +91 832 2448172/ +91 2448757 A Pastelaria Bakery It’s an ideal place for pastries, cakes, cookies and other baked offerings.

9 am to 9 pm At Hotel Mandovi, Panjim +91 832 2426270/ 73 Anandashram Hotel Chinese, Goan and Seafood This is one of the oldest eateries in Goa and is something of an institution for its affordable and delicious Goan Fare.

At 31st January Road, Panjim 1 pm to 10.30 pm +91 9823195245 Avanti Bar & Restaurant Indian, Goan & Seafood Serves Goan specialties like Rawa fried prawns, stuffed squid, and gratinated stuffed crab masala among other Goan delights.

Near Patto Bridge, Panjim 11 am to 3 .30 pm, 7 pm to 11.30 pm +91 832 2435884/ +91 832 2427179 hotelavanti@yahoo.com Edu’s Restaurant Indian, Chinese, International and Goan Pizzas are one of their specialties.

There’s nothing fancy about it but has the vibe of a street café.

Next to Magson’s on the main DB Road in Panjim, Miramar. +91 832 2463777, +91 832 2463888. / +91 9822122085

10 Nepal Quake

Earthquake in Nepal: How You Can Help Portraits and a wall clock is seen hanging on the remains of a house damaged

A

s of Thursday, the death toll in Nepal from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake on April 25 was nearly 5,500 people and still rising fast, in addition to another 72 killed in India and 25 in China. Goans, like their brothers and sisters everywhere, have been searching for ways to help the victims. Here, we’ve compiled a list of organisations that are doing excellent work in the service of those who need it most. Contact any of them online to make a donation or help relieve Nepal’s suffering in some other way.

A Nepalese woman holds the hand of her relative killed in an earthquake

A Nepalese man performs rituals during the cremation of his mother who died in the earthquake

MERCY CORPS www.mercycorps.org FACEBOOK (WITH INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS) www.facebook.com/ nepalearthquakesupport CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES www.crs.org KIDS OF KATHMANDU kidsofkathmandu.org UNICEF www.supportunicef.org RED CROSS familylinks.icrc.org SAMARITANS PURSE www.samaritanspurse.org SAVE THE CHILDREN secure.savethechildren.org WORLD FOOD PROGRAM give.wfp.org DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS donate.doctorswithoutborders.org CARE my.care.org TEAM RUBICON www.teamrubiconusa.org OXFAM secure2.oxfamamerica.org WORLD VISION donate.worldvision.org PAYPAL GIVING FUND www.paypal-donations.com THE NEPAL RED CROSS SOCIETY www.nrcs.org WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION www.who.int AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE (JDC) jdc.org/nepalearthquake LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF www.kintera.org AMERICARES www.americares.org

Locals read morning edition of a newspaper as they stand in the middle of a street

Earthquake injured Nepalese man Suresh Parihar plays with his daughter Sandhya at a hospital

A Buddhist monk from Kopan monastery offers a prayer for the people affected during earthquake

12 Music & Nightlife May 1 Bubbles @ Rewind Light spirited, easy flowing & Fun! Fashion Show by Monty Sally At Rewind, Arpora 8 pm onwards +91 8007112200

May 2 Summer Beach party 2015 Featuring Dj Melroy, Dhiraj, Adhish and more At Peter's Pub, Utorda Beach 4 pm onwards +91 9922909432

May 4 The Concert for Nepal Featuring Elvis Lobo and Friends At Guru Bar North Anjuna 5 pm till late +91 9960956691

On-going

May 1, 2, 3 Summer Beach Party 2015 At Club Nyex, Anjuna 5 pm onwards +91 9619399117

May 1 to May 4 Kingfisher presents Final Wave 2015 Featuring Tenishia, Anish Sood | Ash Roy | Ayesha | Ivan | Joel | Lost Stories | Ma Faiza | Mackenzie | Nitin | Priyanjana | Rinton | Sashanti | Shaun Moses | Simply Raa | Tuhin Mehta | Varun Fernandes | WA At SINQ, Sinquerim 5pm onwards +91 832 247 9333

May 10 Vengaboys Tour of India Sold 30 million Albums Sold Performing Live their super Hits...

