PERNEM
Pleased with the success of this year’s food festival at Morjim, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said the State government has decided to organise next year’s Food Festival in Morjim as well.
He was speaking at the concluding day of the State-level three-day food and cultural festival at Morjim in the presence of Art and Culture Minister Govind Gawade, Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, Saligao MLA Kedar Naik, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar, Satish Shetgaonkar, Huma Qureshi and others.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and other ministers will support the development of Mandrem constituency as a tourist hub. The government is working to promote tourism in the State and since the food festival depicts Goan culture, it is important to organise such festivals from time to time,” said Khaunte.
The minister further assured that the ‘Ramponkaranche Fest’ will also be held along Mandrem’s coastline.
Art and Culture Minister Govind Gawade stated that the foundation stone for the Ravindra Bhavan would be laid in Mandrem within six months. Praising Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar, Gaude said Arolkar had succeeded to bring in thousands of footfalls for the festival and hence, the government will be compelled to hold it at Mandrem once again.
“Those who participate in the festival will be provided with a space, a venue in the form of Ravindra Bhavan, as Mandrem is the land of artistes who need their own platform to showcase their talent, said Gawade. He further added that the land has been selected by the MLA Jit Arolkar for Ravindra Bhavan and the foundation of Ravindra Bhavan would be laid there within six months.
Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar said such festivals are platforms for the exchange of culture and heritage. “Various delicacies are available under one roof and domestic as well as foreign tourists can visit and enjoy the cultural heritage of Goa through such festivals,” he said.
MLA Jit Arolkar thanked the government for allowing the Carnival and Food Festival to be staged in the Mandrem constituency.
