to Magazine

VOL 1 ISSUE XI `100
Wildlife
Catching Up With
the Asiatic Jackal
The life and style magazine
GM Bhakti
Kulkarni
Knight In Shining
Armour
Interview
Sanjith Rodrigues:
Making Smart Moves
For Panjim
Deep Sea
Diving
Off Grande Island
Christmas and
New
Year
Special
12 Xmas Traditions and Treats
21
EDITOR’S NOTE
VOL 1 ISSUE XI `100
Wildlife
Catching Up With
the Asiatic Jackal
The life and style magazine
GM Bhakti
Kulkarni
The life and style magazine
Knight In Shining
Armour
Interview
It’s that Time of the Year Again!
Sanjith Rodrigues:
Making Smart Moves
For Panjim
Deep Sea
Diving
Off Grande Island
Christmas and
New
Year Special
12 Xmas Traditions and Treats
21
PUBLISHER
Manjunath Pujari
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Nicole Suares
CREATIVE HEAD
Lakshminarayanan G
ADVERTISING & MARKETING
Swapna Pujari +91 8888 8851 80
Arjun Pujari +91 9822 2000 34
Shwetha Pujari +91 9822 4603 34
CIRCULATION
+91 8888 8480 98
TIMELINE MEDIA PVT. LTD.
640, Next to VMS College of Law,
G
oa has been decked up for the season ahead with families separated
by distance brought together again with the tables brimming with
traditional dishes and sweets. As we approach Christmas and
the New Year, Timeline Goa revels in the joyous atmosphere around.
Explore 12 typical unique Goan experiences we have laid out or even
choose a new look for the party season from the fashionable trends
our writer offers.
Christmas the world over is sprinkled with little quirky rituals. For
instance, old folk tales led to the incorporation of the spider’s web as
deco to the Ukranian Christmas tree. Jamaicans get into a carnival like
atmosphere with the John Canoe parade. In comparison, Goa is far more
traditional but with its own unique atmosphere and convivial spirit.
We also get adventurous as we dive deep into the underwater getaways off
Bogamlo beach, near Grande Island. Besides the teeming aquatic life, the
sea bed is home to some of the oldest shipwrecks in the area. Take a look
at what has been unearthed from the fathoms below.
Very much on the surface is the ever expanding city of Panjim. We
talk smart with the Panjim CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues
about the nittygritty of a smart city. He elucidates on the process and
measures needed to turn the city into a sustainable, green, tech savvy,
cosmopolitan capital.
But we need to keep a balance between the growth and nurture of
nature and the demands of urbanisation. Once widespread, the local
kholo or Asiatic Jackal is increasingly becoming a rarity with haphazard
construction activity.
Miramar, Goa - 403002
Tel: +91 832 2904179 / 80
Mob: 9822130034
Email us at:
editorial@timelinegoa.in
feedback@timelinegoa.in
advt@timelinegoa.in
WEBSITE
www.goatimeline.com
www.timelinegoa.in
More at peace with herself despite her all conquering moves is Goa’s
young woman Grandmaster Bhakti Kulkarni. We salute the little genius as
she continues to conquer the chequered board.
As the clock strikes 12 on the 31st, we wake up to a new year of
promise. May it bring with it new hopes, dreams to be fulfilled and new
destinations to be discovered.
Timeline Goa set out on an enriching journey last year. We turn one this
January. Join the celebration in our next issue.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2016!
Owned, Published and Printed by Manjunath
Pujari at Miramar Goa - 403 002
Nicole Suares
6
www.timelinegoa.in
CONTENTS
The life and style magazine
VOL 1 ISSUE XI
12
It’s That Merry Season Again
What makes a Goan Christmas
18
Christmas Across The Globe
Christmas celebrations with a
difference
24
Jingle All The Way
Music as an integral part of Christmas
26
The Most Wonderful Time of the
Year
Goans on their love for Christmas
28
Deep Sea Diving-Exploring the
Unknown
On what lies beneath
32
Past Present
A walk through Goa’s museums
36
12
12 Goan Experiences
Making the most of your Goan holiday
40
Paradise Reclaimed
An eclectic mix of Indian cultures and
traditions
44
At One With Nature
Get creative with your living space
this New Year
46
Sanjit Rodrigues: Getting Smart
With Panjim
On the future of the capital city
18
8
50
28
Fashionably Natural
Nature as a canvass to create artistic
fashion photography shots
www.timelinegoa.in
40
44
50
54
The Master and Her Moves
Meet Bhatki Kulkarni, the Woman
Grand Master who is making all the
right moves on the chequered board
58
Saving The Asiatic Jackal
The writer calls for action
60
Subtle and Shimmering Shades
New looks for the season
62
62
Champaigne is the Colour of the
Season
Stay updated with the latest wedding
trends
66
Nourishing Winter Foods
Keep warm this chilly season with
these body warmers
68
Culture Cafes-Food, Art and A La
Carte
These cosy cafes are art lover’s
havens for peace and inspiration
74
71
Delectable Confections
Yummy treats for the sweet tooth
74
IFFI-A Frame BY Frame Triumph
A review on IFFI 2015
84
Happenings
Events that shaped Goa last month
92
Star Trek
What the stars foretell
9
YOUR VIEWS
WHAT A CATCH!
Your photofeature ‘Catch of the Day’ offers
a vivid view of the bustling fishing docks.
There’s so much more than what meets the
eye and I enjoyed looking at the splendid
display of images. They really transport you
to the dock itself.
Asim Sheikh, Verna
MOVIE MANIA
BRAVO AVELINO!
IFFI is certainly a big change for Goa.
Though I hope more would be done
to take it to the next level. Reading
Damu Naik’s interview was interesting
and I was pleasantly surprised by his
honest views on the subject. He rightly
points out the grey areas in the film
festival and wish him the best for future
festivals.
Pratap Singh, Assagao
I was moved by your achiever Avelino
de Sa featured last month. He has
braved the odds despite his condition
of cerebral palsy. He is an inspiration
and sets an example for the rest of us to
follow. We often fail to be appreciative
of what we have and face challenges
negatively. Here is a man who doesn’t
make any distinction between him and
the rest. Bravo!
Maria Lobo, Canacona
BEACH THEATRE
Who would have thought that the beach could be used
so innovatively to start a community theatre project! As a
keen stage enthusiast, I found the article informative and
I will try out the exercise next session. Thanks for the
article. Do keep your readers informed on such unique
projects.
Ashley D’Mello, Panjim
SOUTHWARD BOUND
SNAKY MISCONCEPTIONS
I have been reading Nirmal Kulkarni’s
column almost every month. His on
the ground knowledge of the subject is
incredible. His article on the cobra was a
worthy read and has changed my perception
on how I view snakes. I was quite wary
of them, even frightened but such false
illusions do no favours either to the beast
or human. My knowledge was weak in
terms of the benefits it’s venom has . I stand
corrected.
Nitish Pandey, via e-mail
Sometimes living in a place you tend to
ignore what is around you. I have lived
in Goa all my life but failed to explore
the Southern portion. Your article
‘Heading South’ was an eye-opener. I
did visit some of places you mention
and it was worth the trip. Thank you!
Joe Mesquita, Parra
TIME FOR DIALOGUE
I love attending various seminars and
workshops and Difficult Dialogues
now is definitely worth attending.
I’ve marked it on the calendar and
will make it a point to attend. Thanks
for bringing such an interesting
convention of great thinkers to our
attention. Looking forward to it.
Sheena Costa, via e-mail
10
BHUTAN CALLING!
As an avid traveller I was totally mesmerized by
your Bhutan piece. I must commend the writer
on the article. Such details you cannot find in
any guide book. Bhutan has now been added
to my bucklist next year. That was one of the few
places pending and it’s definitely a priority now.
Stellar Mendes, Arpora
www.timelinegoa.in
CONTRIBUTORS
Nirmal Kulkarni is
an affable eco-warrior, a
passionate award-winning
herpetologist with 18
years of ground work with
communities, field staff,
researchers and students.
Nirmal has experimented
the combination of science,
photography, activism and
successfully linked field conservation, communities,
livelihoods, natural resource management and
environment protection, into a practical working model
at Wildernest Nature Resort, Chorla Ghat, Goa and in
the surrounding areas.
Samira Sheth, An avid
art collector herself, Samira
Sheth offers art consultancy,
collection management,
curatorial advice and
exhibition management
through her independent
outfit, Work of Art.
Samira specialises in providing
in-depth knowledge of the
art world and guiding clients to build and maintain
contemporary Indian art collections. She works with
an international network of artists, critics, galleries
and auction houses to source works of the highest
quality. Samira frequently writes on contemporary art
for a number of art publications and artist catalogues
and has curated a number of select shows in Goa and
Dubai. She also enjoys writing reviews and features on a
number of other passions-from travel to lifestyle. Samira
lives and works in Goa.
Meenal Bale, Freelance
content writer with a
background of event
planning. Wanderlust by
default, movie buff by
classical conditioning,
foodie by choice and nature
lover by nature.
Kavita Shyam, With 9
years of writing experience on
fashion, food, fitness, travel,
parenting, business, almost
all of the lifestyle genres,
journalism is sheer passion.
Sapna Shahani likes
to write about lifestyle and
food. Her love affair with Goa
started at a young age when
her parents moved here from
Bombay. After having lived in
San Francisco and Bombay
working as a TV producer, she
realised that Goa felt more like
home than any other place.
She decided to change professions after a course at the
Indian School of Business and now works as a marketing
consultant to some of Goa’s best restaurants, driven by a
passion to highlight the best of Goa to the world.
Harpreet Pasricha, is
a celebrity and practicing
nutritionist, has been actively
involved in the wellness space
for over 15 years. Along with
helping people to lose weight,
she is also involved in, planning
diets for people suffering from
lifestyle disorders & medical
problems. She also specializes
in Pediatric and Sports Nutrition and has launched a book
“Nourish with Food & Flourish with Health”.
Datta Gawde, a commercial
photographer who portrays
concepts in a compelling
manner, is strongly influenced
by photographer Vilas Bhende.
He has worked with renowned
photographers like Chetan
Bhende, Sameer Parekh,
Saurabh Sawant, and Raymond
Gehman(National Geographic).
He finds inspiration in creativity, challenges and out of
the box elements. With an impressive portfolio of clients
across a spectrum of fields cumulated over his 18 years
of experience, he lives and works for Goa, Delhi, Pune,
Bengaluru and Mumbai.
Nea Antao, Architect and
Interior Designer educated
in India and England with
national and international
experience working on
residential, institutional,
commercial, hospitality
and high-end interiors
in London, Birmingham,
Mumbai, and Goa.
11
LEAD STORY
It’s That Merry Season
It’s that time of the year again with Christmas
underway. The trees are brimming with
baubles and lights, homes decked up in deco
delights; sweets and sumptuous meals ready
for the taking, and the atmosphere filled with
merry making
G
oa cheers up to the songs
and joys of the season in
a special way; and it’s not
just the colourful buntings
and trees that enliven the
surroundings. There are well-planned
out programs throughout Christmas
week and in schools at advent or the
three weeks before the fest call for a
host of activities.
Preparations begin well in advance.
Homes are spruced up, shop windows
display Christmas trees and Santa
and customers rush to pick off the
best Chinese imported deco, now
commonly found at various stores.
Neighbourhood tailors, fashion
designers and the like are overflowing
with orders to be well in time for
Christmas Eve.
What makes a Goan Christmas?
Food. Goans love their food and
drink and no Christmas is complete
without the consoda or assortment of
sweets on the table. One of the most
pivotal aspects of the celebrations,
every Goan household prepares an
assortment of sweets like bebinca,
dodol, ghonz, aranhas de coco, neuri
and kalkals.
In ‘Cozinha de Goa’, author Fatima
de Silva Gracias cites historian Pyrad
de Laval, a French traveller to Goa,
12
who describes 17th century Old Goa
with having ‘ beautiful cribs, and
decorations in various streets.’ Then
tables were ‘laid in fine white napery in
various streets if Goa and covered with
manner of sugar plemps, march panes
(marzipans)...’ She goes on to elaborate
that based on the old advertisements
of the early 1920s ‘rich tinned fruit
Again!
cakes were imported from Holland and
Australia and sold in Goa.’
But the way to celebrating a Goan
Christmas doesn’t stop at feasting
alone. Traditionally in the villages, cribs
were made of locally available materials.
Sand was brought in to replicate the
desert and nachne or ragi was grown
a month before so tufts of green grass
www.timelinegoa.in
13
LEAD STORY
would be ready by the time Christmas
arrived. The Star of Bethlehem was
also prepared at home from bamboo or
sticks available in the neighbourhood;
coloured cellophane paper was used
to decorate it. In recent times, most
people tend to buy the readymade
cardboard stars available in plenty in
the market
Children from the wards in villages
or towns practise a set of carols and
then take of house to house in their
areas, enlivening the atmosphere,
one of them dressed as Santa Claus.
Leroy D’Souza from Merces has been
part of many such carolling groups.
“It’s so much fun,” he tells. “We do it
regularly. A Santa will accompany us
and one of us plays the guitar. Some
of us carry candles and others sweets.
We even visited an orphanage once,”
he elaborates. However this sight is a
rarity these days.
Christmas Eve calls for the solemn
midnight mass. Like most Catholics
14
www.timelinegoa.in
‘Goans love their food
and drink and no
Christmas is complete
without the consoda or
assortment of sweets on
the table…One of the
most pivotal aspects of
the celebrations, every
Goan household prepares
an assortment of sweets
like bebinca, dodol,
ghonz, aranhas de coco,
neuri and kalkals.
15
LEAD STORY
‘But the way to celebrating a Goan Christmas doesn’t stop at feasting
alone. Traditionally in the villages, cribs were made of locally available
materials. Sand was brought in to replicate the desert and nachne or ragi
was grown a month before so tufts of green grass would be ready by the
time Christmas arrived.’
Savio Lourenco attends the service with
his family. Churches take their services
out into the grounds to accommodate
the large numbers. Prayers start an
hour prior to midnight and as the
clock strikes twelve to the chiming of
bells, the celebrant chants the Gloria to
commemorate the auspicious occasion.
After mass he waits back to meet
and greet family and friends and then
visits the main family home for a
combined get together. While some
people like Savio return home, most
rush off for the Christmas dance. Now
held by the dozen at various venues
across the State, these attract huge
crowds dancing away the night till
dawn.
The next morning may mean a late
start, but Christmas lunch is special
with a lavish spread for the entire
family. The spread consists of roast
pigling or roast pork, cabidela de
laeitoa and platters of fish. No Goan
meal is complete without xacuti,
normally of chicken, offered with a
pulao. Added to the elaborate menu
is usually sanam and sorpotel. Topping
it off are a variety of sweets and
puddings.
What makes this festival so distinct
from the rest are the huge lifesized
cribs made across Goa. Savio makes it
a point to show his son the beautiful
cribs every year. “These are works of
art in themselves. So well made from
locally made materials, its a real sight
to admire,” he adds.
Villagers use any open piece of
16
land to create their versions of the
Nativity scene. Creativity is unleashed
as gurgling waterfalls are brought to
life, with wooden bridges across, and
mountains in the background; some
are so huge that you can walk through
the extensive creation. These are a sight
to watch and a pleasure to see as you
drive past.
Christmas week is usually set aside
for visits and cultural activities at the
Church or chapel. Flossy Santos who
grew up in Arrossim village recalls how
she used to participate in the chapel
cultural activities like the fashion show,
mime, flower arrangements etc. “It was
so much fun and we never missed the
opportunity. This would go on during
the entire Christmas week,” she tells.
Like Flossy, Jarita Sequeira from
Davorlim also would attend many of
the events held during the week. She
says, “The Church would organise
sports day and many competitions.”
Earlier a consoada was usually
taken along, but the practise of offering
home-made sweets is now dying out.
Savio laments that other traditions like
sending Christmas cards to families,
the month long preparations of making
homemade sweets are dwindling.
Festivities continue through the
season with parish activities held on
each day. The celebrations culminate
with the Feast of the Three Kings on
January 6. A special feast celebrated
in Cansaulim, young boys dressed as
three kings parade from the chapel on
the hill to the village below.
www.timelinegoa.in
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
CHRISTMAS
ACROSS THE GLOBE
While there are some universal traits, some countries
celebrate Christmas with quirks of their own
ARGENTINA: FELIZ NAVIDAD
Argentines make ‘globos’, paper decorations with a light
inside that float into the sky like Chinese lanterns. They are
sent up in the air on Christmas Eve.
FINLAND: HYVÄÄ JOULUA
CROATIA: SRETAN BOŽI
Christmas celebrations begin on 25 November on St
Catherine’s Day and advent is a special time. On Christmas
Eve, most people eat dried cod called ‘bakalar’ or some other
kind of fish, but abstain from meat.
People visit the graves of their loved ones on Christmas Eve.
The entire cemetery is lit up with lamps and lanterns. People
from all over the world address their ‘Dear Santa’ letters to
Santa Claus in Finland. Kids believe that he stays somewhere
in the northern part of Finland called Korvatunturi (or
Lapland), north of the Arctic Circle.
HAITI: JWAYE NWEL
Some attend midnight service or go carolling. After mass the
main meal called ‘reveillon’ is consumed. The meal normally
starts in the early hours of Christmas morning and lasts
till the next dawn!
