PANAJI: Betalbatim Cricket Club recently organised the All-Goa Festival of Carols on the theme Mary, Model of Hope. The non-competitive event brought together six choirs to celebrate Christmas through music. The programme began with a performance by the tiny tots of the Child Care Foundation, guided by Vanessa Menezes. This was followed by choirs from Fatima Convent Margao and St Jude’s Betalbatim.
Senior choirs such as St Michael’s Orlim and Remedians Betalbatim performed alongside newer groups like Crimson Reindeer, creating a cheerful and festive atmosphere. The club had earlier conducted carol-singing competitions in inter-school, inter-college and open categories since the 1970s.
However, the tradition was halted during the Covid pandemic. The festival was revived this year in a non-competitive format on the suggestion of Parish Priest Fr Adriao Furtado, who felt that competition sometimes led to differences among groups. The event was held as part of Betalbatim’s annual crib presentation, which was conceived and directed by Fr Furtado.
