the goan I network
PANAJI
The 20th edition of Lokotsav at Kala Academy’s Darya Sangam will kick-start on January 11 with the installation of 600 stalls exhibiting handicraft items of 700 artisans and the participation of 1000 performing folk artists including 600 artists from Goa and 400 artists.
This year, two innovative arches depicting Goan cultural heritage will be there. There will be around 100 stalls serving traditional Indian food.
This folk festival is being organised by the Directorate of Art and Culture in joint collaboration with West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur, Kala Academy Goa, Sports Authority of Goa, and other private agencies in order to promote the folk culture. The festival also offers a perfect platform to the artists to showcase and sale their crafts.
The expenditure on the festival is approximately Rs 1.5 crore whereas the turnover expected is around Rs 2.5 crore. “We have kept transparency while allotting the stalls to the artisans and while selecting the performing groups. This year 43 Goan groups will participate in the cultural programmes,” briefed Govind Gawade.
Gawade, who also holds the post as the chairperson of Kala Academy, further elaborated, “There is a new song prepared for the inaugural ceremony wherein 25 instruments will be played by Goan artists. A total of 1700 participants (600 Goan artists, 400 out-of-the-state artists and 700 artisans) will be associated with this folk festival with 350 artists performing every day.”
The 600 plus stalls will exhibit handicraft items including Bandhani, Kathputali, Lakh bangles, leather bags, footwear, khadi, Kota, silk material, handmade garments, carpets, glass wear, clay art, furniture, wooden toys, block print, applique work and Goan crafts. The locals will enjoy the taste of the traditional food items of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and other States from 10 am to 10 pm during this 10-day festival.”
The festival will be inaugurated on January 11 at 6.30 pm at Darya Sangam and thereafter the cultural programmes will continue until 9.30 pm. The closing ceremony will be on January 20.