18
www.timelinegoa.in
ARMENIA:
(SHNORHAVOR
SURB TSNUND)
What the world
celebrates on
25 December,
Armenians
commemorate on
6 January. The
faithful fast one week prior and on Christmas Eve. The
vesper vigil is followed by mass and services are held in
the morning too.
GERMANY:
FROEHLICHE
WEIHNACHTEN!
While decorating
evergreen trees
were part of their
winter celebrations,
the first Christmas
trees appeared in
Strasbourg in Alsace in the beginning of the 17th century.
After 1750, Christmas trees began showing up in other
parts of Germany, and even more so after 1771, when
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited Strasbourg and
promptly included a Christmas tree is his novel, The
Suffering of Young Werther. The first German immigrants
made Christmas trees in Pennsylvania in the 1820s. After
Germany’s Prince Albert married Queen Victoria, he
introduced the Christmas tree tradition to England.
PALESTINE:
(EID MILAD
MMAJID)
Though Muslims
dominate the
Palestinian territory,
Jesus’ home
country, Christmas
is celebrated with
a church service at the Church of the Nativity. There is a
parade on the day prior with instruments like Bagpipes.
JAMAICA:
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
Christmas time is
marked by the ‘John
Canoe’ parade,
which dates back to
the times of slavery
where people dressed
up in wacky masks and costumes. Curried goat is often on
the menu for Christmas dinner.
NORWAY: GLEDELIG
JUL!
Many popular depictions
of a Western Christmas
showcase a burning fire
place in the background,
from which stockings
hang. Norway is the
birthplace of the Yule log.
The ancient Norse used the Yule log in their festivities
on the return of the sun at winter solstice. This probably
led to the popularity of the log-shaped cheese, cakes, and
desserts during the holidays.
FRANCE: JOYEUX
NOËL
In southern France,
some people burn a log
in their homes from
Christmas Eve until
New Year’s Day. This
originates from the
tradition in which farmers used a part of the log to ensure
good luck for the following year’s harvest.
AUSTRALIA:
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
Since it’s summer
in the land down
under, Father
Christmas swaps
his reindeer for ‘six
white boomers’ or
kangaroos. It’s also
traditional to enjoy
a barbecue on the
beach on the big day.
UKRAINE: ЩАСВОГО РІЗДВА
(SHCHASLYVOHO
RIZDVA)
Intricate spider webs are
hung on the Christmas
tree. According to popular
folklore, a magic spider
once visited a poor
family at Christmas and
turned the webs into
gold and silver.
(Sources: Whychristmas.com, history.com, huffingtonpost.uk)
19
ARTSCAPE
Alexyz’
Ode to
Goa
Some new work by cartoonist Alexyz
along with his first attempts on large
canvasses will be up on display from
28 to 30 December
Pics: Clive D’Souza
20
www.timelinegoa.in
I
t’s been seven years since cartoonist Alexyz’s last show.
Hectic schedules and social work have kept him from
collating a new set, but he’s been experimenting with
new ideas and media nonetheless behind the scenes.
And he’s now ready to tell all.
Those who know him are well acquainted with his
cheery disposition, a winning trait that used to draw people
to his laughter therapy sessions. These sanguine qualities
come together in his latest exhibition ‘Oh to be in Goa’
which highlights different facets of this creative sojourn.
His love for Goa is deeply rooted in his depictions of
home, and the activist in him comes to the fore in his
socio-political drawings which run regularly in The Times of
India. About 40 such cartoons of published and never seen
before work will go up on the wall from 28 to 30 December.
“This is a visual historical documentation of events from
2013 to 2015,” says Alexyz.
But there’s more. What Alexyz is particularly pleased
about is that he’s showcasing two large canvasses--work
he’s done for the first time. “This is my first private attempt
on canvas. I’ve never showed it to the public.” He first
delved into canvas back in 2011 when a hotel commissioned
him for a mural and he worked on canvas instead. “I took it
as a challenge and it worked out well,” he says.
Apart from that he’s also releasing a book of his
cartoons by the same name as the exhibition, besides a
few ceramic works for display. Some works are a tribute to
Lorna and a few to the Konkani hit Nachoim-ia-Kumpasar
based on her life.
The show not only displays his own work, but offers
space to upcoming artists. “They never get exposure
otherwise,” he says. “There is less money in cartooning
alone, but today there are so many options available in other
areas like animation.”
No exhibition would be complete without Alexyz’
laughter dose and that you will receive in ample measure
at the very entrance. “I will install a Laughter Mirror that is
aimed at giving people a good laugh before they enter,” he
says with a chuckle. There will also be a cartoon competition
and a theatre workshop during the three days.
Alexyz has a few other surprises up his sleeve too. There
are four installations, of which one is a coffin. ‘What’s his
idea behind it?’ we prod him for more details, but he’s
tightlipped about that. Another is befittingly environmental
themed with a plea to miners and builders that ‘for every
tree felled, please grow another’.
He credits his college outreach programs to developing
this sense of closeness to nature and social concerns. “I
have travelled all over India and visited remote villages in
Madhya Pradesh on food programs. I saw first-hand how
they lived and fought for basic amenities,” says the former
Xavierite. This marked a turning point in his life and shaped
his outlook as an artist. “My cartoons on preserving the
environment stem from these influences,” he says. ±
ARTSCAPE
Picturing
the Bible
This season the Bible provided
inspiration to Goa’s artists in a striking
show of devotional art hosted by the
Pilar Theological College. Samira
Sheth savoured the visual feast
22
www.timelinegoa.in
I
n keeping with the sentiments of the season, the
Pilar Theological College presented an interesting art
exhibition, The Bible curated by Fr Savio Gracias. A
host of artists in Goa, both amateur and established
and of different faiths, were invited to interpret the Bible
in their own way. 44 Goan artists including Mohan Naik,
Liesel Cotta D’Souza, Querozito D’Souza, Sonia Rodrigues,
Yolanda De Souza, Sanjay Harmalkar, Nirupa Naik, Norman
Tagore, Xavier Lobo, Jacinta Lobo, Salvador Fernandes, Vitesh
Naik, Viraj Naik brought a host of familiar and not so known
stories from the Bible to life through their images.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Rev. Dr. Nelson
Sequeira, Judge of the Patriarchal Tribunal and Professor at
Rachol Seminary. Rev. Dr. Lyndon Rodrigues of the Pilar
Theological College in his inaugural address underlined
the fact that many great artists, among them even atheists,
have been inspired by the Bible. As an inexhaustible
narrative source depicting all conceivable aspects of the
human condition, the Bible allowed the artist to express
his piety. The book has been a source of inspiration even
to non-believers like Immanuel Kant and masters like
Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio and Goa’s own
Angelo Fonseca.
The exhibition not only provided a platform for artists
across various genres but also gained newer audiences for
this contemporary interpretation of an ancient scripture.
The artists used varied media ranging from lead, charcoal,
oil, acrylics and water colours to pen and ink, etching with
aquatint and digital art to express their themes.
Mohan Naik’s ‘Good Shepherd’ is in the artist’s signature
style, giving the Christian subject a typical local Goan touch.
Angel Ferrao’s ‘Last Supper’ and ‘Christ on the Cross’ have a
very modern appeal while ‘Jephthat’s Daughter’ by Osborne
Carvalho will surprise viewers with its new visual treatment
of such an old subject.
The visual idiom varies as does the medium. Verodina
Ferrao uses sandware in ‘Resurrection’ while Liesel Cotta
D’Souza executes ‘Temptation’ through embroidery on
cloth. Multiple emotions are explored – the innocence of
Nandini Raikar’s ‘Lover’s Birth’; the underlying tension
and sense of betrayal in Rupa Fernandes ‘Last Gathering’;
sombre reticence in Norman Tagore’s ‘Holy Family’ and faith
and agony in Salvador Fernandes’ huge canvas ‘The Last
Hour on the Cross’.
Faith, pain, passion, agony, love and even the ultimate
triumph of ascension – all these and more are explored
through the profusion of images. Viewers at the show
imbibed the visual celebration of the Bible even as Goa
and Christians around the world prepare to celebrate the
birth of Christ. ±
MUSIC
Jingle All the Way
Music forms an integral part of Christmas in Goa. A lot has
changed since the days of Boney M Christmas tapes or when
the neighbourhood caroling groups went home-to-home,
writes Adv Celbert Dias.
Y
ou knew it was Christmas
in Goa when you began
hearing the deep, mellow
baritone of Jim Reeves or
the festive carols by Boney
M floating in the cool night air or on
a Sunday afternoon. Almost every
Christian family owned a record or a
tape in the old days. The tradition of
carol singing door to door was always a
cheerful time. People of ages would go
around with Santa Claus in tow, singing
the tunes to the musical instruments
like guitars and even violins. It was
fascinating sight to see people of other
faiths join in the fun and excitement, in
keeping with the true festive season.
When the Portuguese brought
Christianity to Goa, they carried the
celebrations of Christmas with them.
In Churches across Goa, choral groups
still sing in glorious harmonies during
the midnight masses in Konkani and
English. In villages brass bands livened
up the local village watering holes with
their happy renditions.
24
Today the scene has transformed
from the old songs to contemporary
carols across all genres. Pop singers
release their season’s carol albums
and these are immediately available in
Goa and aired on radios, restaurants
and even available online. During
the Christmas week, carol singing
competitions are held, though in
reduced numbers, across parishes
and this adds to the festive spirit.
This provides the young with plenty
of opportunity to unleash their
hidden potential.
With the rise of the traditional
Christmas Eve dances all over Goa,
locals make a bee-line to the closest
venue. Pull out your bow-tie and kick
off those heels and jive, waltz or foxtrot to Goa’s bands strumming those
retro numbers or shimmy to the beats
of the local Konkani numbers as the
fun continues till early morning.
Around every nook and cranny,
Christmas music is played in pubs, and
restaurants, ushering the great spirit of
Christmas while the people abound in
gay excitement.
Traditions like carol singing is
slowly dying and rather than playing
and producing music, people are
happy and content reproducing music
created by others.
Whatever may be our choices
and preferences for music, what
really stands out is the fact that
Christmas music in Goa thrives on
like no other. ±
www.timelinegoa.in
12 CHRISTMAS FAVOURITES
The Most Wonderful
Time of the Year
Christmas is a festival that goes beyond cast or creed. As the
popular carol by Steve Wariner goes, ‘It’s the hap-happiest
season of all; with those holiday greetings and gay happy
meetings when friends come to call…’ Goans share their views
on what makes this season their favourite.
Sweets, cakes, wine and merry-making aside, it is the spirit
of Christmas which we get specially to experience in Goa
that moves me truly. The celebration of the birth of Christ
Jesus in a territory like ours is living testimony of the renewal
of hope, peace and fellow-feeling. In Goa, as we all know,
it has never been ‘your Christmas’ or ‘my Chavath’, it
has always been ‘our Christmas, our Chavath’. When one
greets another with a ‘Merry X’ Mas’ regardless of one’s
faith, it is clear that the symbolic meaning of the coming of
the Christ has penetrated to our very being. Quite like the
‘Song of the Lord’ proclaimed by Shri Krishna that has been
internalised by us! Shrinivas Dhempo, Panjim
Undoubtedly shopping, spending time with my girls,
going home to my family and mom and putting up
the Christmas tree together. Mom’s yummy Bhatt with
raisins and almonds. She makes one for each of us. The
midnight wine at 12 am which I used to do with dad,
so we do it now in his name. Christmas lunch and Jim
Reeves and Connie Francis carols.
Ethel D Costa
To me, Christmas became a bitter-sweet affair when I
discovered that Santa Claus wasn’t real. For some years
after that, the season represented the loss of innocence, the
passing of childhood.
Before that, it was magical. Being woken up at midnight by
my father, being told he had heard noises in the living room,
that Santa had probably come and gone; shouldn’t we go and
check whether he’d left something under the Christmas Tree?
And sure enough there would be a brightly wrapped box on
the carpet spread under the tree for the purpose.
After a few years of bitter-sweetness due to the loss of Santa
Claus, Christmas became a season of goodwill, cheer, family.
The season when my own new family would have wonderful
meals with my parents and sister.
Remo Fernandes, Siolim
26
In my childhood in the port town of Vasco,
Christmas meant groups visiting homes singing
carols and the next day anxiously me as a child
waiting for those lace covered trays from the
neighbors. As a teenager when I grew up in the
boarding of a convent Christmas to me was
attending the mid – night mass which I have got
addicted to since then.
I have celebrated a couple of white Christmas
seasons in Europe, yet Goa remains special.
Irrespective of religion, Christmas has been my
favorite and I celebrate it every year like any
other Goan. I’m so happy my little daughter is
following footsteps.
Asha Arondekar, Panjim
Christmas is a universal festival that has
great religious significance, as its the
birth of Jesus Christ, the most revered
God. Goa is a world famous tourism
destination and December is everyone’s
favourite month to be here, especially
the days during the Christmas and New
Year season. The churches are beautifully
illuminated and decorated in the best of
Christian traditions which gives our entire
state a breathtaking look. It is an occasion
when everyone from cities to villages,
from children to youth to senior citizens,
come together to partake in festivities,
make cribs which adorn their areas
and remember and to spread the goodness
and message of the Lord. Christmas is a
festival which every Goan longs for.
Manoj Patil, Panjim
www.timelinegoa.in
The Christmas festival is the most special and closest
to my heart. You can feel the happiness all around
you. The singing of Christmas carols fills the air, that
apart from having a soothing effect all around, the
tunes have an uplifting effect on everyone’s spirit.
Furthermore, during the festival there is a special joy
in the giving and in the sharing of gifts. Christmas
is also about visiting those less fortunate and the
underprivileged. The ecstatic feeling of seeing joy in
the faces of the less fortunate children on receiving
their presents, is a sight to behold.
Vrida Tavora, Panjim
Christmas is a special time for me
as I go back home to Vasco to spend
the feast with my family. I have fond
childhood memories of Santa visits and
his presents, almost like a fairy tale.
It’s a time for being grateful and so and
we are invited to our neighbour’s for
thanksgiving dinner. I take all the kids at
home and their friends in the colony to
Majorda to see the big cribs. There’s so
much warmth all around.
Asha Vernekar, Vasco
The arrival of the month of December sets off a series of beautiful emotions
and situations. What I love most about it is the cheery spirit everyone
seems to enjoy, whether it is the kids at school, adults at work and all
at home. My favourite part of this season is when as Christmas Day
approaches, I share some fun times to spend together with my lil’ ones (not
the usual homework time). The preparation of sweets, decoration of the
house, singing of carols, visiting family and friends and most importantly
sharing with those in need builds positive energy towards the real meaning
of Christmas. The family time and excitement it brings is something I look
forward to every year. This is definitely my best month every year.
Dr Nadia D’Souza, Candolim
The Christmas Season brings with it a feeling of joy and cheer.
The atmosphere around is festive. You bump into friends and
acquaintances you may not meet during the past year or so. This
season is just not a time for festivity and excitement for any particular
community. There is a sense of celebration and expectation among
all communities as youth or church groups visit old age homes and
orphanages, giving gifts and singing carols. It would be worthwhile if
they continued this practice throughout the year.
Ravi Carvalho, Verna
Grown up in Belgaum, I never really knew much about
Christmas but living in Goa for the last so many years I have
been able to experience this festival up close. What I love about
it is specially in Goa is although the festival actually happens
at the end of the month, the festive spirit is felt right through
December. The window decorations, and the Christmas carols
playing in any store you walk into cheers me up, not to mention
that the weather gets better, spirits soar and the partying
happens non stop!
Girish Ragha Ashray, Caranzalem
Christmas to me is the birth of Jesus Christ and Prophet Isa in Islam. It is a
celebration, which includes spending time with my family, inviting friends
over and shopping for everyone. To me gifts don’t matter but what matters
is enjoying quality moment with the loved once. This is the time to forget,
forgive and thank Jesus for all that he has done to keep us on our feet.
Christmas symbolizes rebirth and purity, I believe it is Christ’s way to keep the
spark of love, joy, peace, happiness and hope alive. For me it is the occasion to
reach out to the needy and less fortunate ones by doing whatever little I can.
Christmas is more about giving rather than receiving.
Parvish Kamat, Caranzalem
Christmas is a time for the
family to be together, just
like the Holy Family. So we
gather at my parent’s home
for lunch and celebrate
Christmas and also it is my son
Joshua’s birthday. The family
together is what’s best.
Joseph Rodrigues, Panjim
27
ADVENTURE SPORTS
Deep Sea Diving
Exploring the Unknown
Scuba diving is growing in popularity in Goa with two
major schools providing certification in the sport
Text: Meenal Bale
Pic courtesy: Shamin Kamat
A diver poses under water
28
www.timelinegoa.in
PICS COURTESY GOA DIVING
PICS COURTESY GOA AQUATICS
Diving into the deep
C
atch a glimpse of some of the most amazing
creatures as you snorkel in the deeps: from eels
and snappers to puffer fish and clown fish, from
sergeant fish, emperor juveniles to a dazzling array of
corals. Scuba diving and deep sea diving have grown
into increasingly popular activities in Goa.
The sport, however, follows a strenuous procedure
of certification. The name scuba stands for Self
Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. As a safe
practice, generally a group under scuba will consist
of four accompanied by the trainer, the concept
being to always ‘dive with a buddy’.
There are two major schools or authorities that
provide certification in diving—
Professional Association of Diving Instructors
(PADI) and Scuba Schools International (SSI). Both
adhere to the rules and standards set by the World
Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC).
