CANACONA
Devidas Gaonkar, a budding journalist and poet, has been selected by the central government’s Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) to conduct research on the Dhillo festival under the Junior Research Fellowship Scheme (JRFS).
A communique to this effect was received by Gaonkar, a tribal youth from a farming family in Baddem-Khotigao village, within the precincts of Khotigao Wildlife Sanctuary of Canacona taluka.
Gaonkar has been given the fellowship to conduct research on the Dhillo festival, traditionally celebrated by the tribal community in remote areas of Canacona, Sangem and Quepem talukas.
Gaonkar has evinced keen interest in learning tribal culture and lifestyles and has already earned recognition in the print and electronic media early into his journalism career for his on the tribal community in Goa.
Till date, Gaonkar has published three books, "Sadetod" (poetry collection), "Tribal Compositions and Lifestyles in Goa" and "Dipastambh" (the story of 2 tribal activists who died during the UTAA agitation at Balli). He is also the editor of the "Mand" magazine.
He has presented a number of research papers in the State and at national level seminars on folklore/folk art.
“Given this responsibility by the central government, I expect to step up my research on ' Dhillo festival' which is an indigenous and traditional art in the remote areas of Canacona, Sanguem and Quepem talukas,” said Gaonkar.
