Being Goan_August 2022 Issue

GoanBeing

Amplifying voices, stories and dreams

Volume 2 Issue 7 August 2022

usha uthup

The evergreen living legend speaks to ItsGoa about her love for India’s sunshine state, Konkani music, and lots more…

world goa day 2022

A Proud Occasion For Goans Globally

Ivo Goncalves Music, Nature & Society

Richelle Brito Carvalho Resolving Problems Therapeutically

RINA JAIN

First Runner-up at Mrs. Cosmos International 2022

DR. VALERIE PEREIRA

A dentist who recently released her book ‘Songs To Her Lover’

freda vaz

Teaching seniors how to stay young at heart

MARK ROCHA

In an exclusive interview with ItsGoa, Mark talks about his latest book, ‘Cross Connection’

Editorial

Hi Friends,

Welcome to the August edition of our magazine ‘Being Goan’.

This month is highly significant as we have two important events happening this month. Firstly, on the 15th of this month, we celebrate 75 years of India's independence. This year’s celebrations have been dubbed as ‘Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ by the Government of India. Over the past 75 years, we, as Indians, have come a long way and have achieved incredible feats in various fields such as science, business, sports, arts and lots more. Today, India is one of the most powerful emerging economies in the world. Recently, our Indian sportspersons made the country proud by bagging medals in various disciplines at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, England.

The other significant day for us Goans is World Goa Day, which will be celebrated on the 20th of August by Goans all over the world. World Goa Day was founded in commemoration of Goa’s official language - Konkani being included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution and recognised as one of the official languages

of India by the Indian Parliament on the 20th of August 1992. Goans around the world celebrate this day through various cultural events and programmes showcasing Goan culture, food, music, costumes and above all its languageKonkani. It is a day intended to celebrate Goan identity and ‘Goenkarponn.’ This wonderful initiative, which was first conceptualised in the year 2000, has spread across the world, thanks to the efforts of organisations like Goa Sudharop, the initiators, and individuals like Renee Barretto and Marius Fernandes, who have left no stone unturned in popularising this event all across the globe.

The month of August brings with it significant weather changes affecting health in general. To ward off this ‘evil,’ on the 1st of August, Goans traditionally begin the day by ingesting a combination of Palm Jaggery and grated Coconut (known for their curative and immunity boosting properties) hoping that the month will bring good health all around. This combination of jaggery and coconut are consumed in various ways throughout the month, especially on the 15th, when Catholics celebrate the feast of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven by making Patoleos, a flavourful steamed rice pancake, folded in turmeric leaves with a stuffing of Goan black palm jaggery and freshly grated coconut.

Two book releases this month bring Goa on the global map. One by Clarice Vaz, noted syringe artist and social figure in Saligao, called ‘Romalina : Goodbye Africa, Adeus Portugal, Namaste Goa!’ and the other titled ‘Fonseca’ about yesteryear Goan artist Angelo Da Fonseca (1902 - 1967), by Jesuit priest Delio Mendonca. Both worth a read. Goa is celebrating the artist's 120th birth anniversary this year. Dont forget to follow the World Goa Day activities on social media, with Usha Uthup performing live on YouTube and Goa’s traditional Bonderam (Flag Festival) at Divar on the 20th of August, 2022. Viva Goa!

Jessyl Fernandez Editor

Index

01 Usha Uthup

02 Ivo Goncalves

03 Dr. Valerie Pereira

04 Rina Jain

05 Mark Rocha

06 World Goa Day 2022

07 Freda Vaz

08 Richelle Carvalho

Introduction

Goa, the tiniest state on the western coast of India, boasts golden pristine beaches, palmfringed avenues, flavourful food, delicious Portuguese-influenced sweets, and warm, hospitable people. Also known as the Ibiza of India for its partying. A tropical paradise of flora and fauna, from the very famous 'almi' (mushrooms) endemic to its forests, that grow only on the red mud anthills, to the solar prawns that are fished immediately after the monsoons, Goa is unique. Tourists are also attracted to Goa for its cultural heritage - from the famous old Portuguese churches like Se Cathedral in Old Goa, the 16th Century Safa Masjid in Ponda and Shree Mangesha Temple in Mardol, the legendary Arvalem or Pandava Caves where the Pandavas of the Mahabharat fame lived, to its two unique festivals - Carnival and Shigmo. Goa plays host to many festivals - the International Film Festival of India that promotes cinema, the Serendipity Art Festival, Sunburn Music Festival, The Grape Escapade to name a few. To showcase this varied heritage of culture, art, tradition, food, and people, in 2015 ItsGoa was born. The main aim was to make it the premier portal for all things Goa.

We were able to showcase Goa like never before. Soon our blog-based website transcended the virtual space, with the ItsGoa magazine – a sought-after resource for visitors to Goa from countries like Norway, Germany, UK, USA, UAE, etc. The Covid Pandemic in 2020 brought everything to a standstill and printing of the magazine was put on hold. Now that life is almost back to normal in Goa, and to maintain the covid norms, we have decided to launch our very own ItsGoa magazine online.

A little about our Magazine

Think of Goa! Think ItsGoa! Our magazine is known for its business listings of basically anything and everything found in Goa. We also produce uniquely written articles in regard to Goa. Some of these folk tales you quite literally will not find anywhere else on the net. These rich in content stories are passed down from generation to generation in the villages of golden Goa. We also provide up-to-date news and information on travel, food, and events that are taking place in this beautiful State of Goa. The content on ItsGoa is written by people who are passionate about calling this tiny state their home. The ItsGoa magazine is a single point of reference for news, lifestyle, and culture in Goa.