“I did my SSI Open Water Certification (18m
depth) from Manta Dive Gili Air, Indonesia in
July 2013. The life underwater is so vibrant and
spectacular. Being a Goan, I thought I knew about
fish but the vast marine life has left me mesmerized.
Some of my favourites are the Hawksbill turtle,
sea snake, sea cucumber, lion fish and the manta
ray,” says Shamin Kamat from Panjim, currently
residing in Singapore.
Initially, everyone has to undergo assisted diving,
where you are hand held through the basics and
taught preventive measures to tackle obstacles
underwater. After studying a manual with detailed
descriptions and videos for guidance, the trainee
undergoes examinations to gauge comfort levels
followed by familiarity exercises with the equipment
in shallow waters.
There are a few organizations offering these
29
PICS COURTESY SHAMIN KAMAT
ADVENTURE SPORTS
You may find a friendly turtle for company
‘The sport, however, follows a strenuous procedure of certification. The
name scuba stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.”
certifications in North as well as South Goa.
Says Gary Jarman of Goa Diving based at Bogmolo
beach, “It is a must do in life as it is a totally different
world. We dive everyday at Grand Island and other
dive sites including at the ship wreck, coral bay
and the reef around the island. The depth ranges
from 5 to 15 metres. My most memorable diving
experience is diving with a hump back whale in
2010 at Netrani island and with a sea horse at the
SS Mary wreck in Grand in 2014.” Established in
1991, Goa Diving is the first dive school in mainland
India and offers PADI certification in the basic open
water course, the advanced open water course, in
Emergency First Response, the Rescue course and the
Divemaster course.
Says Anindya Mukherjee, a staff instructor of
Goa Aquatic Sports, a PADI 5-star dive centre based
30
out of Calangute and established in 2006, “Around
Goa, we dive around St. George Island. We use
typical recreational diving equipment like 11.1 litre
aluminium cylinders, the regulator system, buoyancy
control device dive computers, mask and fins. In
recreational diving maximum depth allowed is 40m.
Personally, I have dived around Egypt, Philippines,
Thailand, Indonesia, and although Goa is not a diving
destination like the Andamans, it does offer easy
access to diving from the mainland. Currently, diving
is becoming quite popular among Indian tourists. The
only drawback is lower visibility due to the Mandovi
and Zuari rivers.”
In Goa, the peak season time is from October to
April. If you are on a weeklong break, you too can
enrol for a certification course and explore the unseen
world underwater. ±
www.timelinegoa.in
HERITAGE
PAST PRESENT
Step back into time as you explore Goa’s unique museums.
Offering a window into the past, these treasure troves are just
the place for the history buff
MUSEUM OF CHRISTIAN ART,
OLD GOA
PICS COURTESY COPYRIGHT: MUSEUM OF CHRISTIAN ART, GOA
Located in the heritage precincts of Santa Monca Convent, the
Museum of Christian Art was set up in 1994. This is the first of its
kind in Asia and a joint collaboration of the Calouste Gulbenkian
Foundation, Portugal, INTACH, New Delhi and art lovers of Goa.
Goa’s churches abound in rich Indo-Portuguese artefacts dating
back to the early Christian era and the museum serves as a
repository of such masterpieces. Its collections spans the 16th to
the middle of the 20th century and includes fine pieces of Indian
artisanal works of ivory, silverware, woodwork and embroidered
liturgical vestments. The highlights are the Nirmala Mata (ivory image of the Virgin
Mary), processional banners with ivory, the pelican monstrance
and tabernacle, Infant Jesus in cradle and the chalice and paten,
to mention a few. The oldest art objects in the collection is a gilt
silver chalice and a painting on wood of St. Ursula (late 16th--early
17th century) While most of the art objects have been sourced from
churches in Goa, many individuals have also donated and continue
to donate to the museum.
Says curator Natasha Fernandes, “The museum is currently
involved in the restoration of the Chapel of the Weeping Cross. It
also conducts workshops and talks on topics related to art, heritage
walks at the Holy Hill, Old Goa, and holiday activities for children.”
Nirmala Mata
32
Pelican
www.timelinegoa.in
GOA CHAKRA, BENAULIM
Run by Victor Hugo Gomes in Benaulim, Goa Chakra is literally a
history on wheels. Victor has painstakingly gathered parts of various
transportation modes from the past.
The galleries display a unique collection of over 70 non-mechanized
indigenous carriages, carts, palanquins and other historically
significant artefacts. The collection includes handcarts and carts
drawn by bullocks, horses, donkeys, mules, camels, and humans,
besides palanquins from across the country. Goa Chakra pays tribute to the chakra. Victor elaborates, “For the
first time in India, and possibly the world, a transportation museum
reveals the progressive history of success in the modern industrial age.”
Here, he adds, one can observe meticulously restored and functional
modes of non-mechanised transportation that tell dramatic, authentic
and personal stories of Indian ingenuity and self-sufficiency. During his years as a fellow researcher of tribal art in North India,
Victor witnessed the lifestyles of artisans and the skill that went
into creating wheels and other items for their carts and carriages.
Researching the countrywide ban on carts, carriages and tongas, he
realized that it wasn’t just the vehicles that were becoming extinct
but also a way of life for the Gadulia Lohars and other tribes and
nomadic groups.
Any memories that remained were hidden away in godowns
and storerooms of antique dealers, occasionally reused by lifestyle
designers, but with no documentation or record of their once glorious
past. The carts and carriages were obtained by Victor from their owners
who had abandoned them in their backyards and from the storehouses
and dumpyards of antique dealers.
Through these stories, the museum hopes to evoke a personal and
emotional connection in the mind of each of its visitors. Literally, a
moving experience.
33
HERITAGE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM,
OLD GOA
Old Goa is a history buff’s paradise and one can revel in
the architectural splendour of the old within a few kms
radius around the popular Basilica of Bom Jesus. One
such must go to place is the ASI museum located at the
extension to the Church of St Francis of Assisi. Antiquities
dating back to prehistoric times and the late medieval
period are displayed across eight galleries. Portraits of
past Governor Generals and viceroys, wooden sculptures,
pillars, postal stamps and many other objects from the
Portuguese period take pride of place.
Masterpieces in the collection includes Vishnu’s ten
incarnations, the Gajalakshmi, a wooden sculpture of John
the Baptist, ivory sculptures of the crucifixion, a bronze
statue of Albuquerque, hero and sati stones, portraits
The museum is located on the side extension of the St Francis of Assisi Church
of Vasco da Gama, and Portuguese arms like rifles,
swords and daggers.
INDIAN CUSTOMS AND CENTRAL
EXCISE MUSEUM, PANJIM
You have heard of museums preserving historical artefacts,
but here’s one that offers a glimpse into the underworld
of the smuggling ring. The India Customs and Excise
Museum, a first in the country, offers patrons a glance at
various artefacts that reveal the modus operandi adopted by
smugglers, amongst other facets in their scope of work.
The museum finds a home in the beautiful ‘Blue
34
Building’ as it was known earlier because
of its indigo exterior. It was built in 1800.
It was named so by the Portuguese because
indigo dye was a major commodity
exported in those days. The building was
used as the customs headquarters in those
days and continued to do so till 2002,
before it was shifted to new premises.
The museum offers an extensive look at
the workings of both the departments. The
Customs Department first takes you on a
tour of their scope of service on the ground
floor. You begin with a historical journey
of taxation and ancient trading ports. The
Battle of the Wits gallery offers an enlightening view
of the modus operandi adopted by smugglers, from
cycle wheels, ship hulls, walking canes to a car.
History and art loves will love the Seizure gallery for
their splendid displays of some prized possessions
like the gold-gilded idol of Jambala smuggled into
India from Nepal.
Move up to the first floor gallery and you enter
the exhibits by the Central Excise department.
A dummy testing lab at the entrance on the left
depicts how drugs are tested by customs and excise
officials. The opposite side of the hall includes a
narcotics gallery and an international customs showcase. The
sports achievements of the department employees take up
their pride of place in one of the inside halls.
Further inside, you can admire the diorama on the famous
Dandi March and there’s a salt hedge built by the British
along the country primarily to collect salt tax and prevent
selling of salt displayed.
www.timelinegoa.in
PICS COURTESY: GERARD D’CUNHA
HOUSES OF GOA
A ship like edifice in the midst of
Salvador-do-Mundo village, the
Houses of Goa museum has become
a landmark. The interiors document
Goa’s traditional architecture that is
slowly losing prominence in today’s
concrete jungle. Each level offers
a different view of an architectural
landscape that is truly unique.
What is so special of a Goan house?
“When the Portuguese colonized
Goa,” architect and the man behind
this innovative concept,Gerald da
Cunha says, “they brought in their own
designs and lifestyle to influence the
already strong culture and architecture
that prevailed here. As a result of
the amalgamation, an entirely new
form emerged. What you see in Goan
houses, you don’t see in Portugal or
elsewhere in the world.”
As you climb up to the first level,
you understand Goa in the context of
the world. Each panel details Goa’s
grand palatial homes like that of the
Visconde de Pernem (Desprabhu) and
Casa dos Quadros e Costa in Loutolim
in great detail.
The gallery on the next floor affords
you an acquaintance with the raw
materials that went into making a
Goan home. A painstaking collection
of doors, windows, a rare hatstand, old
French doors from a house in Margao
built in 1917, old tiles from the late
19th century and china mosaic patterns
are on display besides examples of
how mud walls are made and shells
recovered from seas and rivers.
Five centuries old pictures of
Goa collected from various sources
worldwide and rare postcards of Goa
dating back to 1900 provide a vivid
picture of what Goa once looked like.
“Goa is a land of colour and spice,
and the Goan house is very special,”
says Gerard and his landmark museum
provides a ringside view of it. ±
The unique boat like structure of the
museum exterior lit up at night
Features of a Goan home showcased at the upper floor
35
EXPLORE
12
Goan
Experiences
Goa offers myriad options to wine,
dine and explore. Here are the top
12 must dos while on holiday
2
BAZAAR BUZZ
Indulge in some bazaar shopping at one of the
many markets in the North. On Wednesday the
Anjuna Flea Market is a fun place to spend your
day, whiling away your time looking through the
myriad stalls or lazing at the beach. Once the Mecca
of hippies, the market is now a commercial hub.
If the heat is killing, chill at the Saturday night
markets. There’s entertainment galore besides a
feast of world cuisine.
1
BEACH HOPPING
Goa maybe known for pub hopping, but the
long stretch of sandy shores offers enough
opportunities to walk from one beach to another.
The extreme ends are serene havens and as far
from the maddening crowds you can be. There’s
Morjim, Ashvem further North and Galgibagh at
the Southern tip.
36
www.timelinegoa.in
ZEN ZONE
Goa is everyone’s peaceful escape from
the din of city life. Apart from spending
a relaxing day of self-pampering at the
spa, you can opt for a yoga meditation
session at any of the various centres
along the beach belt. Accommodation
can vary according to your budget.
3
5
4
ARCHITECTURAL SPLENDOUR
East meets West in Goa on a number of fronts. It’s not
only the food that is an amalgamation of both worlds, but
in architecture too we find Indo-Western influences. From
age-old heritage homes to tall church edifices and intricate
temple architecture, all stand testament to the old. Many of
the 16th and 17th churches built by the Portuguese were in
Baroque style and the houses that came later in the 18th and
early part of the 20th centuries had neoclassical and Gothic
Revival styles.
ADVENTURE RUSH
Goa’s long stretches of sea and rivers, its jagged hills
and dense forest cover offers opportunities for all sorts
of activities. There’s plenty available for the adventure
seeker from rock climbing to water sports. Goa Tourism
is all set to expand its avenues in this field.
37
EXPLORE
6
FOOD TRAIL
Goa is a potpourri of tastes. These days apart from the
traditional cuisine you can be taken on a gastronomical
journey that spans the world. There’s Italian, Continental,
Middle Eastern, Australian, Polynesian and many more.
7
SHACK UP
You can’t return from a holiday without a meal in
a shack. Dig into sumptuous Goan fare under the
stars at night or sit under the thatched roof in the
afternoons. This is one experience you are bound to
find only in Goa.
FERRY CROSSING
8
NATURE TRAIL
Goa lies in the lap of
nature. Move a few
kilometres away from the
city and vast stretches
of fields meet the eye.
Look out for trekking
opportunities that are
usually advertised in
the local papers or even
head off to the various
sanctuaries or spice farms.
38
The only route to get you to most islands in Goa like St
Jacinto or Divar is through the ferry. These river modes of
transportation are not only free but offer panoramic vistas
of the rivers of Goa. If you are in Panjim, the closest is from
the Panjim Ferry wharf. This takes you across to Betim,
a fishing village on the other side. If you want to move
further, ride the ferry across to Chorao or Divar on the
Ribandar-Old Goa road.
9
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CAVE IN
Few may know of Goa’s cave formations
like those in Arvalem. Popularly known as
Pandayanchya Orya, these are located in
Bicholim and date back to the 6th-7th century.
There are three major caves and a residential
chamber at the southern end. The central
chamber consists of a triple shrine, each of which
consists of a linga. In the South the Rivona caves,
about 5 kms from Ponda, are well-known. They
are believed to have been dug in the 6th or 7th
century by Buddhist monks.
10
GO FISHING
Goa is an angler’s paradise.
You can drop your line in
the sea or the river and even
have an impromptu seafood
barbeque while you’re at it.
Dawn sees rows of hopeful,
patient anglers on Goa’s
many river fronts.
11
12
ART INDULGENCE
Goa abounds in art shows and all
you need to do is scan any of the
newspapers for a show closest to
you. You can find works in all media
and suitable to all tastes.
39
INTERIORS/EXTERIORS
PARADISE
RECLAIMED
The boutique resort ‘Shanti Morada’ in Saligao, originally called
Casa de Morada and dating back to 1897, has taken on a wholly
new form, combining old artisanal traditions with the modern
S
hanti Morada or
‘living in peace’ as
the name so aptly
suggest is indeed
an oasis of calm
tucked away in the
idyllic environs
of Saligao village
in North Goa. You may not notice it
as you drive past, but once inside, the
visitor is immediately struck by its
artistically designed heritage lobby.
You are the in the good company of
not only the helpful staff, but history
itself. Each item has been painstakingly
40
sourced by owners Rajat and Sanjana
Verma of the Shanti Group, N Delhi.
Rajat, dwelling on his ‘honest
attempt’ on retaining what Goa has to
offer, explains. “Not many are doing
this. Even though we are not from here
we still want to protect the history and
culture of the place. Those who give
us gyan about being outsiders should
follow what we are doing.”
THE DREAM
This labour of love that took eight years
to materialize was in financial terms
‘economically unviable for a 20- room
inventory’. So why take up the project?
“Passion,” asserts Rajat. “Pure love
for the place and the satisfaction of
completing something timeless. This
is a slap in the face of some of the
atrocities that have come up. It proves
that you can still do a project that
retains a slice of Goa.”
Rajat and Sanjana’s love for Goa
stems from their deeply rooted fond
memories of their early years of
marriage. “After I visited Goa in 1988
on a project to design a kitchen for one
of the hotels in Candolim, I returned
with my wife in ‘94 and explored Goa
www.timelinegoa.in
on a bike.” He recalls the time they
stayed in someone’s outhouse, a little
place that served ‘pao, butter and
jam’ for breakfast.
They returned on subsequent
trips and harboured a dream to start
something in the land they loved.
Thus Shanti Morada was born. What
began in 2006, finally opened doors
in 2014. “That tells you a lot about
the paperwork in Goa,” says Rajat
on the delays in approvals and the
sheer challenge of the project. “We cut
everything by hand,” he says. “We built
around the trees.”
The task of executing his client’s
brief fell on the shoulders of architect
Sacheen Pai Raikar back in 2006. The
brief ‘was mainly a 20-room boutique
resort on a comfortable human scale
in keeping with the context of the
existing old house.’
Work at the site began in mid-2010,
and the project had a soft opening in
late 2013, receiving an award for Best
Boutique Hotel in Goa from NDTV and
Brands Academy in early January 2014.
Awards and accolades have poured
in now but the journey of putting
up what you see today was full of
challenges. Apart from the dilapidated
structure that had to be rebuilt and
‘The rooms have a small Romeo-Juliet style balcony,
affording a sidelong glance into the inner plaza. Each
room is decorated with different pieces, whether
a four-poster bed or a wooden throne chair or a
Macau style planter’s bed.’
41
INTERIORS/EXTERIORS
topology was built.
The only standing portion of the old
house is where the reception lobby and
restaurant are with a partial vista of
the inner plaza. The Lantern, the open
kitchen on the ground floor serves a
multi-cuisine fare. It’s decked with
Indian artifacts like old cooking vessels,
a commissioned hand crafted Last
Supper wooden sculpture from Mysore,
24 karat gold switches from Germany
and a traditional wooden door from
Baroda that has been ingeniously
converted into a book shelf. You can
even make out the small address plate
on the top right of the original owners.
redesigned from scratch, almost the
entire property was on a gradient,
sloping almost five metres upwards
towards the rear. The architect felt
that the ‘appropriate way to align the
guest room blocks would be to attach
them to the existing old house without
overpowering the scale, and afford
an inward looking vista for all guest
rooms’. Explains Sacheen, “The old
42
house served as a pivot to grip both
projecting guest room blocks, each
perpendicular to the other.”
