MARGAO
As hundreds of people from Goa embarked on their annual pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health at Velankani in Tamil Nadu on Monday, a group of Konkani artistes also boarded the weekly train from the Margao railway station, carrying with them a musical tradition that has become an integral part of the pilgrimage.
The group, comprising musicians, singers, comedians and other artistes, led by Konkani producer and director Inacio Dias, will stage a Konkani musical show at the main stage of the Velankani pilgrimage centre on August 28 at 7.30 pm, a day ahead of the traditional Madi of Our Lady of Velankani on August 29.
Margao railway station witnessed considerable activity on Monday morning as hundreds of pilgrims boarded the weekly train after it arrived from Vasco. Among them were Dias and members of his troupe, who are travelling to Velankani to present the annual Konkani entertainment programme.
For Dias, the journey marks another chapter in an initiative that has continued for the past 18 years. The producer-director from Aquem-Baixo has been taking Konkani artistes to Velankani every year to stage either a tiatr or a musical programme for pilgrims.
Speaking to the media before boarding the train, Dias said the troupe would, with the blessings of Mother Mary, present a musical show this year. “For the last 18 years, with the support of fellow artistes, we have either staged a Konkani tiatr or a musical show at Velankani. This year too, with the blessings of Mother Mary, we will perform a musical show on the main stage on August 28 at 7.30 pm,” he said.
Dias said the initiative was started after he and his fellow artistes noticed that pilgrims from other states were presenting entertainment programmes at the pilgrimage centre in their languages.
“We initially thought of staging an entertainment programme after noticing that pilgrims speaking other languages were putting up shows at the pilgrim centre. There has been no looking back since then. We have continued staging these programmes with the support of our troupe members and fellow artistes,” he said.
Over the years, the Konkani programme has provided pilgrims from Goa and the Konkani-speaking community with an opportunity to enjoy their language, music and performing arts while on pilgrimage.
Dias and members of the troupe appealed to pilgrims travelling to Velankani to attend and support the Konkani musical show scheduled for August 28 at 7.30 pm.
MP seeks special trains to pilgrimage centres
MARGAO: South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes has strongly batted for additional special trains to the pilgrimage centres of Velankani, Pandharpur, etc. to cater to the growing demand of pilgrims.
He also proposed additional trains between Mumbai and Margao during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
The South Goa Member of Parliament on Monday chaired the 24th meeting of Konkan Railway Users Consultative Committee at Navi Mumbai and discussed various issues affecting the passengers from Goa.
Though the Minister of Railways has assured of additional trains to and fro from Goa to Velankani in end August to September for the feast, the MP said he also proposed additional trains between Mumbai and Margao during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
“Special focus was also laid on enhancement of passenger amenities at various railway stations in Goa, expedition of the construction of foot overbridge at the Margao railway station. I also emphasised on priority to be given to land losers during manpower recruitment and shops allocation,” he said.
Expressing his gratitude to MP from Kerala Miss Jebi Hisham, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanavade, MLA of Irukud Shri Sajeev Joseph and others for extending their support to his demand for additional trains to Velankani and Pandharpur, Viriato said the CMD of Konkan Railway Shri Santosh Kumar Jha assured to deploy additional trains to meet the ever-growing demand of passengers travelling to pilgrimage centres.