World Goa Day will be celebrated all across the world on 20th August 2022. The official theme song for this year’s World Goa Day celebrations, ‘Goa Mhojem, Bhangarachem’, has been sung by the evergreen living legend Usha Uthup. This has been made possible through the efforts of Goa's King Of Jazz, Colin D’Cruz, and his team at Jazz Goa, who have worked with Usha on the song through online exchanges.

The song marks Usha’s return to singing in Konkani after more than 50 years. It is the title track of a 12song Konkani Jazz album featuring Usha. All the twelve songs will be released as singles and the complete album will be released at a grand event later this year, where Usha will be performing the songs live in Goa.

The song has been arranged and composed by Colin D’Cruz. Gerard Machado, a jazz guitar virtuoso based in Bangalore, contributed to the song with a worldclass guitar solo. Goa’s young jazz genius Jason Quadros played the piano, Angelo Colasco played the drums, and Colin played upright bass. The lyrics of the song have been penned by noted lyricist Bond Braganza.

ago, before the pandemic began, and wishes to visit Goa again very soon.

The idea regarding the lyrics of the song, however, came from the mother of Canada-based Goan musician Evelyno Braganza. Evelyno’s mother, (who is 96 years old and hails from Mapusa) suggested that the lyrics of the song must begin with the words ‘Goa Mhoje, Bhangarachem’. Evelyno shared the idea with Bond Braganza, who then worked on the idea and composed the lyrics of the song.

Usha And Her Love For Goa

Speaking to ItsGoa from Kolkata, Usha said that her experience working with Colin on this song has been marvellous. “Colin is an amazing musician and more importantly, an amazing person”, she says. “He is always working to project other upcoming artistes and musicians, and helps them in making their mark in the field of music. Jazz Goa is an amazing platform for artistes of all ages, and they do amazing work to promote artistes, music, and most importantly, Goa!,” she adds.

Usha reveals that the first time she visited Goa was nearly 52 years back. She last visited Goa 2 years

“I have always had a fantastic experience during all my visits to this beautiful paradise,” she says. Usha’s connection with Goa goes way back to the time when she was in school. Having been born and brought up in Bombay, most of her teachers at the convent school where she studied were from Goa.

Usha says that the Konkani language is very beautiful and she loves singing in Konkani. Speaking of her love for this beautiful state, she mentions that Goa is a place that is so laid back, so beautiful, and so full of nature, sun, sand, and sea. “The people of Goa are so warm and kind, and always have their arms open wide to welcome you. I have always experienced the finest of hospitality from all Goans whenever I have visited Goa,” she says. “When you set foot in Goa, as you drive to where you want to go, the journey is so picturesque, so magical, and there is no room for tiredness. You get filled with energy and liveliness by taking in the greenery and peaceful atmosphere,” she adds.

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Colin D’Cruz, Founder of Jazz Goa, who worked with Usha on the album

Colin D'Cruz, composer of the World Goa Day theme song

Her Experience Working With Goan Musicians

Usha says that most of the musicians who played for her were from Goa. This includes musical stalwarts like Sardino, the legendary Ronnie Menezes and his troupe, Tony Menezes and Anto Menezes. “I met Tony Menezes and Anto Menezes in Calcutta,” she says. She also mentions Xavier Fernandes, the legend of all times. “He was a fantastic piano player. At the moment, he is in Australia, but he was the first musician who worked with me on my English songs

‘Jambalaya’ and ‘Green Back Dollar.’ He used to create magic with his fingers while playing the piano,” she says.

Usha’s connection with Goa has been so deep for years, and it suddenly sparked off again when Colin got in touch with her to sing this song in Konkani.

“Colin and his lovely wife Diana are such warm and welcoming people; I feel as though I have known Colin all my life. And the work that he does would make anyone so proud to be a part of Goa,” says Usha.

Usha also reminisces about the songs she sang with Konkani music legend Chris Perry, including ‘Meu Amor’, ‘Paka-Paka’, ‘Kantaram Kortam’, and ‘Ambeachem Zhadd.’ She also mentions her privilege of working with Seby Fernandes (who is well known for his song ‘Mira Mira’) on a song called ‘Eki Ratcho Mog.’ “My experience with everyone whom I have worked with, including Colin, has been marvellous. The only downside to this WhatsApp group through which I communicate with Colin and the other musicians working on this album of Konkani songs is that it all started during the pandemic, so I haven't

got a chance to meet them in person. But despite that, I feel like I have known them forever!” she says.

Her Message To All Goans On World Goa Day Usha says that while the people of Goa are Goans by birth, she is a Goan by choice. She urges all Goans, all across the world, to work for the development and welfare of their home state. She also urges them to spread the message of love and peace through music. She adds that even though Goa is such a small part of India, it is a very integral part of India - “the language, the food, the scenery, the music, the people, everything beckons you back,” she says.

Usha Uthup will be performing various Konkani songs on the 20th of August 2022 at 8 pm (IST). The performance will be broadcasted on the Jazz Goa YouTube channel.

