Getting 1,000 Goemkars from all over the globe to showcase over 300 diverse items of Goan culture across two days is never an easy feat, but all of them got going and rose to the occasion to celebrate Virtual World Goa Day 2020 amid the challenges of the Covid pandemic
THE GOAN NETWORk
PANAJI
World Goa Day, an event celebrated by Goans in theirrespective countries for the last 20 years, was the brainchild of Rene Barettoto commemorate the inclusion of Konkani in the 8th schedule of the IndianConstitution, thereby recognising it as one of the official languages of India.
This year, given the constraints on public gatheringsbecause of the Covid pandemic, the Global Goan Alliance and Network under theguidance of Baretto decided to celebrate World Goa Day with a virtual globalmeet.
The result was a Virtual World Goa Day 2020 on the theme ‘Reconnecting-Goa’,turning an adversity into an advantage and getting together Goans in a waynever seen before.
The result was spectacular. Over a 1,000 Goans fromacross Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, Orissa and other parts of India, various countrieslike New Zealand, Australia, Bahrain, Doha Qatar, Dubai and other parts of theMiddle East, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique and other parts of Africa, Vancouver,Toronto and other parts of Canada, New York, California and other parts of theUSA, came together to present to the world over 300 diverse and various itemslike singing, dancing, cooking, history, poetry, painting and craft.
The first part of the event was broadcast on October 24simultaneously over Facebook and YouTube, receiving great response from viewersall over the world, while the second part of the event will take place onOctober 31.
“Our oneness and unity can be the wind beneath our wingsand together, we will soar higher like eagles in the skies. This is what webelieve must be our dream vision,” opined Savio Ribeiro, adding,
“The success of the virtual choir gave fillip to ourinitiatives and brought in more committed volunteers into the working group,Bella Fernandes (London), Michelle Fernandes and Andrew Fernandes (Mumbai),Sanjeev Sardessai (Goa), Floscy Gracias (Goa), Pele Travasso (California),Lianne Falk-Rodricks (Sweden), Nigel Quadros (Bahrain), Effie Tavares (NewYork) along with the ever passionate Perry Goes (Bangalore), who steered thisproject and buttressed by an efficient team.”
Baretto fondly acknowledged his engagements with theCalifornia-based Goa Sudharop and some Goans like Narayana Coissoro (retiredGoan Portuguese Deputy at the Portuguese Parliament), late Dr Jose Colaco(Bahamas) and others who encouraged and supported him during the early stagesof setting up WGD in 2000.
He remembered the honour of being invited along with hiswife, Maria, to the Mandd Sobhann organised ‘Konkani Ekta Day’ world awards toreceive awards on behalf of the Goan Cultural Society, UK and the ‘Goemkars OwnAcademy’, Karachi for World Goa Day at the hands of then President of IndiaPratibha Patel in 2010.
The Global Goan Alliance and Network (GGAN) took shape asa community forum on facebook in early 2018 at the insistence of Baretto andwas nurtured by Bahrain-based Ribeiro along with Gerard Lobo, Frankie Fernandes(Melbourne) and Tony Colaco (Sydney), Maria Gomes Fernandes (Uganda/Mumbai),Deborah Santamaria (Karachi), Joseph Lourenco (California), Neville Menezes andBilly Joe ‘Billytoons’ (Dubai) and few other Goans.
The working group of members connect with Goans in Goaand across global regions to collaborate, engage, exchange, involve, share andhold hands for a common and contagious passion to preserve and promote Goanidentity and culture.