Block A with eight rooms on two
levels was aligned parallel to the street
while Block B with 12 rooms also on
two levels was aligned perpendicular to
the street. While the existing entrance
to the old house has been retained, an
alternate arrival lobby with the same
ARTISTIC SERIES
A series from artist Pradeep Shah called
‘Arrival of the Animals’ and ‘Last Party
of Animals’ are prominently displayed
at various levels. As you walk out
towards the swimming pool, your
eyes are drawn towards the beautiful
landscaping done by landscape
architect Manguesh Prabhugaonker.
He has ensured an appropriate mix of
planting, creating cosy little sit-outs for
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guests. The first level takes you
to the rustic Indian spa Mandala
Garden while the next leads you
to Harmony Garden. You can
reach your Zen zone at the yoga
and meditation area Buddha
Lounge. Fruit trees, spice plants
and other local flora accentuate
the experience.
Back inside, each level is
separated by distinct lounges. You
can relax at the Telhado or roof
lounge or the Shiva Lounge. Those
desiring the unique experience
of sitting in a canoe can head
to the Barco lounge that sports
refurbished canoes as seating
spaces. Even the bookshelves are
old canoes smartly reutilized as
a storage unit.
No two pieces are alike in the
entire property and the rooms are
no different. Instead of numbers,
each has a name in honour of
various aspects of Goan and
Indian culture that include spices,
rivers, dance forms and even
Bollywood themes.
The rooms have a small
Romeo-Juliet style balcony,
affording a sidelong glance into
the inner plaza. Each room is
decorated with different pieces,
whether a four-poster bed or a
wooden throne chair or a Macau
style planter’s bed. The oldest is
a 350-year-old bed from Macau.
There are also green building
features such as the solar water
heating system and in the sewage
treatment plant.
Rajesh admits that it may seem
‘a bit of a clutter’ but the couple
love it. There was no thought
behind the madness and it all
came together like a jigsaw puzzle.
While the interiors offer a world
view of antiquities from various
places, it is the multi-cultural
essence of Goa that they have
tried to create at Shanti Morada.
“Goa is a mix of many cultures
that comes across with different
palettes. We wanted to create the
Hindu Christian multi-cultural
approach to Goa,” says Rajat. ±
43
TRENDZ
At One
With Nature
Be adventurous with nature in
designing your living space
Text: Architect Nea Antao
ENLIVEN THE INDOORS WITH
GREENERY
Nature is not a remote subject limited
to parks and forests. It is plentiful and
available in our own gardens. Nature is
a year round source of joy, colour and
stimulation. Patterns, colours, smell
can assist in shedding concerns of the
workday load. Liven up your home
by simply bringing nature indoors
through easy additions.
Beautify your home by positioning
indoor plants, both leafy and flowering,
to bring in a dash of colour and
freshness. Arrange vases by taking
flower and shrub cuttings from your
garden. Setting up a terrarium is a
bonus as it is a visual treat to see
a mixture of colours and textures.
Over time these plants will begin to
become relatively self-supporting. For
people pressed for time, watering the
terrarium every few weeks might be
more appealing than having to get into
a routine every day.
A terrarium can be grown in
almost any clear or uncoloured glass
or plastic – preferably wide mouthed
to enable easy rearranging and care.
People with green thumbs will find that
setting one up from scratch is not very
difficult whereas beginners can pick
up readymade terrariums from their
nearest plant nurseries.
METALS AND METALLIC TINGES
Design markets today have a wide range of home decor pieces in industrial
metals. Accentuate your home by picking up interesting pieces of decor
made from wrought iron, stainless steel, copper and even brass combined
with wood, fabric and glass. An array of wall hangings, wax light holders,
table pieces, and atypical cabinet handles can be chosen to either add
contrast or converge with the theme of the room. In the same way, new and
exciting wall textures in metallic tones can be applied to walls or niches in
a choice of brush strokes which will draw attention and attraction. Curtain
and furnishing upholstery in beautiful tints of metal will allow light to play
its game and add elegance to any home. Amalgamate design trend one with
design trend two delicately to dazzle away in the year 2016!
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SOURCE ARTISAN OBJECTS
Take a stroll down any local market bylane and
you’ll find an assortment of knickknack shops
selling interesting salvaged wood, metal, glassware
and ceramic novelty goods. Use your inner design
spirit to pick out a striking piece. Your travels to
various lands will help you build up a collection.
The great thing about local artisan goods is that
you don’t find scores of repeated items. Also,
such pieces give way to interesting anecdotes with
guests about your quest to find the best!
INGRAINED SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is not a new term. Yet we look at it as a world
phenomenon that national governments must work on.
Making our homes sustainable will not only help reduce
the negative impact on the environment but also reduce
our expenses. LED lamps will reduce your utility bills
and lower your carbon footprint. Use paints that have low
volatile organic compounds as these compounds cause air
pollution and health problems. Design for flexibility. Allow
for better ventilated and insulated space to reduce electricity
consumption. Opt for traditional craftsmen and tradesmen
to supply your goods. Re-use, re-cycle, re-claim vintage
eco-friendly furniture and accessories which are often better
in craftsmanship and can lend style and character. Opt for
environment friendly and responsible brands. Support the
environment by backing establishments that use recycled
materials. Keep spaces clean and organized in order to stay
healthier and happier. Get into the smart brigade by making
your home sustainable.
MIX AND MATCH
There is an incredible range of materials available to design
your home. Play with hard and soft materials, opaque and
transparent, curvy lines, strict geometric patterns, organic
colours, unregulated brush strokes, gentle metallic traces,
versatile furniture, senses evoking surface textures, and
objects that freshen you up. Large floral patterned upholstery
can add much needed vibrancy to a room with subdued wall
colours. On the other hand, certain plants can induce a sense
of tranquillity in a room bustling with colour and form. Use
trend number three on artisan products with newly available
materials to add vividness. Test your design palette.
45
INTERVIEW
SANJIT RODRIGUES
Getting Smart With Panjim
Sanjit Rodrigues, Commissioner, CCP dwells at length on the
positioning of Panjim as a Smart City and the new initiatives
that will unfold if the process goes as planned. and be involved in matters related to the city like they did
for the Smart City Challenge. This is what is special about
the place.
What in your opinion defines a smart city? What
is your vision for Panjim?
The vision of the city which emerged during the process
of creating a draft master plan for its holistic development
by LKS India has been re-endorsed by 95 per cent of
the citizens engaged with. We had a vision for the city
and our consultative process has endorsed just that. Its
important to now have focus and go ahead. To cite this
vision—‘Transforming the city of Panaji into a worldclass, environmentally sustainable and liveable city for all,
while preserving its heritage, cultural diversity and ecosystem
through innovation and smart solutions.’
Panjim is a growing city. Before we go out of proportion,
the city needs to take some smart measures and bold
decisions. In our endeavor to upgrade, short term
inconvenience can lead to long term gains for the benefit of
citizens. The social fabric of the city is unique and will be
preserved. Tree cover, mangroves, springs, fields, the river
are all part of its natural heritage. The plan will include
preservation of natural resources as part of the planning
process. We also look to bringing convenience to citizens
through the effective use of technology. This is where
e-governance comes in. Smart water meters, online tax
payments and online applications for permissions is where
we can create an interface between citizens and government
bodies. Citizen consultation is critical to city planning.
The people of Panjim have always come forward to assist
46
What has the citizen engagement process been
like? Kindly elaborate.
Over the last many weeks the Panaji Smart City cell has been
engaging with citizens across various platforms to gather
feedback and suggestions towards the smart development
of the city. This includes public consultation meetings and
focus group discussions with stakeholders, road shows and
zonal meetings, workshops, public meetings, social media
forums, smart city app and zone wise ideation sessions.
Through various means the team has directly engaged
with and received suggestions from 18,626 unique citizen
respondents. This amounts to 46.54 per cent of the city
population. A dedicated back-office team scanned through
every single suggestion, comment and feedback submitted
by citizens across platforms which have aided in creating the
blueprint for the city.
Citizen groups and associations came forward to share
suggestions for building an ideal smart city. Team FC Goa
joined the capital city’s efforts to create a vibrant, smart and
sports-friendly city and showed its support for the campaign.
The club submitted a petition to city leaders to create a
football park for the benefit of Goa’s football enthusiasts.
Sidharth Kuncalienker, MLA,Panaji along with Sanjit Rodrigues,
Commissioner, CCP flagging off cycle rally as a part of Panaji Smart City
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emerged as key focus areas of development.
The research and citizen engagement process threw up
key priority sectors which will be pan-city initiatives. Of
these 30 per cent of citizens engaged with and voted for
mobility, 20 per cent for waste management, 15 per cent for
e-governance and 13 per cent each for health and education.
With regard to area based development, four potential
options emerged for development from the citizen
engagement process. Of these, 42 per cent voted for
upgradation or retrofitting of conservation zones, 30 per cent
for redevelopment of underdeveloped pockets for the urban
poor, 16 per cent for redevelopment of the government
colony at St. Inez, Altinho and Patto and 12 per cent voted
for Greenfield (new development) in Kadamba plateau.
Goa’s cycling community too held a rally through the city
and submitted a petition to city leaders to make Panjim a
cycle friendly city.
Industry body CII partnered with CCP to jointly organize
a Panaji Smart City Round Table and Technical Exhibition
where CII brought together a consortium of industry experts
who shared technical presentations on best practices and
possible smart solutions for the city. Additionally the IT
professionals group, NGOs and civic groups, disability
associations and key stakeholders have collectively shared
their aspirations and suggestions for a better city.
The choices which had emerged were put to vote to the
citizens. The Panaji Smart City team led by the consultants
ICLEI South Asia went back to citizens, engaged with
the community and gathered their thoughts, choices and
suggestions. In a true representation of citizen participation,
the people came forward to chalk out the plan for their city.
The Smart City project required citizens to collaborate and
select initiatives under two categories – a pan city initiative
which will benefit the city as a whole and on specific area
based development.
How did the citizens of Panjim respond? What
emerged from the citizen engagement process?
The city of Panaji has taken into account the suggestions
and drafted a blueprint. Mobility, retrofitting, IT enabled
municipal service delivery and solid waste management have
‘Mobility, retrofitting, IT enabled
municipal service delivery and solid
waste management have emerged
as key focus areas of development.’
With garbage and traffic plaguing the city, how
does the city plan to address these issues? When the second Patto bridge was being planned, people
said it was not required. Now you can see the traffic
congestion that happens every evening even with two
Citizens participating in ideation discussions
bridges. Imagine what would have been the state if we had
not gone ahead. Today we are in the process of building a
third Mandovi bridge because we can foresee the need for it.
Traffic coming from Margao and Vasco and proceeding across
the bridge can move directly via the third bridge without
entering the city. This will decongest the area and allow easy
flow of traffic on the existing bridges.
Mobility is largely affected by private vehicles. Private
vehicles, both two wheelers and four wheelers, require a
lot of public space, be it for movement or parking in the
city. On the other hand, public transportation including
buses, walking or cycling requires lesser public space. The
solutions to mobility are therefore based on these modes of
transportation that requires less public space in the city. The
faster we implement a Bus Rapid System, Public Bike Sharing
System and Pay Parking, the quicker we will get some relief.
The time has come to bite the bullet. Our implementation of
one-way streets has already made an impact.
Transport is critical to a smart and modern city. Immediate
short term solutions to the city’s transport woes like oneway roads can reduce congestion. In the long term though
reducing the use of private vehicles in the city and increase
of non-motorized means of transport such as cycles,
47
INTERVIEW
walkways and pedestrian roads along with an efficient Rapid
Bus System is the solution.
A smart city uses IT to great advantage. How do
you plan to introduce this in Panjim?
E-governance aims to bring citizens and government together
through the smart use of digital technologies. In a smart
cities scenario, digital technologies translate into better
public services for citizens, better use of resources and less
impact on the environment. The national e-governance plan
aims to make all government services accessible to citizens
through common service outlets and ensure transparency
and reliability of such services at an affordable cost. Panjim is
headed in this direction.
Municipal service provisions will be enhanced through
use of real time feeds and data analytics. This will improve
efficiency, accountability and transparency. There will exist
a better interface and citizen connect between participatory
governance and the people of Panjim through web enabled
services, mobiles and g-governance.
Civic amenities and municipal services will be
strengthened, especially in slum-like settlements to bring
them on par with the rest of the city.
Sustainability is another hallmark of a smart
city. How would you seek to adopt this in
planning for a smarter Panjim?
A blue-green sustainability approach is to be adopted to
integrate water management and green infrastructure. The
existing blue-green infrastructure will be integrated with
heritage and tourist destinations to create accessible vibrant
open space networks throughout the city. Water resources
should be managed to preserve their capacity to provide
essential ecosystem services. Enhanced native biodiversity
can reduce the adverse impact of rapid urbanization on the
natural environment of Panaji and restore the natural wealth
of the city. Mangroves act as buffers against urban flooding.
Long term sustainable development of the city can be
ensured by adopting climate adaptive strategies and low
carbon emission development to strengthen existing systems
to make the city resilient.
Additionally, multi-modal public transit systems will
ensure a healthy, clean and unpolluted ambiance for Panjim.
Adequate pedestrian infrastructure will enhance walkability
48
while cycle lanes will encourage citizens to use nonmotorized vehicles.
What is the estimated time for Phase 1 to
begin?
The proposals received from cities across the country will be
reviewed by the Ministy of Urban Development. Panjim has
been selected in the list of 100 smart cities under the Smart
City Mission of the Union Ministry of Urban Development
(MoUD), Government of India, launched in June 2015. As
the next step, Panjim now has to get shortlisted in the final
round of the MoUD’s Smart City Challenge where 20 cities
would be selected to be developed in the first year. Once we
have submitted the final proposal, we look forward to the
announcement of the first 20 cities to be selected and we are
hopeful that Panjim will make that cut. ±
Cyclist entering the end point of the rally at Club Gaspiar Dias
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Naturally Fashionable
IN CAMERA
50
Fashion and nature meet to bring together an artistic
portrayal by photographer Datta Gawde who uses Goa’s
natural beauty as a canvas to make a vivid statement
www.timelinegoa.in
“My approach
towards fashion
photography is a little
different. Instead
of treating it as a
mere fashion shoot,
I draw attention to
the creative framing
and story behind the
picture. I incorporate
the natural
background along
with the models.”
-Datta Gawde
51
IN CAMERA
When it comes to fashion photography,
it’s not only about the mere superficial
elements like the fabrics. I understand
the concept behind the design, the
thought process of the designer while
creating that particular design and I then
fuse my creative ideas to express it the
way I want.
52
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MAGAZINE PARTNER
SPORTS
The Master and
Her Moves
In her drive to reach the top, Bhakti Kulkarni
has not often been checkmated
Ace at Chess: Bhakti Kulkarni
C
hess wasn’t her first natural choice, but
gentle coaxing from her dad pushed her
into choosing the mind game and she’s
not left the checkered board since.
From sitting on her mother’s lap and making
her moves at the age of five, Bhatki Kulkarni
now stands at number three in India.
54
Right now, she’s off to Bhubaneshwar to
participate in the Woman International Rating
Chess Tournament where ‘due to my new
increased rating I will be top or second seed’.
Christmas will be celebrated in Al Ain in U.A.E.,
facing off a strong men’s round. “By playing in
men’s tournaments I gather more experience as
well as improve on my ratings,” she says.
The season has been wonderful so far,
enriched by many memorable moments. On
her achievements, she says, “I won one fast play
international tournament (just 3 minutes to
finish the entire game) ahead of many European
Masters and Grandmasters in Serbia. My rating
improved by 71 points during this period.”
Winning against her toughest opponent
Tania Sachdev, the former Asian champ at the
National Premier Championships at Kolkata
was a ‘tremendous morale booster’.
She’s travelled the world playing chess
and she smiles when she recalls her first
international match in 2006 in Teheran at
the Asian Under-14 Girls Championship.
Playing in the luxurious atmosphere of the
glittering ballroom of a four-star hotel was
quite intimidating. “But once I set my eyes
on the board, I forgot whether it was Teheran
or Taleigao. I won easily against my Iranian
opponent and went on to win a gold medal in
my first ever overseas tournament,” says Bhakti.
The journey to the top hasn’t been a smooth
one. Her father ‘spent all his savings on my
tournaments’. Money was a big worry, but
Bhakti credits Srinivas Dempo’s Goa Carbon
Limited and Air India who take care of her high
level training and play abroad and domestic
travel respectively.
She’s grateful for these blessings, especially
the ‘magnanimity of a father figure like coach
Gokhale’. And with their help, she turned into
a champion within a short span. “I played my
first international game in June 2006 and in
June 2011 I had the WGM title. When I see
others still struggling to reach the 2000 rating, I
see how lucky I’ve been to have had such great
www.timelinegoa.in
Bhakti wins the International Blitz
support,” she says.
She’s also appreciative of the support from
the Federation and Kishor Bandekar of the
State Association. “Even SAG encourages me.
I feel SAG should have some policy for their
international players. But I’m happy overall.”
When it comes to training, she points out
to the ignorance of chess in this country. “They
can’t seem to digest the fact that a mental
game like chess needs a trainer – perhaps
more than other games.” She quotes former
world champion Anatoly Karpov who said
that ‘a chess player matures between the
ages of 30 and 35’.
When she’s in Goa between matches,
she’s busy finetuning her skills. Her trainer
Dronacharya Raghunandan Gokhale gives
the players ‘homework and asks us to play
competitive games on the net. This has helped
all of us a lot’.