Usha’s Concanim Hits album

This

Ivo Goncalves is a social worker, singer, and environmentalist based in Moira, a beautiful village in North Goa, which attracts tourists from all across the world. Ivo started singing at the age of thirteen in the choir at Olaulim and went on to be a part of it for more than seven years. He then started participating in various singing competitions in Goa and Mangalore. He was a finalist at the Goencho Avaz singing competition held in 2018 and was felicitated with the title of Alfred Rose Awardee in 2019.

Ivo finds his start as a singer pretty embarrassing, as he ended up screeching the song ‘Don't Worry, Be Happy’ in the middle of the entire school during an inter-class singing competition. Since then, he has made it a point to prove to others that he could sing well, and he currently has two original Konkani songs to his name and a whole set of awards. He recently won the All Goa Konkani Singing Competition "Mhozo Tallo Aikat 2022" held in June this year.

With respect to the environment, Ivo is the cofounder of a group known as ‘Goenkar Sangathi’, which conducts cleanliness drives all over Goa. The entire reason for starting this initiative is because of the motivation he received from his professor, Ms. Glenda from Don Bosco College, Panjim. Ivo looks up to positive people around him and strives to be a change amongst others. That's what

pushes him to become better. His family and friends have always had his back and supported him throughout. Ivo also considers his alma mater, Don Bosco College, Panjim and its staff members to be his family. He is also glad to have met so many singers whilst participating in various competitions, who’ve been wonderful people. These connections are lasting and part of the sweet memories he will always cherish, he says.

He has come across many people through social media whom he’s never met in real life but have actively contributed to the work of Goenkar Sangathi and is grateful for them. He has had various challenges along the way but chooses to remain positive and tackle it all, which in turn will only make him stronger.

Ivo has been inspired by Sonia Shirsat’s voice and aspires to perform with her soon one day. If Ivo went back in time to give himself some advice, he'd definitely tell himself to not waste time since it is a limited resource. He strives to achieve as much as possible and make a difference in his community. He has a voice to sing and wants to use that as an advantage to spread a message about being aware of one’s surroundings and being the change. He urges his followers and supporters to always stay positive and be united.

Ivo receiving the award for Winner of Mhozo Tallo Aikat 2022 singing competition (Senior category-Male).

BOOKS

Valerie Pereira

A dentist by profession, Dr. Valerie recently released her book of poems called ‘Songs To Her Lover’

Article by: Steve Antao

Image Courtesy: Dr. Valerie Pereira

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Dr. Valerie Pereira is a Panjim-based dentist who has recently released a book called ‘Songs To Her Lover.’ The book is her first published work of writing. It is an anthology of poems that she had penned during the first phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a brief chat with ItsGoa, Valerie shared insights into her life, her career, her book, and lots more…

Excerpts

Tell us a bit about yourself. I was born in Goa. My parents were both doctors who lived and practiced in Oman.

Living in a little village - an oasis in the desert almost, amidst scorching heat, small streams of water called falajs, decaying eerie forts, and lush green foliage. I studied in Oman till the eighth standard and then moved to Goa to complete my schooling.

After completing my higher secondary education at Dhempe Higher Secondary School, Miramar, I went to Mangalore to study Dentistry. After completing my BDS degree, I practiced as a dentist for some time in Bangalore and Mumbai and then proceeded to pursue my Post-Graduation in Periodontics.

What were your hobbies when you were a child?

As a child, I always had my nose buried deep into a book. I used to spend my evenings taking long walks amidst fields or forests in the company of Enid Blyton, Grimm and Anderson, Louisa M. Alcott, Charles Dickens, Roald Dahl, Jane Austen, and Shakespeare, among others. I also enjoyed swimming.

When I came to Goa, I used to spend hours at bookstores like the Broadway Bookstore in St. Inez and 'The Reading Habit' in Miramar. Reading remains my biggest source of joy till today.

What was your childhood ambition?

I used to visit Goa during my summer vacations. So, when I was about six, I desperately wanted to become a fisherwoman! I guess it was all due to the love I had for fish. However, as I grew up, I was influenced by my parents and wanted to become either a doctor or a veterinary surgeon.

Give us a brief overview of your book ‘Songs To Her Lover’.

‘Songs to Her Lover’ is an anthology of poems from a woman's point of view. It tells the intimate story of two people who start communicating with each other without meeting in person and finally fall in love. I have explored themes of longing and desire through the poems.

Is this book your first attempt at writing or have you written books before? I have been scribbling away since my childhood but never published any of my written work before. ‘Songs to Her Lover’ is my first published work of writing.

Was there any incident/s which took place in your life which inspired you to write this anthology of poems?

These poems were written as part of a 21-day challenge, where one poem had to be written and submitted each day. Sitting at cafes, I already had penned down a couple of poems and wanted to integrate those with the challenge. So, I fused them together as a story.

I suppose it was the situation during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic that inspired the story of my book - the time when people couldn't meet due to restrictions and talking over the phone or texting had become the new normal.

Where can one buy a physical copy/ digital copy of your book?

My book is available for purchase on Flipkart, Amazon, and BookLeaf Publishing.

Finally, any message or words of advice that you would like to share with our readers, especially the youth?

I'd advise the youth of today to be more soft and gentle. In a world that is so harsh and grim, we need more people who feel, who are authentic, and who care. And of course, be persistent - it's the soft stream that cuts through the hard rocks through sheer effort.