Brazil, we like to Party, Hot hot hot, up and Down, Boom boom boom boom, Shalala.....

At Mapusa Ground, Nr. Bus Stand 7.00 pm

Every Monday LIVE MUSIC How about live music and seafood?

Catch Wahida Carmen Gomes live on vocals.

The Fisherman’s Wharf, Cavelossim 7. 30 pm onwards +91 832 2871317 Karaoke Mondays Jive to your own tunes at Karaoke night with Sabby.

The Backyard, Sangolda 8 pm onwards +91 9158372533 thebackyard13@gmail.com

Every Tuesday Acoustic Sunlight With Anselm Francis (Flute & Vocals) and Rodden ‘Ollie” Dsouza (Acoustic Guitar & Vocals) At Tamarin, Near Calangute Mall, Calangute 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm +91 9545477670 Extraordinary Nights Make your Tuesdays extraordinary with Emmanuel Antao.

Gawin’s Restaurant, Varca 9:00 pm onwards +91 9822177179

Every Wednesday Wednesday Night Jazz Featuring Marina Xaviour, Bob Tinker, Lenny Heredia, Colin D'cruz, Lester Happy Hours 6 -9 pm At The Park, Calangute @ 8 pm +91 832 2267600 resv.goa@theparkhotels.com www.theparkhotels.com Deafbeat The Headphone Party At Cleopatra Resort, Palolem Beach 9 pm onwards +91 832 324 5473

Every Thursday Flower Power Night!

Featuring Alcatrazz Free flow of alcohol for all the ladies At Cheenos, Baga river bridge 9 pm onwards +91 8806564991

Funk’d up @ Eviva Get your feet stomping to some funk, soul, hip hop and R&B. while feasting on some treats from the Moroccan grill.

At Eviva Club, Calangute 8 pm onwards +91 832 226 7900 Enjoy Happy Hours and Live Musical Performances Buy 1 + Get 1 one Drink. (Indian brands) At Clematis Boutique Hotel, Candolim +91 8381043266 reservations@theclematis.com theclematis.com Thursday's are to Tango Turn up the temperature with some sensual dancing while chefs whip up something really special to help you usher in the weekend.

Features a live band every Thursday At Soul Souffle, Verna +91 7720002282 Silent Disco With DJ Mr. R & Flakey Spinning hottest EDM tracks Ain’t nothing ‘silent’ about this disco (unless you’re wearing headphones, that is).

Alpha Bar, Palolem 9:00 pm onwards. +91 9890281505

Every Friday Live Music Music Guru presenting new artists from around the world jamming to blues, jazz and even rock n roll.

Guru Club, St Anthony prise north Anjuna 9:00 pm to midnight +91 9823383257 | 9960956691 gurubargoa@gmail.com

Freaky Friday Don’t freak out. It’s just another party place.

The Peters Pub, Utorda Beach Road Gates open at 7:00 pm +91 9922909432

Every Saturday SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE @ Sol de Goa The all new Saturday Night Live @ Sol de Goa with The Anchors to give weekend partying an all new night-out address.

At Sol De Goa, Nerul 9.00pm onwards +91 9552134385 Saturday Night – Music on Fire Have drinks and snacks with your friends and family around the fire with live music, before you head out to the Goan Night Market.