She keeps herself fit by doing pranayama and
vigorous exercises. “It has become part of my
daily regime. Apart from that I like to listen to
music. It helps my mind to relax,” she says.
She observes that with the entry of
computers and the internet the standard of
chess has gone up rapidly. She believes that
there’s a bright future for Goan chess with
more players entering the arena. ±
GIFTING IDEAS
Spreading the Holiday Cheer
Some tips on what to give this Christmas season
By Vinette D’Souza
accordingly. If a person loves to read,
a good book will be a welcome gift, so
would be a handmade piece of jewelery
for a girl who loves traditional fashion.
Gifting shouldn’t be just another
holiday season exercise, rather a time to
unleash your creativity to enable you to
find ways and means to select the best.
TRADITIONAL GIFTING I
t all began with the three Magi
offering their gifts-gold, frankincense
and myrrh to the babe in the
manger. Over the years the concept of
gifting has undergone dramatic change
with the every growing market.
Lifehack.com puts it down to gifting
as a means of communicating to the
sender. ‘Ask yourself first, “What do I
want to say to this person?” Then move
on to “What can I give them that will
communicate this?” This is opposite
to the more common “What can I buy
them?” and then “What will they think
of it?”
Know who you are offering what
and your gift will acquire a whole new
meaning, not only to receiver, but you
as well. Try to find what the person
likes, hobbies, or needs and decide
“Do it yourself” or DIY was the very
first expression of gifting. People in old
days typically knitted, embroidered,
crocheted, stitched clothes or baked
goodies at home.
Recycle! Reclye! Save yourself a lot
of trouble and look around your home
for items that you can reclye into new
products that are ideal for gifting. It not
only serves the purpose, but helps you
tap into your creative resources. The
labour involved in refurbishing the item
itself brings satisfaction to the giver.
Children for generations have been
brought up with the promise of Santa
bringing a gift. Make this a ‘reality’.
If you love working with hands,
there are plenty of stores where you can
pick up the items you require to make
handmade jewelery, photo frames,
jewelery boxes and much more.
Beyond traditional gifting are the
new fad of exotic location holidays as
a package and purchasing items online
through e-commerce sites.
them. Women in the lowest financial
strata need to be empowered. Do a phone top up for a needy
relative or friend. If one can afford it,
buy a base phone for a person who
needs to be connected to the world.
Plan a party for street kids, orphans
or abandoned kids. This does require
a lot of time and finance but just
coordinating the steps to the final
event that will bring joy and happiness
to those not so fortunate kids. By
involving one’s own children, one can
instill the value that material, expensive
gifts are not as important as a smile on
a child’s face.
Beyond all, one should gift one’s
skills and instill values for the
betterment of society. When collectively
we as individuals understand our
responsibility to gift time, skills and
other intangible resources to humanity,
the world will be a better place to live
in. ±
ACTS OF KINDNESS
But it’s not always that an item off the
shelf becomes the perfect gift. Infact
Santa or Saint Nicholas always loved
to help the poor. Gift your time to the
elderly, handicapped or terminally ill.
Spend time with them to make them
feel special by just listening to them,
playing an instrument or singing for
them.
Support a group, project or NGO
which works towards empowering
women and buy products made by
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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
The ‘Real’ Santa Is Here! It’s a Christmas story every child is sold on
By Alfred Soares
T
he one about Santa
Claus familiar to all
is of that podgy,
portly, bearded
figure clad in red coming from
the North Pole with a bag full of
goodies and driving a sled straight
to your home on Christmas eve. Then
somehow he miraculously places his
gifts under the glittering Christmas tree
before slipping away.
Well, we’ve tracked down a few Santa
Clauses on our own and guess what, they live not
in the snowclad landscape of the North Pole but in the
humbler environs of Siolim, Panjim and even Mapusa.
Meet these unsung heroes who make Christmas
worthwhile for Goan kids.
Stage director Felizardo Fermino Goes from Panjim,
for example, is your regular guy you would miss out on if
you passed him on the streets. “When I play Santa Claus,
I try to get involved and invest into the character. Playing
Santa is not just about wearing a costume and disguising
yourself as a fun and loving person to the kids, it’s actually
about getting into character and being someone else for the
moment,” he says.
Santa Clauses are often in demand on kids’ birthdays
and of course during Christmas. And for guys like Goes and
John D’Sa from Siolim, it’s not just about donning the red
robes, it’s all about
making kids smile.
“If we cannot get
children to smile on
Christmas, what use
are we?”asks D’Sa.
“When you play
Santa, you have
to live up to a lot
of expectations,
especially from the
kids because whenever
they see Santa they
automatically think of
fun and gifts. You need
Fermino Goes
to put up a show for
them and treat every kid as your own. The most important
quality you need is to be understanding and kind towards
the children just like the real Santa Claus,” says Goes.
And sometimes questions posed by children are not so
easy to answer, even for the wise Santa.
D’Sa recalls one such instance, when he was stumped
by an eight-year-old boy at a Christmas party. The kid
asked, ‘Santa why did you get these chocolates? Why not
the expensive ones?’ The pat reply is usually, ‘Sorry, kid, I
received the letter late’.
Goes claims most children are happy with
chocolates and toys, though toys are the
preferred gifts.
Asked how it has been playing Santa over
the years, D’Sa says, “Kids now are smarter
and more observant than before. It pays to
be thorough with the detail, especially
when it comes to the Santa suit.
The Santa costume has
evolved over the years
with kids being a lot
more observant. They
are not easily fooled by
a pillow stuffing and a
mask with a fake mustache.
The modern Santa now needs
to be really authentic. He needs to be fat and
jolly and also his attire and costume has to be of
good quality and his overall appearance very close
to the ‘real’ Santa.”
So, set up your tree, hang out the stockings
and you never know, maybe the ‘real Santa’ will
make it this time. ±
Ho!Ho!Ho! It’s Santa
57
WILD WONDERS
Saving the
ASIATIC JACKAL
With growing urbanisation, the day of the jackal has long gone. The
Kohlo or Asiatic Jackal which once roamed freely around Goa is now
rarely sighted finds Nirmal Kulkarni
I
t was a concerned comment by a
fellow wildlife enthusiast that made
me think about Asiatic Jackals aka
kolho. And the more I thought of
them, the more restless I became,
especially when my feverish attempts
to locate these once common mammals
across the Goan countryside yielded
absolutely no result.
The older generation of Goans
fondly remember their frequent
sightings of Asiatic Jackals, which were
as common as the peafowl, pariah
kites and langurs. Jackals, in fact,
found mention in several village tales,
superstitions and were even a subject of
ridicule. When I was still a school kid,
I remember Goans referring to Saligao
as the village of jackals and foxes,
an epitaph that upset several of my
classmates who came from the village.
Researchers believe that the Asiatic
Jackals, also known as the Golden
Jackals (Canis Aureus) are the most
typical example of the genus Canis
family. They have a luxuriant coat
that constantly changes colour, from
The Kholo finds a prey
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“Ecologists like me are concerned that certain sections of the
public in semi rural landscapes have been targeting jackals
rather mercilessly.”
golden brown to ash grey depending
on the season. They have a creamcoloured underbelly and a bushy
tail with the characteristic black tip.
Being generalists, they easily adapt to
even the most adverse situations and
circumstances. They often feed on
rodents and birds.
Jackals are also scavengers and
devour leftover carcasses of domestic
animals, wild creatures and birds.
Occasionally, Asiatic Jackals are
prone to attacking poultry and goats,
a classic situation for quintessential
man-animal conflict.
Over the past two decades, the
species has systematically declined
in Goa, a terrible fallout of the rapid
urbanisation of our villages and forest
habitats. As villages creep into jungles,
urban wildlife species like the Asiatic
Jackal suffer the most. Vast tracts of
forests that once connected villages are
now dotted with high-rise structures.
Lush green plateaus have been taken
over for widespread industrial and
housing construction. Forests teeming
with life have been transformed into
unplanned semi-urban areas.
Asiatic Jackals find that they have
no place to call home. Their mostpreferred habitats, from hillsides to
stream embankments and natural caves
are either being frequented by humans
or modified for human activity, and that
could mean for tourism, irrigation and
similar activities. Besides, ecologists like
me are concerned that certain sections
of the public in semi rural landscapes
have been targeting jackals rather
mercilessly. They rarely understand the
link between the Asiatic Jackal’s loss
of habitat, and consequently its prey
and its frequent forays into human
dominated landscapes in search of
food and shelter.
The loss of habitat is one reason
for their demise, among several
others. Chemical pesticides, which
are extensively used in farming, have
entered the bloodstream of the jackal’s
prey. The local population of Asiatic
Jackals, I believe, have vanished
without a trace because they have
preyed on poisoned rodents and other
small mammals. Not to forget poaching
by the Pardhis, a hunter tribe that sell
the skin and tail of jackals. The biggest
victims of certain sects of traditional
medicine, in fact, are jackals. Their
body parts are used as ingredients in
medicines sold by quacks across the
country and in some parts of Goa too.
My last sighting of an Asiatic Jackal,
just a fleeting glimpse, was two years
ago in an abandoned garbage dump of
a housing board colony at Mapusa. The
lone jackal was foraging on some dead
matter in the wee hours of the morning.
A road kill at Mulgao, Bicholim, and
two other kills on separate occasions
at Loutolim did confirm that a few
jackals continue to hold on. But if a
study were to be conducted about
how many survive, it would reveal an
extremely gloomy picture.
Every day, in urban areas,
wildlife continues to face systematic
annihilation at the hands of man.
The public now needs to step out of
their homes and actively participate
to conserve and shelter urban wildlife
which was once inextricably linked to
the ecosystem of a village. ±
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BEAUTY REMEDIES
Shimmering and
Subtle Shades
Looks that could kill...Neha Arora, zonal manager of
Warren Tricomi Salon tells you how it’s done this season
What are the latest makeup looks for the season?
Red and brown hues pops
are in again on the lips.
Black liner goes geometrical
and flushed cheeks have
become the favourite this
winter. Dark red, brown and
black lips are back, thanks
to runaway trendsetters.
However, only a smattering
go in for bold black lips!
Lip contouring is another
technique that most women
are opting for.
The rules of eyeliner are
broken and many opt for the
geometrical off line liners
60
like the double, the triangle
wink and the edge block.
Flushed warm peach and
rose blushes have taken over
the contouring. This mild
winter we can look forward
to tapping into metallic
eye-shadows, rolled out
mascaras, easy, soft smoky
eyes or eye shadowing.
What shades look best for
an afternoon brunch, night
out and formal functions?
For office/brunch/meeting,
a light base, a thin winged
eyeliner single stroke with
mascara, a hint of blush, a
peach shade for light skin
tone and a rose pink or
light shade of brown for
darker skin tones.
For night outs/dinner, you
can use a shade of brown
to blend along with a softer
shade of eyeshadow to create
a bit of a smoky effect. If the
base provides good coverage
then use a kohl on the water
line. But remember, do not
use too much kohl on the
outside if you have dark
circles and if you do not use
a concealer.
Along with eyeliner and a
fair amount of mascara (both
waterproof/sweat proof) use
a nice coral for light skin
tone and a shimmery or
subtle shade of bronze for
dark tones. Reds/plums/
oxblood shades can go on
both tones.
For formal functions,
keep it simple yet elegant.
Decide which one part
you would want to make
attractive and the rest can
be simple neutral shades.
To achieve this look, you
can choose any one of the
following to be bold:
For the eyes, a thin single
lined eyeliner with mascara
www.timelinegoa.in
does not give you an exact
idea of the base shade.
Always use over the jawline
so you know you don’t have
two different shades on the
face and neck. Highlight the
features with illuminator
just above your contouring:
cheek bone, top of your
nose, chin, and above the
jawline.
and a pink or a neutral /
light brown shadow. If you
are allowed to have fun,
make it a double lined
eyeliner, and you’ll have all
eyes on you.
For the lips, if you wish to
be subtle yet hot, pink will
give you the desired look. If
you wish to go bolder opt for
maroon and brown shades
instead of deep red. Use
blush over contour.
What makeup goes with
what skin types?
For dry skin use a good
moisturiser, leaving it to
penetrate into the skin for
five minutes before base. For
oily skin use a gel or water
based moisturiser and lip
balm also five minutes prior
to using lip shade.
Some essential makeup dos
and don’ts…
Smoky eyes looks best with a
concealed eye coat. If you’re
wearing bold coloured
clothes, keep make-up
neutral. If you’re wearing a
mono coloured, add a pop of
contrast eye shadow. Always
use a skin toner before
you start make-up. Don’t
pump your mascara wand
in and out to get more as
this causes air to go inside
and dry it out, and will fill it
with bacteria. Swirl it around
inside the tube to get more
product.
How would you choose
makeup according to
skin tone and apply it to
highlight the contours of
your face?
You can always consult over
the counter when buying
makeup. Generally they
give you a complete trial
with testers if you buy well
known brands. Trying them
on the back of your palm
Must haves in your makeup
bag:
For dry skin, a light liquid
base/Bb cream; for oily skin,
a wet wipe and compact;
a pen eyeliner because it’s
easier to apply outdoors or
even better for touch ups;
kohl, mascara, natural
lipbalm, a moisturiser with
SPF and earbuds which are
very handy for last minute
touch ups.
How would you ensure
makeup lasts longer in this
sweltering heat?
Dab your face with cold
water and let it cool on its
own. This will close your
facial pores and will not
clog in dirt. Avoid heavy
foundations. Instead use
a light creamy or a matte
based foundation. Apply
water resistant liquid
eyeliners and mascaras. ±
After party
cleansing
rituals
Do cleanse, tone and
moisturise. Your skin goes
through a lot so you need
to cleanse it and remove
dirt and impurities with
toner, then moisturise
to give your skin the oil
it need. Make sure you
use a cotton ball or a
cleansing tissue pad or
else you might bruise
your skin.
WEDDING ATTIRE
CHAMPAGNE
Is the Colour Of the Season
This festive wedding season, bridesmaids and relatives of
the bride have an important role to play. They need to pay
special attention to what they wear and how they dress.
KAVITA SHYAM drops more than a few sartorial hints
Pics courtesy: Jashn and Studio de Royale
I
t’s that time of the year when
you need to be at your ethnic
best at weddings and festivals.
This season, women should go
all out and experiment with their
looks. After all, it’s not just the bride
who should dress to the hilt, but the
bridesmaids should also steal the show
62
and make heads turn.
So move away from typical
traditional wear and embrace an
amalgamation of Indo-Western
like never before!
FUSION TRADITION
Rahul Jashnani, MD of Jashn traditional
outfits, says, “Make this season more
meaningful by using traditional outfits
and jewelry. Try the use of bold prints
in your wardrobe. Also try and include
some clashing prints to brighten up the
day. People think to wear a ghagra choli
might be a bit over the top, which is
not the case this season. Adorn yourself
www.timelinegoa.in
with a gorgeous ghagra going down to
your feet and a perfect choli. Flaunt
a netted or a beautifully embroidered
duppata to add a glamorous touch and,
along with the right accessories, this
might just be the perfect look. Keep in
mind the festive season by using bold
colours like green and red with minimal
accessories. If you do choose to play
it safe, use monochromes but make
sure you wear some ethnic jewelry
to spice it up.”
According to Puneet Gupta of
Studio De Royale, “With fabrics like
net, chiffon, tissue, velvet, satin,
silk, shimmer and georgette, there
are tons of garments being designed.
The intricate embroideries and
embellishments placed on bridal wear
makes the wearer feel like a princess.
Thread work, gem stones, zardosi,
diamate, patch work and kundan work
are all trendy.”
DESIGN DETAILS
Designer Shehla Khan feels dramatic
statements in colours are good but
bright and soft pastel shades will add
the perfect balance to your festive
look. “Colours which will also stand
out this season are champagne pink,
fuchsia, faded red, mint green, black
and baby blue. These can be teamed
with light breathable fabrics such as
chiffon, georgette and crochet lace
to add a stylish touch to your festive
celebration. Beautiful embroideries and
embellishments can be splayed across,
imparting a playful yet feminine
look. Opt for flowing anarkalis with
a subtle highlight of badla work or
chikan anarkalis and shadow saris that
can be worn for the perfect day look.
Transparent sheer and opaque silk
ornates with vintage floral patterns.
appliquéd or embroidered, make for
superb evening outfits.”
Ace designer Anita Dongre says
that the season ‘sees a wonderful
blend of traditional elements with
contemporary stylised silhouettes.’
“For instance, a long leheriya jacket
with high slide slits paired with cream,
zardosi embroidered slim pants is
great for a party, wedding cocktail or
your best friend’s reception. A fitted
crop top paired with a lehenga skirt
again reflects a traditional note, but in
a more modern style.” The colours to
look out for, she adds, are reds, corals,
peacock blues, rani pinks, and neutral
tones of off -white and beige. In terms
of jewellery, rings with a floral inspired
motif or stylised silver ear cuffs or just
a statement gold jadau cuff set in uncut
diamond, does the trick.
Designer Dimple Raghani says that
as the year comes to an end it brings
along the season of festivities. The
biggest trends in festive Indian wear in
63
WEDDING ATTIRE
my opinion are pieces with heavy zari
work, head gear- intricate and delicate
maang tikka’s or maatha patti’s that
would suit the frame of their faces and
the compliment the outfit which one
is going to wear.
