PANAJI
In a community engagement initiative, a group of artists, heritage activists, professionals and literary figures have joined hands with organisations involved with the Save Mhadei Movement to organise ‘Mhadei Amchi Mai’ on Saturday afternoon which will involve multiple activities including a 'human chain' along a seven-kilometer route along the river's banks in the capital city.
On the agenda is the formation of a human prayer chain, starting from the Miramar beach to the Santa Monica Jetty where participants from across Goa are expected to sport white-and-blue colour themed outfits to represent the river's colours.
Music, art and dance performances are also on the cards at seven meeting points along the seven kilometer route from Caranzalem to the Santa Monica jetty. There will be Bharatnatyam, theatre, jazz music, poetry, sketching, mandala making and art on display.
Noted Goan singer Hema Sardesai is slated to open the festival at 4 pm at Miramar beach by belting out an original score ‘Mhadei Amchi Mai’, which she herself has penned and composed.
The event aims to up the local community's engagement with the cause of Mhadei over which Goa is embroiled in a long drawn dispute with Karnataka over the latter's plans to divert its waters with dams at Kalasa and Bhandura, following the Central tribunal's award.
Goa and Karnataka are currently embroiled in a dispute over the Kalasa-Bhanduri dam project across the Mhadei river, being heard by a central tribunal.
Several prominent Goan personalities are expected to participate. The organisers said, Jnanpith award winner Damodar Mauzo, noted clergyman & green activist Dr Bolmax Pereira, theatre personality Isabel Santa Rita Vas and doctor-activist are among those who will join the human chain, they said.
Curated by by Miriam Koshy, founding member of Earthivist Collective, the festival is a collaborative effort along with the Goa Heritage Action Group and Save Mhadei Save Goa Front.