At Capiz Bar, Grand Hyatt Goa, Bambolim 9 pm till midnight. +91 832 301 1234 grandhyattgoa@hyatt.com goa.grand.hyatt.com Friday and Saturday Weekend Sundowners Embrace the sundowners in style with International DJ's/ Percussionists At La Brise Beach Restaurant, Candolim 5 pm to 10 pm +91 8411882760 h8861-re@accor.com www.mercure.com

Live Music @ Guru Bar North Anjuna Every Monday: Live Classic Rock band called Electric Pulse Every Wednesday: Unique one man band with happy hours: buy 2 cocktails & get 1 free Every Friday: live experimental jazz blues funk music Sound OF Goa Collective Every Sunday: Music Guru live presenting new Artists from around the world At Guru Bar, North Anjuna 7:30 pm +91 9823383257 | 9960956691 | 08322273319 www.gurubargoa.com Cavala Every Wednesday: Cavala Acoustic Latin Retro Every Friday: Tidal Wave’s live act Every Saturday: Piano played by Bosco Cavala, Calangute - Baga Road, Baga 8:30 pm onwards. +91 832 2276090 sales@cavala.com www.cavala.com Cantare There’s live music on Thursday.

The place fills up with locals (not many tourists), and its nonbeach location nestled amid the Portuguese-inspired architecture of Saligao adds to the great vibe.

Cantare, Saligao 8:00 pm onwards. +91 832 2409461 The Park, Calangute Every Monday: Retro Night By Jus Leo Every Thursday: Retro Night Every Friday: Karaoke Night with KDJ Tony Every Saturday: Ladies Night with DJ Sunil and Tania The Park, Calangute 8 pm onwards +91 8805028194, +91 832 2267600 resv.goa@theparkhotels.com www.theparkhotels.com

Friday, May 1, 2015

FROM PAGE 11

Music & Nightlife 13

14

Friday, May 1, 2015

May 2

April 29 to May 2

Museums

Pilate’s intro International Pilates day - experience how it can help your body!

Fees: rs 500 At Carpe Diem, Majorda 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm +91 8888862462

A Fun filled Water colour workshop by Artist Shagufta at Off The Wall art gallery and bistro , Aguada Anchorage Resort, Fort Aguada road , Sinquerim.

At Off The Wall, Sinquerim 11 am to 2 pm +91 9823289123

Goa Chitra With a collection of over 4,000 artefacts, Goa Chitra is an ethnographic museum that focuses on Goa’s traditional agrarian lifestyle and technology.

At Mondo Waddo, Benaulim 9 am to 5 pm +91 832 6570877 Email: goachitra@gmail.com

May 6 End of season sale and Mother’s Day sale Upto 40% off on Women's Collection "In Love with Hopper" and a 10% off the new collection.

It's a great opportunity to come and see The Cube Gallery and little magical gifts for moms day.

Limited stock.

At The Cube Gallery, Calizor Vaddo, Moira 10:15am - 4:30pm +91 9822538023

April 13 to May 15 BOOKWORM SUMMER CAMP A thoughtfully planned new theme for each week with a focus on fun and learning. Themes include Fooding, Acting Out, Walk About, Write Stuff and Imagine & Create.

2 Age groups: 3-6 yrs and 7-12 yrs At Bookworm, Panjim 9.30 am to 12.30 pm. +91 9823222665

April 27 to May 2 Fabric Painting Workshop A workshop on fabric painting will be organised by the Goa college of Home science.

The workshop will be facilitated by pidilite hobby artists at the college premises.

Different painting methods such brush stroke techniques, stencils, and 3-D outliners will be used. Fabric will be provided.

Participants can carry their own paints and brushes.

Goa College of Home Science, Campal, Panjim 10 am to 1 pm +91 9404913354

April 29 to May 3 Goa's Coconut & Cashew Festival 2015 The Goan Experience in a Nutshell At Bandodkar Football Ground, Panjim 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm +91 832 2437132

May 5, 7, 9 Infusion Belly dance with Chantelle Workshop - part ii The art of Belly dance At Studio 101, St Inez, Panjim 7 to 8pm +91 832 2222101/ +91 9922921533

Every Monday Go Fish Go out fishing with local fishermen, bring back your catch and ask our chefs to cook it to your liking.

At Grand Hyatt Goa, Bambolim +91 832 301 1234 grandhyattgoa@hyatt.com goa.grand.hyatt.com

Every Friday Wellness Day and Sundowners Unwind and relax at “Shamana Spa”, spend your day indulging in yoga, meditation or get your own health package customized by trainers, or just pamper yourself with popular Balinese massage.

