CANACONA
Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar has said the culture of Goa has been able to survive only because of various artistes who perform folk art.
“Tourists from all over the country come to Goa to see festivals like Shigmotsav and the tourism business receives a huge boost due to folk art,” said Tawadkar
Tawadkar was speaking at a function organised by the Canacona Shigmotsav Mandal in association with the Tourism Department to felicitate 27 artistes from Canacona, including those who have performed in Tiatr (Konkani Drama) and Nataks.
Those felicitated included artistes from different age groups from Canacona municipality as well as from the culturally rich and remote places of Cotigao, Gaondongrim and Poinguinim.
Shigmotsav Committee Working President Babesh Borkar said Shigmosthav is not limited to only staging Shigmo floats. CMC Chairperson and Shigmotsav Committee Welcome Committee Chairman Ramakant Naikgaunkar said in the past, dramatists from Canacona used to rule the golden stage.
On this occasion, those artistes and dramatists who were felicitated included Draupadi Nakano Gaonkar, Datta Laxman Naik, Umesh Satarkar, Govind Satarkar, Chandrasekhar Mahale, Suresh Gaonkar, Manjula Satarkar, Akshay Desai, Peter Miranda, Ramesh Babay Komarpant (RBS), Rajendra Gosavi, Anandu Mhalshi, Gajanan Pagi, Dattaram Babuso Pagi, Clancy Fernandes, Raymond de Galjibaga, Babu Velip, Mangesh Paldesai, Gajanan Molu Gaonkar, Shanu Naik Gaonkar, Dhananjay Desai, Yashwant Janu Gaonkar, Puno Ganasu Tawadkar, Bhiso F. Velip, Babu Mhalgo Velip, Ramnath Pagi amongst others.
Incidentally, the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections is likely to come in force shortly and Shigmo Floats scheduled in Canacona on April 2 is expected to be conducted by the Canacona administration.
The Shigmotsav Committee headed by Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar will have no say in the organisation.
“The Shigmotsav committee reportedly used the opportunity to felicitate local artistes in advance to avoid a conflict of interest during the code of conduct in force,” said a source.
WOMEN ROMTAMEL TEAM
An all-women Romtamel team has been formed in Canacona taluka with ex-CMC chairperson Prarthana Naikgaunkar, Shubangi Borkar, Aarti Kolabkar, Raveen, Shreya and Saili Pagi taking the lead who will play the usually male-dominated Dhol and Tashe.
Tawadkar felicitated Shigmotsav Committee Working President Babesh Borkar for taking the lead to form an All Women Romtamel of Canacona to participate in various Shnigmosthav Floats across Goa.