Website:

Dr. Valerie’s book ‘Songs to her Lover’

It was a proud moment for Goa-based Rina Jain who emerged as the First Runner-up at the Mrs. Cosmos International 2022 Pageant held in Orlando, Florida, USA recently.

For Jain, the stupendous achievement comes on the heels of winning Mrs. India 2021 – Season 1, Mrs. Cosmos India 2021, and Glamorous Eco Warrior by the International Glamour Project titles.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my journey as I represented my country on an international platform. I spoke from my heart and was genuine and true to who I am. God has a plan for everyone, and I am super excited to see the path he is leading me on,” she said ecstatically.

For Jain, the journey to the USA and rubbing shoulders with participants the world over on an international level was an enchanting experience.

“Pageantry is a beautiful journey. We meet participants from across the world. We make memories, a lifetime of friendships, and develop a sense of ‘care and share’ for each other. This experience is phenomenal. I returned with a full heart, new friends, unforgettable memories, and new learnings,” said Jain.

The pageant was held from 4 to 9 July and consisted of several rounds that included personal interviews, swimming costume, national costume, and a grand finale round.

The highlight of her campaign was two of her elegantly designed costumes that drew widespread appreciation. For her national costume round, Jain put on a dazzling show in her specially designed ‘Yantra Jal Rani’ costume.

“Yantra Jal Rani is India’s Meditating Aqua Queen that represents feminine strength. My costume focussed on the central colours of India’s national flag – White and Navy Blue. The white stands for peace, while the navy blue represents universal truth. The silhouette of the costume is that of a ‘Lehenga’, a traditional Indian skirt and blouse deeply embellished with Indian folk embroidery. Yantra is a geometrical form that is seen in the interiors of the Indian temple and can be seen in my skirt”, she says.

“These costumes are the ones that originated from the attire of royals, eventually moving into bridal wear of the common people”, Jain added.

The Four heads represent the faces of four Goddess viz. Goddess Laxmi - wealth, Saraswati - knowledge, Kali - time, and Bhubneshwari - Cosmos. Shree Yantra forms the core of Shree Vidya - knowledge. It is the geometrical representation of Shakti - Power, thus reminding women that it is their power that the world procreates and grows, and it is by their strength they can balance the world,” she elucidated.

“Overall, this Indian Cosmos costume is the representation of the power of a modern woman who can carry with grace her humble beginnings and enjoy her presence like a royal, making waves wherever she goes”, Jain explained.

The top 6 participants were chosen for the Final Round. For the grand finale outfit, Jain was draped in a scintillating ‘The Snow Angel’ costume that made heads turn.

“Just like an Angel in the beautiful glistening snow, ever fresh, the costume was imprinted in the minds of onlookers and a gentle reminder of the fun in life!”, Jain said. “

The playful scoop sweetheart neckline of this piece was adorned with hand work of crystals, cut pipes and sequins with an asymmetrical drape from the shoulder that trickles down the sequin skirt for a look that feels both on-trend and timeless. The fabric waves and falls in an unexpected way, like these loosely placed, romantic ripples,” Jain pointed out.

Jain sealed her moment of glory in the Question and Answer round, where she was asked the most important quality for success. “Walt Disney once said, ‘If you can dream it, you can do it’. Success is the answer of hard work, dedication, determination, and what you give in till you achieve your goal,” was Jain’s reply to the judges.

In the run-up to the pageant, Jain recalls the herculean efforts as part of the preparations, while simultaneously managing other responsibilities as a homemaker and entrepreneur.

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Table-top photgraphy work done by Morrison

Mark Rocha

Mark Rocha is an individual with multiple talents. Through the course of his career, he has donned various hats, including that of an RJ, an emcee, a communications coach, a corporate trainer, and a features writer for a Goan daily.

Apart from this, he has also worked as a content curator for ItsGoa and is currently working as a project manager at Kilowott. He is also a published author and has written 3 books. His third book, ‘Cross Connection-Author’s Edition’, was published recently and is available for purchase on various ecommerce sites.

In a brief conversation with ItsGoa, Mark shared insights into his life, his career, his love for writing, his book Cross Connection and lots more…

Excerpts

Tell us a bit about yourself. I am from Goa, but I was born and raised in Dubai. I returned to India after completing high school and started college in Goa at St Xavier’s College in Mapusa, where I majored in Mass Communication.

What were your hobbies when you were a kid? I was (and still am) obsessed with reading, writing, and making music. I play the guitar and sing, and have been a part of various bands since the age of 16. I started writing seriously at the age of 14 though, and have made a career out of it.

What was your childhood ambition?

As early as I can remember, I always wanted to become a teacher and an entertainer, which is why I got into music and even did a bit of theatre and comedy. But as time went by, I realized that if there was one thing I wanted to be remembered for, it was my writing which is why I took writing more seriously with the aim of becoming a published author. I even took up corporate training to fulfill my ambition of becoming a teacher. I regularly give guest lectures at colleges across Goa on topics that range from writing to mass communication, to digital marketing.

When did your interest in writing begin?

I wrote my first poem, ‘The Lamb’, sitting at my dining table when I was 7 years old. My parents thought it was really good, and their encouragement spurred

me to follow it up with more poems. When I was 14, I participated in a competition on poetry.com. To my surprise, my poem ‘My Anger Is Destruction’ was chosen to be published in their coffee table anthology of poetry. I was also awarded a medal for my work. That early success and recognition really motivated me to keep writing more poems.