Follow this up with a laidback evening with a special menu of frozen margaritas, as you soak in the sunset at Capiz Bar. At Shamana Spa and Capiz Bar, Grand Hyatt Goa, Bambolim 8:00 am – Sundown +91 832 301 1234 grandhyattgoa@hyatt.com goa.grand.hyatt.com

Great Goan Experiences Wildernest Crocodile Safaris Offers boat safaris starting from Britona Jetty(Near Panjim) through the backwaters and mangrovelined canals, which are home to fresh water crocodile locally called ‘Muggers’.

At Kamat Centre, D.B Marg, Panjim +91 9595553799/ +91 9341112721 Seaeaglecruises.com

Canopy Eco – Tours Offers a wide variety of experiences including nature-treks, butterfly tours, dragonfly & damselfly tours, boat safaris on the Zuari River as well as their original bird watching tour.

At Housing Board Colony, Margao +91 9764261711, +91 9764052225 Canopygoa.com Goa Butterfly Park & Conservatory A small park on a hill that’s a great place to spot stunningly beautiful butterflies.

Near Tropical Spice Plantation, Ponda +91 832 2985174, +91 9822125474 Bcogoa.org The Bushmasters Owner Rahul Alvares is one of our state’s most experienced snake rescuers. Snake Watch programmes costs Rs. 1600 per person inclusive of transport and breakfast.

At Almeida Vaddo, Parra 6.30 am to 9.30 am +91 9881961071 Rahulalvares.com Off the Grid Offers a unique home stay experience in a secluded village in the Western Ghats At Western Ghats John +91 9623451758 Sylvia +91 9049081097

Notable Forts Reis Magos Fort This Fort, surrounded by sturdy laterite walls studded with typically Portuguese turrets, was erected in 1551 to protect the narrowest point at the mouth of the Mandovi estuary. The fort stands on the north bank of the Mandovi River at Reis Magos, and is visible from the Panjim side of the Mandovi River.

At Verem. 10.30 am to 5.30 pm +91 832 2410711

Aguada Fort Fort Aguada and its lighthouse is a well-preserved seventeenth-century Portuguese fort Daily 10 am to 5.30 pm At Candolim Tiracol Fort The fort was originally built by Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsle, the Raja of Sawantwadi, in the 17th century. Now, in a state of ruins, Fort Tiracol has been converted into a luxury hotel, the Fort Tiracol Heritage. Well worth a visit At Tiracol, Keri Cabo de Rama Fort Interesting fort named after Lord Rama. Inside the fort, check out the church of Santo Antonio, still used by devotees.

At Cola Beach Chapora Fort One of the most loved forts of Goa, it was built in place of an older fort on the same location after the Maratha-Portuguese war.

At Vagator

Water sports Water Splash Cruises Here you’ll find a large fleet of Catamarans, Boats, Cruisers & Yachts At Models Status, Dona Paula +91 8888864347 www.watersplashcruises.com Sea Wave Water Sports Enjoy parasailing, boat rides, banana rides, bump rides, jet skiing, water skiing, dolphin trips and more.

At Calangute +91 832 2276362

Museum Of Christian Art Open all days of the week Located at the Convent of Santa Monica, you may pray if you wish to, else just soak in the ambience of peace.

At Old Goa From 9:30 am – 5 pm +91 832 2285299 Goa Science Centre The Centre has a science park with interactive exhibits, 3D shows, galleries on oceanic science, explaining mysteries of the underwater world.

At Miramar 10 am to 6 pm +91 832 2463426 Naval Aviation Museum Displaying a number of vintage aircraft and armaments used at different stages by Naval Aviation dating back to the 1950`s and a vast number of memorabilia related to Naval Aviation history.

Near Bogmalo Beach 10 am to 5 pm +91 832 2538668 Archaeological Museum Check out the sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, antiques from the Hindu period and currencies leftover by the Portuguese.

