GOA FEST 2009 TAKES OFF ON A HIGH NOTE IN NEW DELHI
GOA SADAN, a colonial style white mansion on Amrita Shergill Marg was transformed into a “Feira” of sorts, which the sights and smells of Goa. Driving past, one cannot avoid the sound of Goan Music and Reverie amidst fairy lights, which is advertisement enough for anyone looking for some entertainment of another kind.
And so GOA FEST 2009 took off to a colourful start on Friday, 6th November 2009 at 6 p.m. This three day, annual festival organized by “Goenkarancho Ekvot” an association of Goans in Delhi and the NCR in association with Department of Tourism, Government of Goa is a festival all Goans in these parts, as well as, Delhiites, Expatriates and Tourists who have come to love Goa and everything Goan look forward to eagerly.
Hon’ble Justice V.S. Sirpurkar, Judge Supreme Court of India inaugurated the Goa Fest 2009 and Shri Digambar Kamat Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa presided over the function. Gracing the occasion were important guests Shri Shripad Naik Lok Sabha MP, Rajya Sabha Member, Shri Shantaram Naik and Shri Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, Chief Secretary Goa.
The Guests were introduced in turn and welcomed with floral bouquets by members of the committee.
Mrs. Suman Kurade, Chairperson of Goenkarancho Ekvot, welcomed the guests and all present. She gave a brief of the associations activities in Delhi and the listed out the various efforts carried out in order to keep the Goan Culture alive in Delhi and the NCR. She also pleaded with the Chief Minister to ensure that the New Goa Sadan be readied soon so that Goans visiting New Delhi are not put through any inconvenience in locating lodgingsThe Chief Guest Hon’ble Justice V.S. Sirpurkar in turn gave, very personal and emotional experiences of being associated with Goa and its inimitable culture. He, recounted the several occasions he visited Goa, and praised Goa for its Uniform Civil Code which grants equality to both men and women and that is something other States should take example from.
Shri Digambar Kamat appreciated the great work being done by Mrs. Kurade who with her tremendous dedication to keeping the organisation and culture alive despite all odds has achieved a great deal of support and respect from the Goans. He specially mentioned, that he had taken time off for this evening, only because he could not say no to someone so special!
Shri Shripad Naik M.P.(L.S), Shri Shantaram Naik M.P. (R.S) and Shri Sanjay Srivastava gave their experiences of living in Goa and the efforts that were being made to make it a world class tourist destination.
Two Goan students Shri Rohan Sharma And Shri Mayank Dias, who have done academically
very well in their Board examinations were honored and given a certificate each by the Chief Guests.
Father Bento Rodrigues, Principal, Fr. Agnels School then gave the vote of thanksThe festival was declared open. The guests and the crowd were treated to some Goan and Portuguese Folk Dances and Goan Music by a live Goan Band. But the main attraction as always was the food on offer – Sorpotel, Xacuti, Fish Curry, and delicious snacks to be washed down my our trademark Feni! This festival attracted huge crowds during the weekend.
Info, photos courtesy of:
Rene Baretto as forwarded to goa-world.com
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