Give us a detailed picture of your professional career after you completed your higher studies. Right after I graduated from college, I got into the media industry and worked as a radio presenter with Radio Indigo. I hosted a show called ‘Cruise Control' for 3 years before moving to Bangalore to work as a corporate trainer. After 4 years in training, I returned to Goa where I did a short stint in journalism before taking up emceeing and show-hosting full time. A couple of years later, I joined Hard Rock Hotel Goa as their Vibe Manager for three years, after which I moved into content creation and digital marketing at Kilowott.

We have heard that you were diagnosed with endstage renal failure in 2017. How shocking was it for you when you were told that you are suffering from this problem and that you will have to go for dialysis at regular intervals for life?

Like anyone receiving news like that at the age of 30, it definitely was a kick to the gut - or in my case, my kidneys! This is not something that I could have ever expected, since I had a fairly healthy lifestyle all my life. But it was the hand that I was dealt, and it took me some time to come to terms with the fact that this could either be a full stop, or a comma. I chose to make it the latter.

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Mark Rocha

How did you deal with the emotional and mental trauma that you must have faced when you were told that you suffer from this problem? Also, who were the people who supported you morally and emotionally during that time? My writing helped me to cope with the problem emotionally. I wrote a lot during that time when I was told that I am suffering from this illness. Well, I didn’t specifically write about the problem, but I used my writing and music as a way to channel my emotions. A few years into it, I published my second book, ‘Resurrection’, as a summation of those emotions. The book dealt primarily with love and acceptance and became an outlet for me - something to divert my energies into. However, I never ever felt like I was alone on this journey. I’m so thankful to have an amazing family, close friends, and most importantly, my wife Sheraline who has been my support system throughout all of this. I definitely would not have had the strength to carry this heavy cross without their help and support.

What were the challenges that you faced after you were diagnosed with renal failure? And how did you overcome them?

I chose not to look at the disease I am suffering from as a challenge. I kind of accepted that I was meant to be on this journey. So with that in mind, I chose to push forward and made this a part of my life, just like anything else. I remember that in the early days of my illness, when I was still new to dialysis, I was talking to my friend Ophelia about how angry I was that this had to happen to me, and how difficult it was to stay positive about it. And she told me, “you were chosen to bear this cross. This is not something that you need to do for yourself because you were chosen to be an inspiration for others. When people look at you and see just how amazing and positive you are despite what you are going through, it gives them a lot of hope.” And I took that to heart and I believe that that is my purpose in life.

Even though I have to go for dialysis every other day, I’m so thankful to be working in a company like Kilowott that is so supportive of my illness and allows me to take the time I need to go for dialysis. I’m truly grateful for their love and positivity. Right from the start when my friend Aaron, (who runs the company) and his brothers Judah and Caleb offered me a position here, they told me that they would do

whatever they could to support me, and that meant a lot to me. I can’t thank them enough for being there for me when I needed them the most.

Give us a brief overview of your book ‘Cross Connection’?

My writing has always veered toward the darker side of human emotions - angst, depression, jealousy; but in it are moments of clarity and light. When I sat down to compile my first book, I had hundreds of poems in there, and it was extremely overwhelming and I thought no one is going to want to read so much! And so, I centered my first book ‘Fallen’(released in 2012), around those darker emotions. My second book, ‘Resurrection’ (published in 2019), deals with love, hatred, jealousy, and everything associated with that. What was left was all the spiritual stuff that I had written, and newer work which wasn’t around when I was compiling the first two books.

So ‘Cross Connection’ became something that deals with faith and doubt, and is more spiritual compared

Mark along with his friends

We have heard that there are two versions of your book ‘Cross Connection’- a Standard Edition and an Author’s Edition. What's the difference between the two versions of the book? Cross Connection (Standard Edition) is an anthology of poems that were written during a 21-day writing challenge organised by BookLeaf Publishing. In the challenge, writers were asked to write one poem for each of the 21 days of the challenge. Though the challenge produced the book ‘Cross Connection’, it also presented to me an opportunity to expand on it with this special Author's Edition.

Unlike the standard version that adheres to the basic 21 poem challenge, the Author's Edition goes even further, featuring 15 extra unreleased poems. The book inside has also been completely redesigned, featuring a unique typeset, and a pop of colour in the Kindle eBook version. Since Cross Connection is only available in paperback in India, the Author's Edition has been made available worldwide through the KDP platform.

Were there any incident/s that took place in your life which inspired you to write this book? No specific incident, but many experiences in my own personal spiritual journey. You’ll find a lot of references from Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’, Dante’s ‘Inferno’, and even The Bible in the book. I used to read a lot in my twenties, and so it’s hard to miss a lot of those literary references.

Cross Connection is the title of one of the poems which references the death of Christ. It closes with the observation that Jesus, the son of a carpenter and a carpenter himself, died at the hands of his own profession, on a wooden cross.

Finally, any message that you would like to share with our readers, especially the youth? Yes; please read and write - correctly. It’s an absolute and downright shame, that in this day and age, youth are still not able to use simple words like there/their, you’re/your, or it’s/its correctly. On top of that, they insist on using unnecessary contractions like ‘m’ for I’m/am or ‘d’ for the. With autocorrect and unlimited character messaging, I fail to comprehend why kids insist on communicating so shoddily. This unfortunately translates into not being able to write essays or answer examinations in correct syntax. This can easily be remedied by reading more and writing with purpose - even in the most mundane communications. There was a time when we had 140 character limits on text messages, and so had to get creative to communicate efficiently. But that is no longer the case - and so I urge the youth of today to please read more, and write better.