At Old Goa 9 am to 5 pm +91 832 2285333 Wax World Museum A brainchild of Mr. Shreeji Bhaskaran, the man behind India’s first wax museum at Ooty, here’s Goa’s very own Madame Tussuad’s.

With over 30 lifelike wax statues of the who’s who of India, including the most eminent personalities from culture, religion, politics, heritage and more, it’s a huge attraction.

At Gandhi Circle, Old Goa 9.30 am to 7.30 pm +91 9970126202

Feature 15

Friday, May 1, 2015

In Search of a Miracle Goa-Based Faith Healer Wows UK Crowd With Empty-Headed Mumbo Jumbo

I

By Selma Carvalho

t’s four o’clock on a Saturday afternoon and the longish room in East End London is swelling up. There are about a hundred people seated on uncomfortable chairs, consumed by a reverential silence. They could all be waiting for a piano recital to commence. Instead, they are waiting for a miracle. These men and women who have raised families and held down responsible jobs are now here, in this room, with every iota of rationality suspended.

Patrick san Francesco, a strange name as it translates to Saint Francis, is a long-haired, self-fashioned, latter-day “messiah.” He’s an amiable fellow, full of one-liners and homilies of the sort you’ll find in Facebook forwards. He’s flown in from Goa, where reportedly he runs a healing centre at Baga. When asked if he has Goan ancestry, he says, he is a “cocktail”; his mother is Dutch, his father Goan and Rajasthani. He travels the world as a teacher, healer and philanthropist. Curiously, the three other titles bestowed upon him are architect, engineer and doctor.

Patrick is one of a breed of selfproclaimed faith healers popular throughout India and particularly in Goa, with its hippie roots and New Age sensibilities. These folks capitalise on the very human need to believe in something, to have faith. If you are the sort of person for whom reality does not matter, science and the scientific method are irrelevant, and rationality unimportant, then you might very well have appreciated Patrick’s performance, and perhaps dislike the story you are reading now. But if you are a person who understands that reality exists independently of human perception, and that facts matter, then you will see Patrick and his ilk for the misguided souls that they are.

Patrick’s lecture starts innocently enough. “What is illness?” he asks, “It’s part of the circle of life. It takes you from this world to the next”. The only problem is, Patrick claims to cure illness, thus supposedly circumventing the circle of life. His explanation for illness is reduced to nature’s way of saying “go slow”.

When asked about addictions, he equates complex human dependencies, be they chemical or psychological, to everyday routines such as comfort chairs and favourite coffee mugs. Vary your routine and you’ll avoid addictions, he assures everyone. Yet no one in this audience of educated, middle-class people questions this simplistic reasoning. No one seems even remotely incredulous when Patrick claims he has cured infertility, arthritis

and cancer, in addition to reviving a woman whose heart had flat lined.

In fact, that’s the very reason they’ve travelled long distances, so that they, too, can be the recipients of just such a miracle.

His own story began at seventeen when he lay in hospital, paralysed. Within days, however, he had healed himself.

He speaks of how his first ‘project’ began in 1970, when at the age of twelve (that would make him 57), he set up a lepers’ home and healed the lepers. As the evening wears on, he tells the audience that his healing ministry actually began at age four when he cured his terminally-ill brother. (Between Patrick’s paralysis and his brother’s terminal illness, this is certainly one unhealthy family!) At an age when most boys are busy playing with toy engines, Patrick’s father insisted he cure the throngs of people calling at his house.

Jumping forward in time, he says it was in 1987 when he started seeing colours and harnessing their energy.

When asked to describe these colours, he says they are unrecognisable. He does not explain how he knows they’re colours if they’re not identifiable as such, and is completely calm in the face of this non sequitur. He then reveals that he has to dodge these otherworldly colours coming at him. The use of so-called chromotherapy (quite different from light therapy) is a staple of faith-healers, and a perfect example of pseudoscience.