The trend which I’m trying to
create this festive season is going all
“pastels”. My new couture collection is
all about shades of blues, powder pinks
and grey’s. It’s breaking away from
the monotony of the usual bold and
strong colors like maroons and greens.
Rosette as I call it is all about delicate
handwork and sleek silhouettes which
has a balance of both contemporary as
well as traditional styles.
Designer Shibani Sanghvi CEO
and Founder of Divaat.com finds
that there are plenty of trends to
be excited about for a woman of
‘contrasting personalities with its
structured shoulder power coats, tons
of Victoriana lace, and for those vintage
enthusiasts its time to retrograde to the
seventies and eighties’.
For those who love their
androgynous style, its time to think
architectural tailoring with new
64
proportions, oversized asymmetric
clothing, the tie neck blouse, polo
necklines, dramatic covetable capes and
double-breasted coats with a seafaring
echo to the military trend.
For the romantic feminine winter
look its time to experiment with
gathered bell cuffs, high ruffle
necklines, sweeping trails made up
from the savage elegance of Victorian
black lace, elegant tulip skirts
and décolletage-baring dresses in
marshmallow colors.
While the bold and beautiful, the
eighties are back with a myriad of brash
colors across patterns, punctuated
with touches of Lurex, patent leather,
quilting, vinyl and velvet along with
distinct silhouettes of power shoulders,
ruffles and big old retro belts.
So transform yourselves into divas
this wedding season, keeping in mind
hues, cuts and styles that complement
your skin tone and figure. This
wedding season, you just can’t go
wrong with all the tips on offer! ±
www.timelinegoa.in
DIET
Nourishing
Winter Foods
A few nutritional tips on winter diets
Text: Harpreet Pasricha
U
nlike in North India or in most western
countries we in Goa don’t enjoy the
luxury of curling up under a comforter
and sipping on some hot chocolate or soup
during our winters. In colder climes even though
you may wrap yourself up in a coat or shawl,
there are certain foods that are best consumed in
the winter which have a thermogenic effect on the
body. As winters can affect your mood and energy
levels, these foods have the ability to raise your
body temperature and keep you warm and active.
They also help to rev up your metabolic engine
and narrow your waistline. Some of the most
effective winter foods are:
Ginger
Whole egg
Gingers promotes thermogenesis
(a process by which heat is
generated when food is digested.)
Ginger has many health benefits
like alleviating respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases, blood
circulation, digestion and boosting
the immune system. The warm,
calming effects of ginger can
actually help you deal with stress
as well. You can also add it to your
stews, soups, teas and curries.
66
Garlic
These foods have a high thermogenic
effect. Since a lot of energy is required
to digest lean protein, the energy that is
expended will burn more calories. Also
these foods help you to build muscle.
Garlic is known for its anti-bacterial
and anti-viral properties. In winters,
conditions like asthma and bronchitis
become aggravated and consuming
garlic will help reduce these conditions.
Garlic also lowers cholesterol and can
be easily added to soups, gravies and
chutneys. Remember to chop the garlic
and let it sit for 15 minutes before
cooking as this activates beneficial
enzymes which help in reducing
oxidation in the body.
www.timelinegoa.in
Cinnamon
They are an excellent option for heat production in your
body. Winter is the season to load your meals with all
kinds of spices. Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants, aids in
digestion and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Pepper
Pepper tops the chart when it comes to warming
foods. It can be easily incorporated in the daily
diet. Pepper is used in almost all cuisines. Ground
pepper can be added to tea, making it a refreshing
and healthy beverage. Try green tea with some
peppercorns next time.
Fats (clarified ghee,
virgin coconut oil):
Coconut oil and clarified ghee are beneficial
as they provide medium-chain fatty acids
(MCFAs) that are not found in other fats.
These oils have a thermogenic effect that
lasts for 24 hours, so using a couple of
tablespoons each day may help your
metabolism over time. These oils do not
just have a high nutritional value but also
helps boost your immune system.
TIME OUT
Culture Cafes
Art, Cinema and A La Carte
Enjoy a diverse and unique menu in these cafes that go
beyond food and drink
By SAPNA SHAHANI
T
hey’ve always been around.
Little cafes with bigger
communities of intellectuals,
artists, activists and generally
interesting citizens around them,
gravitating to a space where one can
meet like-minded people and enjoy a
unique menu at the same time. There’s
been a rise of ‘culture cafes’ in Goa,
even as the world turns digital, proving
that coming together as a community
in real life will never go out of style.
Here is a pick of some cafes in Panjim
and north Goa along with the various
cultural activities you can indulge in-from films to yoga, poetry to chess.
Urban Café, Fontainhas
Refreshingly modern while incorporating the
distinctive heritage of the building and the
area that it’s in, Urban Café offers a healthy
menu and a wide variety of teas and coffees at
reasonable prices. If you’re in a rush, it’s not
for you, but if you want a space to read the
newspaper or a magazine at leisure or access
Wi-Fi, it’s absolutely the ideal spot. The owners
have also made a helpful and attractive map
of the surrounding area for their hostel guests.
And if you’re still wondering where the cultural
activities come in, there are monthly poetry
events that are organized by Omkar Naik that
arose out of a workshop by poet Jeet Thayil at
Goa University.
Gallery Gitanjali, Fontainhas
Owned by Panjim Inn, which it is across from, this art gallery
is always a great stop and which serves some of the best coffee
in Goa. The gallery frequently host workshops and screenings
of art films followed by discussions moderated by the wellinformed Apurva Kulkarni.
68
www.timelinegoa.in
Café Basil,
Miramar
Bodega, Altinho
Fancy a quiet stroll through ever-changing art
collections in a beautiful Portuguese-era mansion and
a blissful meal in a courtyard café? Then this is the
place for you. Run by Vandana Naique, who trained in
New York City, the pastries are delectable as is the rest
of the signature menu. Located in the SunaparantaCentre for the Arts, Altinho centre.
PIC COURTESY: SUNAPARANTA CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
This relatively new joint is
already known for its snack
menu such as burgers and cafreal
pao, along with a great collection
of books, a guitar for those who
like to strum, and games like
chess to while away some time.
Local residents say it’s a great
value addition to the TaleigaoCaranzalem-Miramar area. The
only thing missing is free Wi-Fi.
Literati,
Calangute
A charming book shop in a
bungalow with a carefully handpicked collection by owner
Diviya Kapur, also offers a small
café with kokum drinks and
small eats. There are often book
readings and discussions here
as well as film screenings on
Thursday evenings in the garden.
69
TIME OUT
Café Cotinga, Anjuna
Well known for the live music nights every Wednesday
that feature travelling and local bands, the café is set
in a beautiful garden and villa balcony. The room
inside has a pool table and there is also a table tennis
table outside. The Wallfly film club picks a unique
collection of avant garde films from around the world
every Tuesday night. There’s also a fun quiz offered
over brunch on Sundays with use of the pool in
Tamarind hotel, of which Café Cotinga is a part. Try a
coffee with a banoffee pie, sitting in the birdcage table
for a unique experience.
Gunpowder/People Tree,
Assagao
Natti’s Naturals, Arpora
While not strictly a café, this restaurant and store
has the ambience of one. With a superb collection
of clothes, books and other knickknacks, it makes
for an ideal place to hang out and people watch. On
Monday nights, Nilankur Das curates talks, live music,
film screenings and everything in between. Do try the
North-east style pork made by Nilankur’s wife Chan
available on Monday nights, when Gunpowder is
closed. The now legendary pan South Indian food of
Gunpowder is available on the remaining days.
This health food store and cafe also hosts spiritual
and new age healing workshops, yoga and healer
consultations. Try the delicious fruit and vegetable
juices, salads and herbal teas on the patio or the
backyard garden. Located on the Arpora-Anjuna
road past the Saturday Night Market, it is now open
in the evenings as well.
So the next time you think of getting a cup of coffee, you can go somewhere that inspires, amuses or relaxes you
as well. Visitors to Goa could well spend days visiting these wonderful cultural hubs as well as others not on this list.
Museums like the new Museum of Goa in Pilerne Industrial Estate and Houses of Goa in Porvorim also have small
cafes and shops attached to them.
70
www.timelinegoa.in
CHEF OF THE MONTH
Delectable
Confections
SAPNA SHAHANI discovers where pastry
chef Mona Nolavalia finds her inspiration for her
‘Artisanal Desserts’
U
K-born Mona Nolavalia instantly
credits her mother Diva when
asked which international
chefs she is most inspired by.
More than her other inspirations like
Singaporean dessert queen Janice
Wong or Australia’s punk princess
Anna Polyviou, Nigella Lawson or
Jamie Oliver, it was her mother who
influenced her the most. She loved
watching her mum make fruit flans and
profiteroles at kitty parties in Kuwait
where her parents lived at the time.
As she grew up, it was her father
though, who encouraged her to pursue
food as a career because, as he put
it sagely, “people need to eat.” So
she chose to be a pastry chef as it is
“ neater and prettier whereas in the
kitchen it’s more male-dominated, and
I didn’t like handling meat.”
After studying at the renowned
Cordon Bleu culinary institute in
London, she got her start at the
exclusive restaurant, Mosimanns, at
the age of 20. Soon after, she moved
to the leading patisserie Nadell’s
which supplied to the Ritz Hotel and
to the Duchess of Kent. This is where
she really received a large slice of
her training as it was an extremely
professionally run environment,
churning out products in bulk, but
yet everything made in-house from
scratch.
From here, she was employed
as a pastry chef at the prestigious
Wentworth Golf Club where all the
PGA tournaments are held. Around this
time, she took specialized courses in
chocolate and sugar-pulling in which
you craft boiled sugar into specialized
designs that look like blown glass.
On a break from cooking, Mona
met her husband Marco Crisanto
teaching English as a foreign language
in Peru. She told him of her dream to
set up a tearooms lounge which they
eventually brought to reality. The duo
introduced better quality desserts and
the concept of high tea which was a
new and popular idea. However, when
her father passed away a few years later,
they moved to Bangalore as they had
property to look after there.
Visiting Goa, they fell I love with the
place and ‘Mona’s Pantry’ was born.
Today, she consults with restaurant
owners like Chris Saleem Agha Bee and
his partner Sai to design customized
desserts for ‘Elevar’ and ‘Sublime’.
Mona’s deliciously innovative
creations like the Sticky Toffee Carrot
Pudding, Chocolate Truffle with
Hazelnut Anglaise, Chocolate Truffle
with Chocolate-Coffee Terrine and
Cardamom Anglaise, White Chocolate
Bowls with Berries and Lemon
Cheesecake are big hits with their niche
clientele.
She takes orders for birthday cakes,
kids’ birthday treats like chocolate
lollipops, mini cupcakes and mini
trifles and for other special occasions
like anniversary dinners and weddings.
Mona wants to bring the farmers
market concept to Goa through
which products are made fresh in
small batches from natural, organic
ingredients. Her gluten-free bread is a
raging success.
Asked about her inspirations, she
says her base always comes from
French cuisine to which she adapts
the toppings as she goes along. She
is greatly inspired by light and airy
Japanese desserts like Mochi. On a
recent trip to New York City, she visited
a Japanese patisserie called Lady M
where they made a green Matcha Tea
Crepe layer cake. When she got back to
Goa, she adapted it to a 20-layer crepe
cake with hazelnut crème patisserie
filling.
She also enjoys using local
ingredients and adapting local
recipes. “I’ve been making a version
of the Goan rum ball with gulkhand
and covering it with a white truffle
chocolate ganache and coconut,” she
says. Another interesting fusion is the
Coconut and Jaggery Black Rice Crème
Brulee with fresh mangoes.
Mona’s Pantry also retails at On
the Go, her husband’s quick service
restaurant in Morjim, near the T
junction and Raj Supermarket.
71
CHEF OF THE MONTH
Pear Frangipane
Tarts
Serves 8
Takes 50 minutes to make and 1 hour,
15-20 minutes to bake, plus chilling and
cooling.
INGREDIENTS
For the pastry
225g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
110g butter
110g castor sugar
3 medium egg yolks, lightly beaten
For the frangipane
125g butter, softened
125g castor sugar
2 eggs
125g ground almonds
1 tbsp plain flour
For the poached pears
250g castor sugar, plus 2 tsp extra
4 good-sized pears
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
3 cloves
1/2 lemon
2-3 strips thickly pared orange zest
1/2 vanilla pod
METHOD
Make the pastry.
Tip the flour onto a work surface. Cut the
butter into cubes and dot over the flour.
Sprinkle with the castor sugar. Using your
fingertips, rub the butter, flour and sugar
together until the mixture resembles
breadcrumbs. Make a well in the centre,
add the egg yolks and, using your fingers,
gradually draw in the flour. Knead lightly
until it comes together in a smooth ball
– you might need to add 1 teaspoon cold
water if the dough is very crumbly. Wrap in
cling film and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Make the frangipane filling.
Cream the butter and sugar together in a
large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually
beat in the eggs, one at a time, then fold in
the ground almonds and flour. Mix well and
chill until needed.
Make the poached pears.
Put the sugar in a saucepan, pour in 500
ml water and place over a medium heat.
Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Peel the
pears and add to the pan, along with the
72
cinnamon and cloves. Squeeze the juice
from the lemon into the pan and add the
squeezed lemon and orange zest. Split the
vanilla pod in half, scrape out the seeds
and add to the pan with the pod. Add
some more water to just cover the pears.
Cut out a circle of baking paper large
enough to fit inside the pan and lay on top
of the pears. Weigh down with a saucer or
small saucepan lid so that the pears stay
submerged in the poaching liquor. Simmer
for 20 minutes, then remove the pears to a
plate with a slotted spoon and discard the
liquor and solids. Set aside for 15 minutes
or until cool enough to handle.
Preheat the oven to 190°C/fan170°C/gas
5. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out
the pastry to a circle large enough to line
the tart tin. Don’t worry if it breaks up as
this is a very short, crumbly pastry – you
can just patch it together in the tin and
mould it up the sides, making sure it is
even all over. Trim off any excess pastry
and spread the frangipane evenly on top.
Cut the pears in half lengthways and, using
a teaspoon, scoop out and discard the
core from the centre. Cut each pear half in
slices, widthwise, then lift onto your knife
and push down on the pears slightly to
fan them out. Lift into the pastry case and
arrange in a circle. Fill in the gaps between
each pear half with a few more slices and
arrange some in the centre. Bake for 55
minutes to 1 hour, until the pastry is golden
and the filling is set. Sprinkle with the extra
2 teaspoons castor sugar and bake in the
oven for a further 15 minutes to finish
off the browning. Cool in the tin slightly,
then remove and transfer to a wire rack.
Serve warm or at room temperature with a
dollop of crème fraîche.
www.timelinegoa.in
SPA
Festive Indulgences
Gift yourself some me-time this happy season with these fabulously
festive Spa treats. SAMIRA SHETH picks two of Goa’s most
pampering experiences, specially crafted for the season
The Wine Body Ritual at the
Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa,
Cansaulim, South Goa
Created especially for the festive season, this
unique treatment at the gorgeous Sereno Spa
unleashes the powerful healing properties of
wine. It has the natural anti-oxidant properties
of grape, which is rich in phenols and also has
anti-aging properties. Spa experts here have
countered the staining and drying properties
of wine by adding special herbal extracts and
ingredients which nourish the skin and give
it a healthy radiant glow. This specialty body
treatment starts with a wine body scrub and
body mask and concludes with a wine body gel
massage. The scrub, the mask, the gel – each
of them is potent with the deliciously smelling
base ingredient of grape. You will feel utterly
decadent and indulged with this luxurious
experience. Emerge from this deliciously heady
two hour treatment with rejuvenated and
revitalized skin that feels thoroughly pampered!
SEASONAL SPECIAL: Wine Body Ritual
TIME TO INDULGE: 120 minutes
Facial and Relaxing Foot
Treatment at the Goa
Marriott Resort & Spa,
Miramar, North Goa
With the panoramic views of the ocean that greet you,
the Marriott makes you feel relaxed as soon as you step
foot into the hotel. Make your way to the discreetly
tucked away Quan Spa for an experience that is quiet,
serene and deeply relaxing. Me-time really doesn’t get any
better than this.
After a blissful spell unwinding in the steam room you will
be escorted to your treatment room. Immerse your feet in
a basin of fragrant warm water and then you’re ready for
this signature experience – a choice of facial from Ocean,
Moisture Source, Cold Marine or Healing and a foot
massage. The foot massage begins first and after a scrub, a
cream massage and a wrap, the therapist proceeds to work
the same magic on your face. From here on, the review gets
a bit fuzzy as I must admit – I fell asleep! But, then if the
proof of a pudding is in the eating, the proof of a good spa
experience is in the level of relaxation created! Whether
you gift this festive treat to yourself or a loved one, this
two-in-one treatment is just so worth it!
SEASONAL SPECIAL: Relaxing Foot Treatment & Facial
TIME TO INDULGE: 1 hour 45 min
73
FLASHBACK
IFFI : A Frame By Frame Triumph
With its array of films depicting the human condition, IFFI
2015 provided a wide angle view for cine buffs of all hues.
Prakash Goverkar took a close look
Unesco Fellini Award to Kaushik Ganguly film Cinemawala
I
FFI drew to a close with the conferring of the Lifetime
Achievement Award to Oscar Award winning Russian
filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov. The South American
film, ‘Embrace of the Serpent’ directed by Ciro Guerra
was selected for the coveted Golden Peacock Award as the
Best Film in the International Competition section. The
award carrying a cash prize of Rs 40 lakh went to this joint
Colombia-Venezuela-Argentina production that portrayed
the life of the last surviving Amazon tribal and his 40 year
association with two scientists in search of a plant with
healing powers. It showed the transformation in the life of
a habitant of the Amazon River basin after his first contact
with the outside world.