Mark’s book ‘Cross Connection - Author’s Edition’ is available for purchase on Amazon and Flipkart. For purchase links, visit www.linktr.ee/mrkrcha or logon to www.markrocha.net

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Celebrating World Goa Day

A Proud Occasion For Goenkars Globally

By Cassandra Carvalho

Goa is known for being a hospitable state, welcoming outsiders with warm arms. However, while we amalgamate other cultures into our community, it is important that we retain and celebrate our own identity, as Goans. To attain this objective, we celebrate World Goa Day on the 20th of August every year. Goans around the world come together to commemorate our unique heritage, by organizing various events, festivals, etc. This day came into existence when ‘Konkani’ (the language spoken by Goans and people in the Konkan region extending up to Karwar, Udupi, and Mangalore) was included in the Indian Constitution and recognized as one of India's official languages by the Indian Parliament on the 20th of August 1992. This year’s World Goa Day theme song ‘Goa Mhojem’ has been composed by Colin D’Cruz from Jazz Goa and has been sung by none other than the living legend Usha Uthup. As we gear up for this year’s celebration, ItsGoa speaks to some of the organizers of World Goa Day events taking place around the world.

Along with Goa Sudharop, a California-based NGO working towards development in Goa, Mr. Rene Barretto, currently residing in the UK, is the brainchild of this non-profit endeavour. He and his team of volunteers have been working virtually to connect with Goans and Goan associations across the globe, from Sharjah to Australia, in order to make this celebration a success every year. They observed that Goans abroad like to keep in touch with each other by forming groups or associations. While some gatherings, such as Goans in Quebec and the California Goans, have an assigned date dedicated to the remembrance of Goan heritage, Mr. Barretto and his team work to inculcate the concept of World Goa Day in these and other Goan associations. Mr. Barreto mentioned two sets of World Goa Day celebrations, one in the western world, where the summer months are July, August, and September, and one in Goa, after the rains, during the months of September and October. New team members come onboard every year, spanning different time zones

and age groups. The team aids in drafting out invites, designing communications, video-editing, broadcasting, etc. The activities and events are diverse, ranging from picnics to buffets and singalongs.

However, over the last few years, as a team, they set a particular theme for each edition of World Goa Day. This year’s World Goa Day theme is “Celebrating our Global Goans.’ Organizations are encouraged to host events related to the theme, along with incorporating the World Goa Day logo, designed by Mr. Neville Menezes, into their flyers, posters, videos, and other communication material.

Marius Fernandes, popularly known as Goencho Festakar, has been organising World Goa Day celebrations in Goa since the year 2000. He disclosed that there will be a World Goa Day celebration this year on the 15th of August at the Peaceful Society in Madkai, Ponda. The celebration will start at 11 am and end at 3pm. Multiple events like Konkani cultural programmes, Konkani skits, Ghumot dance, various workshops, and a talk on World Goa Day by Dr Gwendolyn De Ornelas will take place at the celebration.

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Mr. Rene Barretto

Mr. Joseph Lourenco, is the President of California Goans Association. A native of the village of CalaporSt. Cruz, Joseph migrated to the US in 2000. He was one of the founding members of the California Goans Association back in 2005. The association has a current strength of around a 100 Goans. During the peak of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, California Goans were a part of the Northern American Association, a group put together by Selwyn from Canada, Effie Tavares, and George Pinto from Goa Sudharop, who raised funds for Covid-19 victims in Goa. Philomena Pinto, one of the founders of Goa Sudharop, has been a major promoter of the celebration of the feast of St. Joseph Vaz. California Goans, consisting mainly of first-generation Goan Americans, have been celebrating WGD since 2013. They hosts a harvest festival merged with WGD.

This year, their celebrations include a rendition of the WGD song, ‘Goa Mhojem’ , followed by traditional dances, a fancy dress competition for children representing the different cultures and trades in Goa, and an open-mic event. They will also be preparing traditional Goan sweets, this year’s special being patoleo (steamed rice pancakes, covered in a flavourful turmeric leaf and stuffed with a mixture of freshly grated coconut and black palm jaggery) and donne (a sort of steamed dumpling in a conical-shaped jackfruit leaf stuffed with the same mixture as patoleo.).

The association aims to get the younger generation involved in the process and will teach them the entire method of preparation of patoleos and donnes. They’ve included plans to introduce local games such as Ringane, the Goan version of tennikoit, nekorio (7 tiles), and racing with bicycle tires.

Maria Gomes Fernandes, a close associate of Mr. Rene Barretto for more than ten years, has together with other committed global Goan members like Mr. Savio Ribeiro amongst a few others, has played a key role in spreading the word about World Goa Day celebrations over the years. She was originally based in Kampala, Uganda, from 1997 to 2016, when there were just a handful of Goan families in the region. The Goan community over there enjoyed their days together and even celebrated World Goa Day. Maria also resided in Arusha, situated in the northern region of Tanzania, where the Goan presence is relatively larger, with some families residing there for more than three generations. She, along with her husband, helped the Goans of Arusha organize World Goa Day in 2016.