They claim colour has energy which can be harnessed for healing. In fact, a healer’s vocabulary is well-stocked with words like “spiritual energy”, “aura” and “life-force”, none of which has ever been proved in any controlled scientific study.

Left unquestioned, Patrick’s statements become even more bold, at one point claiming clairvoyance.

He knows what is about to happen and yet he cannot interfere with the course of events; he sees ‘petals’ around human heads which reveal to him life expectancy. Next to prophet Patrick, even Jesus is beginning to pale into insignificance.

Patrick tackles such existential questions as ‘who is God?’ and ‘do you know yourself?’

There are theatrical pauses designed to make one believe something profound and life-changing is about to be revealed.

But it’s woefully obvious that Patrick’s wisdom nuggets are gleaned from New Age self-help books or Google searches.

“The more intelligent you are, the less faith you have,” he tells an audience watching with rapt attention. One can only hope that human intelligence delivers society from a life which is otherwise insufferable. To dismiss intelligence so blithely and to place faith above it, displays a deeply parochial understanding of the world. The catch-22 in all these situations is that ill-defined word ‘faith’. If deliverance, redemption and succour don’t come, it’s because you don’t have enough faith.

If faith-healing did work, our hospitals would be empty, our physicians out of business and our pharmaceutical companies bankrupt. Faith healing is not just a benign exercise in positive thinking, an afternoon’s lark which doesn’t hurt anybody. In fact, it’s insidious. It preys on the vulnerable and sometimes endangers their lives. Worst of all, it reduces the complexity of the human experience to the rubble of one abstraction: unquestioning faith. The human mind is an imperfect organ that evolved under conditions that do not necessarily exist today (lions lurking around caves, for instance). “We are blind, and we are blind to our blindness,” wrote Daniel Kahneman in his seminal book “Thinking Fast And Slow.” One of the main reasons our species advanced so much more in the past 500 years than in the previous 50,000 is because of the advent of the scientific method, which places reality above human bias. True healing can never happen by staying back in the caves and succumbing to the purveyors of ignorance.  Selma Carvalho is a columnist and author of ‘A Railway Runs Through: Goans of British East Africa, 1865-1980’.

Between 2011-2014, she headed the Oral Histories of BritishGoans project.

Goa Streets’ Steven Gutkin contributed to this report.

16

Friday, May 1, 2015

Art Fairs and Galleries.

Still Relevant?

By Perin Ilavia

Photograph by Shubham Gupta

In the internet age, when artists can reach wide audiences simply by putting up their work on social media, are art fairs and art galleries still relevant? Perin Ilavia says an emphatic yes, and explains why.

W

e’re at a point in time where art fairs and galleries are evolving at a faster pace than ever before. The evolution of the global market and the fluidity of the online marketplace are both dictating rapid changes. Fairs and galleries are having to work hard to adapt, if they want to survive.

A number of fairs have already succumbed to inability to adapt, and have shut down. Sustainability is the new buzzword. Just having a fair or gallery isn’t enough anymore. Galleries and art

The Cube Gallery in Moira

(Above & below) Goa International Photo Festival at the One School Goa fairs are structured institutions. Each fair needs to define itself and its objectives according to its own region and local context.

“In the last two decades, the figure of the curator has emerged as a key mediator between artist, exhibition site and audience.

Like art-history, curatorial practice has evolved its own form of narration and a supple vocabulary through the tools of exhibition-making. If art-history focuses on art that has already happened, curating attends to art as it happens”, says Jitish Kallat, a 40-year-old contemporary artist and artistic Director of the Kochi Biennales.

By world standards, India is still something of an undeveloped art market.

But many see a great opportunity for growth here. That’s why you see quite a few international galleries exhibiting in India, in the hope of creating organized structures and world-class formats that could open a window into the country.

As for the role of galleries, many focus on talented upcoming artists and promote them. It’s important for a gallerist to build a relationship with the buyer, cultivate collectors, pamper them and cater to their needs. It’s beneficial for an artist to be attached to a gallery.