Of all the 15 films in the International Competition
section that vied for the coveted Golden and Silver Peacock
in various categories, Kaushik Ganguly’s ‘Cinemawala’,
highlighting the plight of single screen theatres won the
UNESCO Fellini Medal introduced this year for the first
74
Ilaiyaraaja
time during IFFI for keeping alive film heritage. Films that
showcased a strong storyline through an absorbing plot
that involved struggle, survival amidst odds, a historical
perspective and care for nature won top honours.
The bold visuals of gay relations in the film ‘Eisenstein
in Guanajuato’ may have surprised the average viewer, but
the way this real life story on Russian filmmaker Sergei
Eisenstein was daringly handled by director Peter Greenway,
was enough to get him the Best Director Silver Peacock
award and a cash prize of Rs. 15 lakhs.
The international jury headed by India’s Shekhar Kapur
may have surprised many by choosing five children as Best
Female Actors in the Turkish film, ‘Mustang’. Playing the
role as five siblings, Doya Doguslu, Gunes Sensoy, Elit Iscan,
Ilayada Akdogan and Tugba Sunguroglu want to fly free but
are virtually kept under house arrest by their grandmother
and uncle. The Best Actor Award winner, Vincent Lindon
in the French movie, ‘The Measure of a Man’ deserved
www.timelinegoa.in
Julia Vargas receives award from Sunil Arora
Rangoli artist Tamney Parab profiles
some of India’s film industry’s
biggest names
Lifetime Achievement Award
Nikita Mikhalkov
Rangoli artist Tamney Parab profiles
some of India’s film industry’s
biggest names
the prize for his powerful portrayal of a character facing
situations in life boldly. Both the categories received the
Silver Peacock and cash prizes of Rs. 10 lakhs each.
Speaking on the occasion, chief guest of the closing
ceremony, A R Rahman, the celebrated music composer said
the films need to tell human stories that speak the language
of unity. Accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award from
Rehman, Nikita Mikhalkov spoke about his participation in
his first ever film festival some 40 years ago in India.
Earlier IFFI 2015 got off to a resounding start through
Dhak Dhak and Aijee Ohjee tunes made famous by
Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, the chief guest at the opening
ceremony. One of India’s legendary music composers,
Ilayaraja who has composed music for 1000 films was
conferred the Centenary Award. IFFI has now come along
way with Anil Kapoor and Shekhar Kapoor endorsed Goa as
the perfect venue.
The festival screenings got off to a fabulous start after the
lively performance by Terence Lewis and the screening of the
film ‘The Man Who New Infinity’ on Indian mathematical
genius Srinivas Ramanujan featuring Dev Patel, Jeremy
Irons and Devika Bhise, directed by Matthew Brown. More
than 180 foreign films from 90 countries were screened
during the eleven day extravaganza. There were in all 120
premier shows during the festival, besides five competition
films which were official entries for Oscar awards this year.
The Indian Panorama section showcased 47 feature and
non-feature films.
There was a retrospective of Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai,
Julia Jentsch Jury Member
Shreyas Talpade
Aribam Shyam Sharma and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee
Shashi Kapoor and tributes were paid to Danish-French
actress Anna Karina. A special section, Womenclature,
celebrated woman’s contribution to Indian cinema.
Three Goan Konkani films were screened included the
musical ‘Nachom-ia-Kumpasar’, ‘Prem at First Sight’ and
‘Home Sweet Home’. As part of the National Film Heritage
Mission emphasing restoration, films such as ‘Casablanca’,
‘Cloth Peddler’ and ‘Wizard of Oz’ were screened.
IFFI paid homage to a few recently deceased greats
Omar Sharif, Anita Ekberg, Manoel de Oliveira and Wes
Craven. As usual the Masterclasses by industry stalwarts
such as Mark Mangini, Nancy Bishop, Humphrey Dixon and
Milton Shefter, all part of the Oscar Academy, besides K.K.
Senthil Kumar, Rakyesh Omprakash and others invoked a
fabulous response. A number of film personalities interacted
in Talkathon, conversations and interviews on various
aspects of film making at the venue and at Film Bazaar.
The personalities included Shyam Benegal, Priyadarshan,
Rajkumar Hirani, Sudhir Mishra, Prakash Jha, Nana Patekar,
Sachin Pilgaonkar, Shankar Mahadevan, Jackie Shroff,
Amrita Rao Hydari, Madhur Bhandarkar, Edward Pressman,
75
FLASHBACK
Lewis Dance Academy performs a Terence group dance
Subhash Ghai, K Mohanan and others.
The story of the journey of Indian cinema came alive at
the hands of sand artist Rahul Arya as he reminisced over
memories of Dadasaheb Phalke to the present. He created
pictures of silent movies to the first talkies ranging from
‘Alam Ara’, ‘Acchut Kanya’ and ‘Kismet’ to ‘Pather Panchali’.
The Shillong Chamber Choir rendered a rousing musical
tribute to Indian cinema with some golden old melodies
that included ‘Sare Jahanse Accha’. The festival had a fitting
finale with the screening of the Argentine movie, ‘The Clan’
by Pablo Trapero, a true story of a family involved in crime
and kidnapping for ransom and perhaps one of the best
closing films of IFFI.
With the fringe activities entertaining the masses
transferred to Darya Sangam, Campal promenade was lined
up with 800 posters on some famous films made in India
that gave a glimpse of film heritage as a part of National Film
Heritage Mission by National Film Archive of India. This year
also witnessed Palate Food festival on the occasion that gave
a new dimension to the IFFI.
There may have been divergent views by the film
personalities and delegates about the films and film culture,
they spoke about the Idea of India as a nation, which is
considered as a leader in film production annually. As usual
there was lot of drama too as the FTII protest reached the
festival venue during the opening ceremony and later. They
students were protesting the non-selection and showing of
their films at the IFFI this year. They then screened their
movies at an alternate venue outside the festival premises.
With hits and misses IFFI lives on for yet
another year to come. ±
Palomi Ghosh steals the show
A.R.Rahman had quite a few people tongue tied at his talk on the final
day of the Film Bazaar. After sharing his experiences in the industry,
his music school, the first script he’s writing and more during the
main session, the question round had fans raising their hands, visibly
nervous ‘Oh I have been such a fan’, gushing before they asked their
question. One such girl was Nachoim-ia-Kumpasar lead actress Palomi
Ghosh. Like most upcoming starlets, she asked how she could get
in touch with the veteran singer. And she went on to tell him ‘Oh my
movie Nachoim-ia-Kumpasar is here at IFFI. It in Konkani’. When asked
what would get his attention from the thousands of hopefuls that
mail him everyday, ‘Surprise me’, came the short reply. No nerves, no
shaky voice, but with one powerful vocal rendition, she stunned the
audience and him by taking a chance and singing a song from the
film. Ofcourse the audience loved her and she received a thunderous
applause and cheer. Hope that surprised you Mr Rahman.
76
Palomi Ghosh
www.timelinegoa.in
on your next holiday to Goa...
Experience the New Tourism Services
to be launched by Goa Tourism
AMPHIBIAN VEHICLE
MOTORIZED PARAGLIDING
Fun Goa safe Goa
@TourismGoa
officialgoatourism
W: www.goa-tourism.com
E: reservations@goa-tourism.com
TOURISM
Action Packed December
The GTDC is all set to roll out six new services to heighten
the Goa experience this season
T
his December the Goa
Tourism Development
Corporation is unveiling
a bouquet of new services
to enhance the holiday
experience. Seaplanes,
Segway tours (Treks
on wheels), Motorized
Paragliding/Non-Motorized
Paragliding (Flying Safaris),
Floating Water Park, Duck
Tours (Amphibious Vessels)
and Hot Air Balloons
will form part of the first
phase of new initiatives
introduced by GTDC.
All six new services will
begin full-fledged operations
from December and
bookings for most of them
will be available online.
HERE’S WHAT’S
IN STORE FOR YOU:
Duck Tours
(amphibious vessels)
Two vessels will conduct six
trips a day for a duration
of 60 minutes (45 minutes
on road and 15 minutes
in water). The Duck Tours
will conduct heritage and
hinterland outings via River
Mandovi. Night City tours
are also planned.
Segway Tours
(personal transport
for Trek on Wheels)
This will offer tourists treks
on wheels in the form of
guided group tours. The
two hour tours will cost
between `1500 and Rupee
Foradian`2,000 and treks
will cover the heritage
areas of Fontainhas and
Old Goa. The easy to
maneuver two wheel PTV
promises excitement and a
thrilling experience.
Motorized and NonMotorized Paragliding
(Flying Safaris)
The high-powered yet
light in weight motorized
two eater paraglides will
offer tourists rides for a
minimum 15 minutes
over Goa’s coastline
and hinterlands. The
services would be approx
priced at `2000/2500.
Floating Water Park
This service is set to throw
open its doors at Arpora. It
provides family activities,
fun and challenges, fitness
activities and loads of
action. It is priced at `499
per head for the whole
day, `350 for half day and
`250 for children.
game fishing, sailing, scuba
diving and bungee jumping.
The fun starts now!
Seaplanes
These seaborne flights are set
to take off in December with
joy rides lasting 20 minutes
from the River Mandovi over
Miramar, Dona Paula, Coco
beach and Chapora.
Hot Air Balloons
Get a picturesque view
of South Goa from a hot
air balloon this season.
Plans are on to offer
evening rides as well.
If this isn’t enough, the
second phase will launch
78
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Top Ranking
Goa Tourism bags two honours from
prestigious travel bodies
A
ccolades have been showered on Goa in 2015. Last month
the state won two honours- ‘Favourite Leisure Destination –
India’ at the Readers’ Travel Awards organized by Condé Nast
Traveller India. Goa was also rated as “Most popular domestic
destination this winter” according to the Winter Vacation
Value Report by Trip Advisor.
Goa has been ranked at the top while competing with
10 other leading destinations including Jaipur, New Delhi,
Manali, Shimla and Agra. The report also reveals rankings
in other segments such as Most Affordable Weeks, Average
Pricing and Savings during the winter.
Dilip Parulekar, Goa’s tourism minister said, “I’m happy
to see Goa receiving so many awards and titles. The fact
that these are endorsed by travellers only goes to add to the
credibility factor.”
Goa has a lot to offer, says Nilesh Cabral, chairman, GTDC
who is confident that the new services will add a lot more
value to the entire Goa holiday experience.
EVENTS
Getting Sunburned
on Goa’s Shores
248 hours of explosive music, four massive headliners and
more will be the highlight of Sunburn 2015.
S
unburn Goa one of the top music festivals in
the world takes centre stage once again. With
the biggest ever global EDM line-up featuring
world renowned DJs Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike,
Kygo, David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Aly&Fila and
Bassjackers, Sunburn Goa 2015 has garnered a phenomenal
response so far.
The 9th Edition of Sunburn Goa is scheduled from
27th to 30th December and will see a total of 248 hours
of explosive music both onstage and at the after party
over a period of 4 days. An estimate of 120+ artists will
be performing at one stage during the festival and at
the after party.
“Indian music fans no longer have to travel halfway
across the world to get the epic atmosphere and impressive
roster of headliners offered by other international festivals,”
said Harindra Singh, Chairman & Managing Director,
Percept Limited “Working with various ticket portals has
enabled us to broaden our appeal through making tickets
more accessible to our international fan base, drawing
crowds from 42 countries, which has helped establish
Sunburn Goa as one of the world’s top 3 music festivals.”
Sunburn Goa 2015 will also feature over 40 different
80
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experience zones, a fan village, as well as countless other
forms of entertainment, such as bungee jumping, volleyball,
hot air balloon rides and zorbing, offering the ultimate
holiday experience. Each stage with its own creative concept and technological
innovations, will reflect the mastery of some of the ace
production design teams from around the world. Elaborate
food courts emanating delectable local flavors will keep
you nourished and ready to dance and reconfigured bars to
activate the adrenaline rush.
For those really adventurous bent who don’t want to miss
a single beat, camping on-site takes the festival experience to
the next level. Catch the beautiful sunset from onboard the
Sunburn Cruises. There are helicopter rides that will offer
you the breathtaking aerial view of the festival, an 80’ ferris
wheel, bungee jumping, hot air balloon rides, kite flying,
open library, movie theatre, sunset point, tattoo making,
T-Shirt printing, art village, tarot reading, and so much more.
The flea market this year will include more than 80 stalls
offering indigenous lifestyle products.
What are you waiting for?
Line Up
While there are some universal traits, some countries
celebrate Christmas with quirks of their own
DIMITRI VEGAS & LIKE MIKE:
Argentines make ‘globos’, paper decorations with a light
inside that float into the sky like Chinese lanterns. They
are sent up in the air on Christmas eve.
Tomorrowland’s mainstay & currently World’s #1 DJs
(DJ Mag) Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike will be a part of
Sunburn Goa 2015 once again after a smashing year
with tracks like Higher Place feat. Ne-Yo and ‘The Hum’.
DAVID GUETTA
Grammy nominated DJ/producer/remixer David
Guetta will be closing ‘Sunburn Goa 2015’ mainstage
this year. With over 9 million albums & 30 million
singles worldwide – David Guetta is the biggest DJ
in the electronic dance music scene since the past
decade with numerous remixes for the biggest Pop
artists in the US & UK.
MARTIN GARRIX
Recently crowned #3 in the world in the Top 100 DJs
Poll – Martin Garrix is headlining ‘Sunburn Goa 2015’
along with the world’s biggest names. At just 19, Martin
Garrix has multiple original tracks which have been in
the Top 10 charts around the world.
81
EVENTS
Who Will Be Goa’s Next
Dancing Superstar?
Goa’s hot steppers put their best moves forward at the
grand finale of Goa’s Dancing Superstar contest.
I
t’s back with more
surprises and a whole lot
of fresh talent. One of the
Goa’s biggest hip-hop dance
competitions, Goa’s Dancing
Super Star, Season 2 is in its
final leg on 23 December at
Ravindra Bhavan, Vasco.
It took the State by
storm last year with 60
participants and this year
the number has jumped to
90. Call for entries brought
in hopefuls from all parts of
Goa, from Usgao, Pernem,
Quepem and Bicholim.
“We were surprised that
we got 17 groups this time
in hip alone,” says Ashish
Sonar, founder of Ashish
Dance Academy. “This form
doing well at the moment
as lots of youngsters are
82
coming forward,” he
adds of the popularity for
the form in Goa.
The competition judges
them on styles like hiphop, Bollwood, Classical
and Contemporary. They
have changed the format
for the finale this year.
From the selected final 20,
winners will be selected in
the following catergories:
First and second places for
the individual and duet
sections, while the group
will include a third.
The next Goa’s Dancing
Superstar will emerge in
the last round out of these
winners. They will have
15 minutes to prepare an
impromptu sequence.
Ashish felt the need to
bring a professional edge to
such competitions in Goa.
“Our school has participated
in other States and seen
how its organised,” he
says. He elucidates how
judges normally chosen
at other contests don’t
know the techniques of
that particular form and
they call one person. Here
there is a panellist of seven
representing the styles
they are masters in.
Guest stars Manan
Sachdev from Dance India
Dance,Manoj Rathod of
Lil Masters and a celebrity
performance by I AM
HIPHOP celebrity crew
along with his crew A-Unit
will perform at the finale.
Like last year the group
donates to the Anmol Self
Help Group by World Vision
India. While in 2014 they
handed over 40 school kits
to under privileged kids, the
target this year is 70.
Ashish has been in
this scene for the past five
years and the interest grew
in him since a child. His
crew A-Unit has won gold
at the Goa International
Dance Congress and
participated in countless
other competitions. They
have danced for singers
like Anu Malik, KK, Stero
Nation, Bhumika Singh and
in the Honey Singh video
‘Satan’. Recently the group
completed 500 shows.
www.timelinegoa.in
HAPPENINGS
DANCING IN THE SOUTH
Pics: Pragat Naik
D
ance Illusions played host to one of the biggest
socials last month. The Vasco-based school managed
by Dr Martin and Flossy brought students and
their guests from all over to Nostalgia in Raia for a night
of dancing and fellowship. Everyone put their classroom
learning to the test and showed off their latest dance moves.
DJ Savio kept everyone dancing the night away with the
jive, the cha cha, salsa and bachata. Mumbai based tango
supremo Vivek Yadav put on a stellar performance with
Flossy as they danced to the rhythm of the Argentinean
form. Students and gold medallists Seby and Ivana
enthralled guests with the rhumba, gold medalists Milroy
and Maeve performed the samba to perfection. The
night also saw the crowning of the Social Queen Ana and
Social King Naru.
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JAZZING IT UP IN GOA
The third edition of the Goa
International Jazz Live festival was a
resounding success
A
s the third edition of
the Goa International
Jazz Live Festival
came to a close, listeners
were left happy but also a
tad melancholic after it was
all over. With foot-stomping,
energetic melodies from
Garbacho that closed the
festival to the ambient
minimalist representation
from the Zen monk NIK
Brasht, the festival doled out
so many different moods
and musical representations
there was no way it could
have not stayed with you in
some form or the other.