Currently based in Borivali, Mumbai, Maria encourages people to get on board the World Goa Day organization committees. She has inspired the Goan Institute, Dabul, Mumbai, to celebrate WGD for the first time offline this year. Their earlier celebrations involved a Goan food festival on a random date, but Maria encouraged them to merge the food fest as a highlight of their first WGD celebrations, along with song, dance, games, etc. The Goan Outreach Association, Mumbai, was another group to whom Maria reached out to a couple of years ago. The association has been celebrating World Goa Day for a couple of years now, but they organize it as a joint celebration along with the Feast of St. Francis Xavier on December 3rd.

Maria Gomes Fernandes

Joseph Lourenco, President, California Goans Association

Mr. Gerard Lobo, of the Goan Overseas Association of Victoria, based in Melbourne, coordinates World Goa

said that Goans in the continent have been celebrating ’Goenkarponn’ for over 45 years. Currently the President of this organisation, Mr. Lobo spoke of gatherings in New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, Adelaide and Victoria. This year’s World Goa Day program in Victoria is scheduled to be an afternoon event. It will be an interactive session involving dance, music, Konkani skits and song, along with a Goan dress code.

An interesting part of the event is the bring-a-Goanarticle concept. Mr. Lobo spoke of a variety of items he plans on showcasing this year, right from the quaint gurgureth (drinking water pot) to the neunem (straw coaster ) and the kundlem ani doulo (utensil and ladle). He also spoke of the annual Goan Food Festival being organised on 16th October, offering delectable Goan dishes such as sorpotel and fish curry, which will also be a feature at this year’s World Goa Day celebration.

The last two years didn’t allow Goans to organise offline celebrations of World Goa Day because of Covid restrictions. Albeit, the online celebrations received immense participation. People sent in videos of themselves celebrating the event, which were shared with Goans globally. The submissions were in such a large number that Mr. Rene and his team organised two days of festivities, across numerous time zones.

We, as Goans, need to remain united. Fractions in our unity have been observed over petty issues, which should be avoided. However, it is beautiful to note that Goans actually wake up when situations of grave concern arise, and we do not hesitate to voice our opinions. The Goa we currently cherish, not only deserves to be preserved, but also deserves to see a better future. The Goan diaspora should respect and honour the Goan spirit, integrity, and accommodative nature, for which we are renowned.

Mrs. Maria urges that we share our Goan values, and our Goan heritage with the next generation. She admits that it's not as easy when one does not reside in Goa. “Nonetheless, our youth need to play a proactive role in enhancing the use of Konkani and preserving our traditions, language, folklore, arts, culture, and music. Goans have made a mark, no matter where they’ve emigrated, and we are proud of being called Goans globally”. As Maria elucidates, ‘In Africa, if you say you are Goan, you are greatly respected as Goans are usually associated with honesty, simplicity of heart, and hospitality.

Mr. Neville Menezes, who has been spearheading World Goa Day celebrations in Dubai, has designed the logo for this year’s World Goa Day celebrations. Speaking to ItsGoa from Dubai, Neville said that he hoped for a united international Goan community, as globally, we Goans celebrate our culture, language, history, traditions, music, and cuisine. He said that it is essential that we commemorate World Goa Day as a day of common celebration and show of Goan solidarity. Its primary objective was, is, and always will be to unify our

Gerard Lobo, President, Goan Overseas Association, Victoria

Mr. Neville Menezes

Freda Vaz

Teaching seniors how to stay young at heart

Article by: Jessyl Fernandez

Image Courtesy: Freda Vaz

Sizzling at 68, Freda Vaz was born and brought up in Mumbai. She loved to sing and therefore, made a career out of it for a few years. Marriage took her to Saudi Arabia for a while only to return to her motherland Goa thereafter.

Coming back to Goa in 1991, Freda founded the Goa Talent Seekers 1999, a platform to highlight the talents of children through song, dance, musical instruments, the art of magic and compering, right from the primary level upto college.

Through this platform, Freda successfully conducted three talent shows at the Kala Academy to showcase the talent of her students. Not stopping at that, on turning 60, she decided to lead a less stressful life. Having realised that as a senior citizen, there was not much to do by way of entertainment in Goa, she decided to have get-togethers for seniors every six months.

In 2014, Freda organised her first get-together for

The get-togethers became such a hit among the seniors that they urged Freda to have them more often. This resulted in the formation of '’The Sizzling Seniors Club.’ Their inaugural event took place on 24th August, 2019. The event was attended by a group of enthusiastic seniors who then began coming together, at least once a month to celebrate life. The main aim of ‘The Sizzling Seniors Club’ is to ensure that all members enjoy a multi-layered evening where they can come together to make new friends and reconnect with old ones; engage in a variety of activities like playing Housie, quiz games, singing, and even dancing with gusto; celebrate birthdays and also win lots of prizes and surprises!