Arts & Entertainment 17

Friday, May 1, 2015

April 29 to May 3 Goa's Coconut & Cashew Festival 2015 The Goan Experience in a Nutshell At Bandodkar Football Ground, Panjim 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm +91 832 2437132

Galleries of Note The Cube Gallery Every architect, since the beginning of time, has secretly tried to create a vision of paradise in the buildings they design. Discover one such paradise and much more At The Cube Gallery, Calizor Vaddo, Moira 11 am to 7 pm +91 832 2470415/ +91 9422806748 thecubegallerygoa@gmail.com Monsoon Heritage Studio Treat yourself to some amazing collection of mirrored mosaic art and handpicked artefacts at this upscale studio by Yahel Chirinian.

At Mainath Batti, Arpora 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM +91 9822122771 Off The Wall Discover a collectible of deeply astounding works of art displayed on a daily basis at this thoughtful art cafe.

Fort Aguada Road, Sinquerim, Candolim 10:30 am to 11:30 pm +91 9820083497 | +91 9823289123 Panjim Art Gallery Get a dose of the local culture with figurative works of Goan artists.

Near Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim 9:00 am to 8:00 pm +91 9822168703 Mario Art Gallery Discover the original paintings and other memorabilia of the great Goan artist/cartoonist Mario Miranda.

Here you can buy “The Life of Mario”, as well as prints, mounted prints, frames, tiles, mugs, card sets and other books.

‘Houses of Goa’, Salvador-do-Mundo, Porvorim area 9:00 am to 5:30 pm +91 832 2410711 archauto@gmail.com www.mariodemiranda.com Gallery Gitanjali An elegant art gallery in Panjim’s Latin Quarter is worth hopping into when you’re in the area.

Fontainhas, Panjim 9:00 am to 9:00 pm +91 9823572035 gallerygitanjali@gmail.com www.gallerygitanjali.com

Simply Complex at Gallery Gitanjali Art Chamber: Galleria de Belas Artes One of the more interesting and pleasant art centres in the state featuring confident acrylic strokes that are somewhat three dimensional, put across the canvas by Yolanda De Souza and others. The musical acts here are worth looking out for too.

Gaura Vaddo, Calangute 10:00 am to 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm +91 832 2277144 | +91 9823217435 artchamber@gmail.com www.goa-art.com Moksa Art Gallery Here you will find some immensely conceptual paintings by Salvadoran Fernandez and others.

Naik Waddo, Calangute 9:30 am to 8:30 pm +91 832 2281121 | +91 9326717386 mokshart@gmail.com www.mokshartgallery.com Sunaparanta- Goa Centre for the Arts The centre houses several exhibition galleries, a large multi-functional space for workshops and lectures, an in-house film club, sketch club, open air amphitheatre, pottery studio and an open courtyard that houses the al fresco café, Bodega. The red velvet cupcakes at Bodega are a must try!

At Altinho, Panjim 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. +91 832 2421311 info@sgcfa.org | www.sgcfa.org

invest in emerging artists, but the interaction enables them to build a relationship that could turn out to be mutually beneficial.

In the last 5 years we find that several galleries in Goa have shut down, new galleries have opened in North and South Goa, a few are owned by Goans, others by non-Goans residing here. Many exhibit works of artists from outof-state, and a great many buyers are also from outside Goa. Tourists are no longer as interested in buying works by Goan artists as they once were.

Compared to many of their older counterparts who have settled into a comfort zone of the same style and theme, the younger generation is more experimental, exhibiting at galleries outside Goa, and the response to their work has been heartening.

Those who think that art galleries and art fairs are merely spaces to display art are missing a crucial point. They fail to understand that galleries and fairs play an extensive role in promoting art.  The Cube Gallery For an artist to sell art on their own is now easier with the internet, but, to be attached to a gallery has its merits.

Apart from launching new artists, galleries look for well-known artists and make a decision on whether to exhibit them after studying the progress of prices their work has fetched over time, whether the artist has produced work in a consistent manner, and by ascertaining which of their work has received greatest appreciation.