Some of the other activities conducted by the club include jumble sales, pot luck tea-parties, game nights, talks on topics such as Loneliness and FirstAid, and overnight picnics. So far, they have had two overnight picnics and are gearing up for the third one when the weather is more safe for the youngsters at heart. Says Freda, “The level of enthusiasm and

Freda along with members of ‘The Sizzling Senios Club’

With members coming from places all over Goa (Moira, Parra, Siolim, Porvorim, Candolim, Thivim and Mapusa) the club has recently changed their event timings from evenings to mornings, to avoid some of the issues faced by the members, especially those who travel long distances by public transport. The Sizzling Seniors Club meets on the last Sunday of every month. They usually begin the day with the celebration of the Eucharist (Catholic Holy Mass), followed by Fellowship and Lunch which is mainly ‘Non-Vegetarian.’ Says Freda, emphasising on the words ‘non-vegetarian’ as the menu includes all types of meats and delicacies that Goans love, “For this reason the membership is ONLY for Catholics. This is not to deter people from joining. All are welcome irrespective of caste, creed and colour except that they should not have a problem with the non-veg menu”, she says.

'The Sizzling Seniors Club' shall be celebrating their third anniversary on 28th of August, 2022 and they

look no further, just call Freda!

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Members of the club at one of their social get-togther events

Richelle Brito Carvalho

An experienced psychologist and counsellor working hard to help people cope with their mental health problems.

Article by: Cassandra Carvalho

Image Courtesy: Richelle Carvalho

Being the ‘studious’ type and a teacher’s pet, Richelle Brito Carvalho had dreams of becoming a teacher. As the eldest child at home and in her society, she would often gather her siblings and her neighbour’s kids and would act as their teacher, using the doors as blackboards.

She lived in different places around Goa, but spent most of her childhood in Navelim, where she did her schooling. Post high school, because of the ‘high marks’ she scored, everyone around her suggested that she should pursue Commerce, if not Science, as Arts was never an option for a career choice. Back then, these were the three options they had and Arts was the least favoured. However, she was extremely interested in Arts, inching slowly towards becoming a teacher. Richelle’s parents were very supportive of her decision, and permitted her to go ahead and pursue her interest. One of the subjects in her 11th grade was psychology, and that’s when it all began.

Psychology opened up different doors altogether for Richelle. Doors with options that seemed far more riveting and challenging. Her innate desire was to create an impact on the people she worked with and to continue the journey of learning about herself as well. It began to look like psychology was the way forward.

Richelle moved to Mangalore and completed her Master's degree in Counselling Psychology from the School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya. She found the course very experiential, reflective, and in- depth. She specialised in working with adolescents and young adults, after which she moved back to Goa to put her acquired knowledge and skills into practice.

She began her career as a counsellor by working in a school. In 2016, she felt that schools did not quite understand the work of a counsellor. Unrealistic expectations from the school led her to look for other options of work. In 2018, she was recruited by Sangath, a non-profit organisation that works towards improving health across all domains. Here, she got the opportunity to work with different schools in South Goa, focusing on teacher training modules, and working closely with students with learning disabilities, teachers and parents. This also included building curriculums using alternative teaching modules like story-telling, visual cards, and

developing games, which would encourage students to participate in their classrooms. She was also involved in Sangath’s clinical services, providing counselling for adolescents and young adults. Although the work she was doing was fulfilling, she still felt that she had much more to learn and experience in the field of mental health.

In search of new experiences, in 2018 she shifted to North Goa and went on to join an organisation that worked with children and young adults on the autism spectrum. Alongside working with parents, she was also involved in training young adults with professional skills, providing emotionally supportive sessions, building curriculums for these training programs, as well as conducting social activities for students. This hands-on experience gave her the exposure and understanding to work with individuals on the spectrum.

When the pandemic hit India in 2020, Richelle was in the middle of a very difficult time that impacted her physically as well as mentally. As a result, she faced a couple of setbacks in her career. With the help and support of loved ones, she was able to take a break from work and focus on her mental health.

Together with personal counselling sessions and the unending affection from her close family and friends, she started to recover emotionally. Feeling empowered with a newly discovered motivation, she began her own online private practice under the name ‘Wholistic Connect’ in December 2020.

Starting a private practice and building a clientele is a slow process and sometimes the pace of growth, financial instability, and being a one-person army can feel very demoralising.

As a counsellor 6 years ago, there was still a lot of stigma attached to attending to one’s mental health needs, reaching out to seek support or even to openly discuss it with friends and family. However, now Richelle feels that the tide is changing and mental health in our country is slowly getting the importance it deserves.

Richelle started an Instagram page with the intention of reaching out to a larger audience to offer pro bono counselling sessions and to offer support groups

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services, especially duing the peak Covid period. Richelle specialises in working with adolescents and adults. Some of the areas she works in include managing stress, anxiety, and depression, understanding experiences of loss and grief, managing inter-personal relationship issues, adjusting to life changes, etc.

In addition to conducting online sessions, she also provides consultation services at Antarman, a Centre for Psychosocial Well-being, situated in Panjim, where she conducts in-person sessions. She has also completed a Diploma in Family and Couples Therapy and participated in a 6 month long training progamme in Attachment Theory.

In the future, she plans to create more space for support groups for adolescents and young adults, and collaborate with other professionals to build a community that promotes mental and emotional well-being. One thing she would like to tell parents is that there is no right way to be a parent, but physical and emotional abuse does more harm than good to children. “Be an example to one’s children in how they should be treated”, she says.

She adds that the last 2 years have been extremely difficult for our youth. “With all the uncertainty, experiencing loss of some kind; whether it’s a loss of a loved one or loss of a job, delays in career progression to feeling helpless from being isolated from society, one must know that one is not alone and can reach out to seek the help one needs to deal with these problems”, she says.

Richelle conducting a training programme for college students