Artists’ ratings rise with the popularity and reputation of galleries they have previously exhibited with. When works are displayed at a prominent museum, for example, it automatically increases the demand for the artist’s work.

Galleries choose work that would appeal to the public. If the artist is stuck in a rut and is churning out repetitive work, it is clearly disadvantageous to the gallery to display these works. It’s always a challenge for a gallery to

18 Little Flowers Kidzee is now 10 years old

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aving come into existence on April the 6th 2006, Little Flowers Kidzee is celebrating its ten years of a wonderful journey with tiny tots. Equipped with an R & D based curriculum along with a dedicated team of trained faculty, Little Flowers Kidzee has so far catered to kids in excess of 1200 with a world class teaching based on unique illume methodology. It was Little Flowers Kidzee which introduced the concept of pre-primary education which was hitherto non-existent in Goa. Over the years the Little Flowers Kidzee has grown and today it caters to the kids at six locations across Goa namely Dabolim, Chicalim, Old Goa, Colva, Aquem and Fatorda. In addition to the academics the school also provides international Montessori teacher training course and an excellent home away from home day care facility. Their summer camp starts from May 4th at all the locations for children in the 3-12 year’s age group.

The 'Venga' bus is coming Vengaboys live in concert at Mapusa grounds on 10th of May

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amous pop band of the late 90s, the Vengaboys, are coming to India.

The 'Shalala Lala' hitmakers will be performing in three cities countrywide – Mumbai, Chennai and Goa on 8, 9 and 10 May respectively. The news comes after the dance pop band updated their touring schedule on their website. It is yet to be confirmed if this will be a part of the group's 'non-stop world tour' called 'The Vengaboys Live Experience'.

The band took a hiatus after their last studio album called 'The Platinum Album' in 2002. After the band's members changed, the Eurodance group returned to the stage in 2006, performing at various university student union clubs across UK and Ireland. Since then, Vengaboys have released four new singles, with two more scheduled to release this year. Since its 2002 album, the band has not released a full length studio album.

Vengaboys are well known for songs like 'We Like to Party (The Vengabus)', 'Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom' and 'Shalala Lala', all of which have received a platinum status. Last May, Vengaboys released a special 2014 version of their song 'To Brazil!' in association with the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Tickets are not out on www.bookmyshow.com

CLASS ACT 2015: Sethu conducts Workshop For Primary School Teachers

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raving the summer heat, 44 teachers gathered together over 4 days, from the 21st to the 24th April to attend Class Act, an action-packed training program, organized by Sethu Centre for Child Development & Family Guidance, Sucorro. The typical primary school classroom of today is a crowded place, with young children from diverse home backgrounds and languages trying to learn matter, which is often meaningless and irrelevant to their daily lives. Teachers too are hard pressed for time, as they struggle to complete the syllabus and ensure that their students get good grades. There is a gap between what is known from research about how children learn best and what is actually practiced in the classroom. For the last 9 years, Sethu has been trying to bridge this gap, through the Class Act program, which seeks to inform teachers about how they can reach out to every child in their class, using methods based on sound pedagogy. This workshop has always received a good response from teachers.

The topics addressed this year were behavior management in the busy classroom, childhood sexuality, stress management for teachers, inclusive education, methods to promote reading including phonics and whole language approaches and building English competency through learning by doing and meaning making. The emphasis on an interactive process, including group discussions and hands on exercises, ensured that the participants were

continually challenged to think, ask questions and strengthen their knowledge through skills practice.

The feedback from the teachers was enthusiastic and positive. In the words of one of the participants at Class Act 2015 – “After this session, my opinion and views towards many things changed. I learned to respect the views and opinions of the child more

carefully.” Another teacher opined, “The workshop has been very helpful to me. I’ve learned lots of different styles of teaching like multisensory teaching.

It has given me ideas how to save my classes from boredom!” Class Act has offered teachers a welcome boost in their knowledge and skills, to prepare them for the start of the new academic year in June 2015.