Whether it was a threepiece band or an eight-piece
ensemble, every musician
on stage was brilliant. The
energy was addictive, the
music outstanding and the
experience truly memorable.
The stage setting was
larger than life with the jazz
cats breathing a new energy
into the amazing spectacle.
The art exhibition, film
screening as well as the
merchandise stall with the
t-shirts, journals, artiste CDs
alongside the live painting
console all added to the beat
of the festival.
The most important
bit of course was the
wide representation of so
many different age groups,
ethnicities and music
enthusiasts in the audience
that made the hard work and
diligence of the organisers all
the more worthwhile.
The festival was what a
large-scale and professional
new age jazz festival can
and should be in India,
reaching out to the young
and finding its place on
the world map of music
festivals. The artistes came in
from ten different countries
(India, France, Morocco,
Switzerland, Luxembourg,
UK, Australia, Lithuania,
Ireland and Italy), the bands
presented a very high level
of jazz for all tastes: from
traditional to progressive,
from jazz-rock to groove
funk, from Gnawa to Indian
fusion. Plus, each night the
musicians surprised the
audience by getting together
on stage and improvising in
an all all-stars jam.
Each evening was
carefully curated, always
ending up with an uptempo
party band, getting
everyone on their feet.
Some highlights: the
intense, powerful and
inspiring Swiss band Nik
Baertsch’s Ronin, the
uptempo and perfect-last-act
Gabacho Maroconnection,
the art exhibition for Inspire
Trust, the local products, the
food and drinks...
85
HAPPENINGS
LIGHTING THE WAY
O
n a cold winter night at Vithalapur in Sanquelim,
colourful boats and ships were set sailing along
the river Valvanti near the Pundalik Temple.
This unique event held on Tripurari Purnima is part
of an annual tradition that gets the locals together to
build these miniatures out of thermacol and other
materials. Held on the occasion of Lord Krishna’s defeat
of the demon Tripur, on Kartik Purnima, the unusual
competition attracts throngs of visitors every year. Lamps
are released in the river as a victory celebration. It all
begins with the arrival of the palanquin of the idol of Lord
Vithal amidst chanting. The idol is ceremoniously placed
on the banks until the end of the competition. A host
of cultural programmes including songs by well known
artistes, performances of various Goan traditional folk
dances such as Goff, Dhalo, Tonyamel, Veerbhadra, Samai
Dance are also organised.
After the competition, the beautifully decorated boats
of all shapes and sizes are lit and move along the shore.
The Tourism Department has joined hands with the
Deepavali Utsav Committee to host the festival.
86
www.timelinegoa.in
OFF ROAD ADVENTURES
They keep a vigilant eye on the number of riders so as to
not miss out anyone.” Accompanying them is a mechanic,
medical backup, tow truck and extra riders in case anyone
gets too tired to continue the ride.
Strict discipline was maintained throughout and only
license holders and helmet riders were allowed. Riders also
planted trees along the way. Amonkar is planning another
unique ride next summer. Stay tuned for more details.
G
oa offers opportunities to those who love to explore
the great outdoors. Whether it’s trekking through
dense forests or exploring never before visited areas
on a bike, there’s much on offer. Bikescape is one such
endeavour that allows enthusiasts to hop on their two-wheels
and take off to places where your feet can’t. “I generally
host treks that afforded trekkers places to see on foot, but
never on the bike. Bikescape takes them to remote places
that only bikes go,” says.... sixth edition in partnership with
GTDC drew 190 participants with 100 bikes from all parts of
Goa. Even riders from neighbouring areas like Sawantwadi,
Belgaum and around joined in. They traversed a total of 130
kms, covering Panjim, Mapusa, Assnora to Chorla, Morlem,
Sanquelim and Navelim in Sanquelim. Route details are
not disclosed before a ride and maps are handed out on the
day itself. “We mark out routes with red flags so as to make
navigation easy,” says Amonkar. “Ten riders communicate
with walkie-talkies because a lot of places have no network.
B
elieving that beauty is more than just skin
deep and is about personality and good
grooming, Fbb Femina Miss India 2016
held an interactive format called ‘Master Class
with a Beauty Queen’ as part of the pageant’s
local Goa audition drive.
Hosted at The Crown Goa Hotel, audition
aspirants and beauty enthusiasts from Goa
were invited for an exclusive master class where
invited professionals shared tips and insights
on the beauty, fashion and lifestyle industry.
Celebrating its 53rd anniversary this year, the
Miss India pageant aims to target young women
across the length of the country with more
localised formats in an attempt to groom talent
and showcase it. The Master Class was attended
by Miss United Continents 2014, 1st runnerup Gail Da Silva, national costumer winning
designer, Melvyn Noronha, actor Tapan Acharya,
make-up artist Bina Punjani and Fashion&
Lifestyle journalist Ethel Da Costa were
amongst the panel.
Speaking to an attentive audience, Gail
Da Silva said, “Comparatively we have better
quality this year for the auditions and more such
workshops should be conducted to provide
much needed exposure. It’s great to see young
talent from the city keen on participating in the
pageant. I’m hoping for a great audition and
wishing all the aspirants the best.
88
BEAUTY MASTER CLASSES
HAPPENINGS
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SCALING NEW HEIGHTS
The Goa River Marathon
has run the course of six
years to great success. The
present edition at Chicalim,
saw a participation from
22 countries from across
the world. This year saw
the introduction of the
42.2km full marathon
and an increased
participation of women.
With worldwide official
recognition given by IAAF
officials approving and
certifying the route for
the fullmarathon, 10km
and half marathon on
par with international
events, this year timing
certificates within eligibility
allowed entry to most
International worldwide
events. Nitin Bandekar,
President, Vasco Sports
Club, organisers of Skechers
Goa River Marathon 2015
said, “ I am happy to share
that this year we have
touched 3000 registrations
for the half marathon and
10km run in the competitive
section with 4000 entries
in the 5km Charity
Run. Participants from
22 different countries
have registered, which
includes 18 Ethiopians,
Kenyans. A contingent of
12 top class runners have
landed from Ladakh and
are getting acclimatised
to the humid conditions
of Goa. This means this
year we have more than
7000 participants.”
Spearheading technology
innovation for the first time
in the country, Rakesh
Unny, Secretary, Vasco
Sports Clubs revealed
, “A new mobile App
has been developed by
our Timing partners,
`Timing Technologies’ from
Hyderabad, introduced for
the first time ever in the
country at GRM. Simply by
typing in the participant Bib
number, a relative or friend
of the participant can track
his/her movement during the
race. It can be downloaded
for free from Google play.
One can search for 10 Bib
numbers at a time,” he said.
The full marathon
was completed by Mals
Perera with a finish time
of 03:58:40 in the men’s
category and Amogne in
the ladies section that
clocked 02:29:08.
89
LISTINGS
What’s
Where?
Happening
Christmas and New Year
Parties
on 24th December, and a Grand Roast
Turkey Brunch on 25th December at the
Goa Mariott. With Goa’s premier band
Tidal Wave rolling out retro classics and
contemporary foot-tapping music, there
is no better way to spend a Christmas
afternoon with your loved ones than
pulling them onto the dance floor and
working off the rich feasting!
New Year
CHRISTMAS EVE
Celebrate the joy of togetherness over
some fine dancing and fellowship at the
various traditional dances happening
across Goa like the Christmas Magic
at Keserval and Christmas Dance,
Woodbourne Country Club, Nuvem.
ON CHRISTMAS
Enjoy your family get-togethers over at
Christmas Dance at A Lua, Merces with
bands Purple Rain and The Big Country
Band in attendance.
FELIZ NATAL
Partake in the merry meals as you wish
everyone a Feliz Natal with a Christmas
Eve Gala Dinner replete with festivities
you groove to the spirited beats of DJs
Sulaiman and Purab. Savour a bountiful
assortment of cuisines from across the
world, from Grills to Curries, Kebabs
to Biryani, Asian, European, Middle
Eastern, Mediterranean and lots more,
with interactive live stations for madeto-order fare.
NYE SINQ
Count in the New Year at the biggest
New Year part in Goa that boasts of
2-stages (indoor & Outdoor) Playing
individual genres of music Outdoor (
EDM, Commercial, Hip-hop, House),
Indoors (Bollywood, Commercial).
There are fire dancers, led dancers and
exclusive fireworks show.
For early Reservations & Info:
8308000080
PRE NEW YEAR BOLLYWOOD
PARTY WITH BHUMICKA SINGH
GARDEN OF DREAMS
Ring in the New Year in style at Grand
Hyatt’s Garden of Dreams. Escape from
reality and enter a enchanted world
where fantasy rules. This one-of-a-kind
New Year’s event in Goa includes a
theatrical music dinner show with 100
world-class performers who will ensure
a whimsical and captivating evening of
dramatic mixed arts, inspiring artistry,
singers, musicians and a DJ who will
build up an evening for a brand new
year 2016. For reservations call: Festivity
Desk +91 832 301 1510
Everyone’s favourite party destination
Club Titos in Baga is hosting a Pre New
Year with Bhumicka Singhh. Also joining
her are DJs Sulaiman & Dj Mack Vieira.
Date: Dec 30, 2015.
EVERY
Monday
LIVE MUSIC
Enjoy a quiet meal with family or friends
with Kenny in attendance to set the
right mood for the evening at Martin’s
Corner, Betalbatim.
BEACH PARTY
Ring in the New Year with panache
on 31st December at the Goa Mariott,
at ‘The Beach 2016’, a spectacularly
exclusive Beach Party – Goa’s one and
only! Shed your inhibitions and worries,
suit up in your coolest threads, and party
under the shimmering stars. Let your
hair down and delight in the exquisitely
velvety feel of sand under your feet, as
90
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Tuesday
Club, Candolim.
RETRO TUNES
LIVE MUSIC
SING ALONG
Country fans will enjoy their Tuesday
evenings at Cafe Mojos, Panjim. You can
also indulge in a little play of luck at the
Chances Resort and Casino, Dona Paula.
Enjoy their retro Bollywood, jazz music
and more.
Make your Thursdays a MohitoThursday
at Cohiba, Sinquerim. All you have to
do is croon a song and get yourself a
mohito.
Shake a leg to your favourite retro tunes
as band Crimson Tide sets the mood for
the Friday night at Cavala, Baga.
Wednesday
SEA FOOD NIGHT
Indulge in a sea food spread at the
Fisherman’s Wharf, Cavelossim.
LADIES NIGHT
PUB HOPING
PIZZA TIME
DJ MUSIC
Enjoy some hip and house music at Cafe
Mambos, Baga as DJ Rinton sets you
dancing.
LIVE MUSIC
Enjoy a hearty Goan meal with Cedric
to serenade you at Chef Fernado’s
Nostalgia, Loutolim.
Friday
LIVE MUSIC
KARAOKE NIGHT
Live it up with your favourite songs at
Chef Fernando’s Nostalgia’s fun karaoke
session in Loutolim. Language is no bar
at Guru’s Bar and Restaurant in Anjuna.
You can sing in English, Hindi or even
Russian.
LIVE MUSIC
Those in the South will enjoy some jazz
music at Firefly Goan Bistro in Benaulim
located close to the beach.
South Goa isn’t that all quiet after all.
Every Friday you can catch live music
with Krishna, Nostalgia, Loutolim and
Emmanuel-one man band sets the tune
at Joets Bogmalo, Vasco.
Saturday
Get the girlie gang together for a
fun night out as it’s Ladies Night on
Wednesdays at Club Sinq, Candolim,
Cafe Mojos, Panaji, Club Cabana, Arpora
and Club Zero Grativity, Anjuna.
Have a pizza night with friends and
family at Ciao Bella, Assagao. They have
a selection of authentic Italian wood
fired pizzas.
LIVE MUSIC
Everyone’s favourite party house sets
the tone for the weekend with DJs
Ajit and Jay spinning some hip hop and
house music at Café Mambos, Baga.
Next hop to Cape Town Cafe in the
area or head further out to Sinq. It is
the place to catch all the excitement on
the weekend with RJ Rinton and Mr E.
Dance to their tunes or lounge by the
pool, the choice is endless. Its Rs 1500
per couple and Rs 500 for ladies.
KARAOKE
For a quiet meal by the river head out
to Terry’s by the Betim Ferry wharf. You
can sing while you eat as Saturday calls
for Karaoke at the restaurant.
Enjoy a night with Nick and Noah at O
Coqueiro, Porvorim.
Sunday
GHAZAL NIGHT
Take a break from the usual menu and
dig into some juicy Sizzlers. You can
choose song and sing to your heart’s
content with Karaoke at The Palms,
Palmarinha Resort and Suites, Calangute.
If you love Ghazals then Casino Carnival
has just the evening planned for you.
Every Friday you can listen to your
favourite tunes, while playing with lady
luck.
JAZZ AND ROCK AND ROLL
Be entertained with blues, rock and rock
and roll at Butter, Panaji.
SIZZLER NIGHT WITH KARAOKE
JUKE BOX
Play your favourite tunes from the
Mojo’s Digital Juke Box on Sunday
evenings at Cafe Mojos, Panaji.
DIMSUM BASKET
A GOAN FARE
Enjoy a delicious spread from the
unlimited (veg and non-veg) dimsum fare
cooked in steam baskets at Zuri, White
Sands, Varca.
Saxy Aggie sets the tune on a lazy
Sunday. Order your favourite Goan
dishes as the chefs are known for their
sumptuous preparations at Fernando’s
Nostalgia.
Thursday
RETRO VIBE
Swing to some of your favourite oldies
on Thursday Retro night at Sinq Beach
KARAOKE
Head out to Boomerang, Colva to sing
to your heart’s content.
91
ASTROLOGY
Star Trek
TAURUS
GEMINI
While you can be very focused on
harmony, don’t back away from
exploring deeper issues just for the sake
of peace. People are generous with you
now, and you with them.
The New Moon on the 11th brings
you into a position where you feel
equipped to take on practically any
challenge. You’re more aware of how
you’re managing your inner world,
what controls you, and how to take
back power, and this is true to some
degree for much of December. It’s a
fine time to begin a new program for
self-improvement.
There is a strong focus on your social
life this month. With soft, indulgent
Venus in your work sector most of
the month and energetic Mars in your
sector of play the whole time, it can
be a little difficult to get into the right
mindset to get a lot of work done. For
some of you, you can meet friends
or even lovers through your work or
pursuit of health objectives this month.
As the month advances, you’re drawn
to deeper subjects, perhaps some
research or psychology, related topics.
LEO
Work and health matters are also in
strong focus especially in the first
weeks of December, after which
relationships take more and more
precedence. Work, organizing your
home, and getting going on a fitness
program are all favoured. A new job
or major project can be in the works
for some of you. Family life can be
quite animated this month - there can
be increased activity in the home and
a more demanding time overall. You
should focus on the parts that make
up the whole now in order to improve
your daily life.
92
Most of the month, you’re in a great
position to boost relationships with
family and to find new ways to enjoy
home life or time spent nesting. You
stand to gain deeper insights into your
family, work, and possibly health as
well. Your combination of creativity and
focused attention make you stand out
from the crowd in the first few weeks
of December. A romantic commitment
or a new lease on an old project is
possible now. You are drawn towards
the things you truly love doing.
VIRGO
ARIES
The New Moon on the 11th reinforces
and energizes your need to branch
out, make a mark on the world, and
communicate. You may want to publish
your work or make an announcement
in the week following this lunation.
The thing to watch at this time,
however, is prematurity. Don’t push
something too quickly. People are
looking to you for answers, and they’re
expecting you to be quite mature and
responsible. Business affairs assume
more importance, and even more
so once the Sun enters this same
sector on the 22nd.
CANCER
Shalom David deciphers what the stars foretell
Your home and family life continue
to dominate your focus in the first
weeks of December. Your attention to
domestic concerns is big this month,
although romantic matters also figure
strongly the further along you advance
into the month. The New Moon on the
11th will give you the jolt or jumpstart
you need to make changes on the home
front. This is the time to take charge
of your personal life. You tend to come
out of your shell more as the month
advances. You tend to be a little more
courageous and bold when it comes to
self-expression.
www.timelinegoa.in
CAPRICON
AQUARIUS
You find your voice this month after
the 9th, and you’re more willing to
talk about yourself and your plans.
There can be travel or educational
plans in strong focus - things are going
your way. Work and health tend to
be favourable for you now. The 10th
brings a possible turnaround related to
the balance between work and home,
or personal and professional demands.
The New Moon on the 11th is a quiet
one for you. It can serve as a reminder
that you need to tie up loose ends.
While you’re in a good position
professionally, your heart tends to be
with non-competitive situations this
month. Contact with others is fruitful
in December, both personally and
professionally, and your image is strong
much of the month with Venus at the
top of your chart. The dates 23-24 is
particularly powerful for getting in good
with people who can help you advance.
The New Moon on the 11th brings a
surge of energy for starting fresh on a
communications project, new goal, or
friendship, although you’re bound to
feel that life is a little chaotic leading
up to this day.
SAGITTARIUS
SCORPIO
There is continued focus on building
the structures in your life, money,
natural talents, and matters of comfort
and security in the first three weeks.
After the New Moon on the 11th that
energizes the sector of your solar chart
that rules all of these things, you’re in
a great position to start fresh with a
business or financial plan or endeavour.
You are interested in making your
money or talents work for you. There
is strong focus on detoxifying and
cleansing on emotional, mental, and
physical health levels with Mars in your
solar twelfth house all month.
Mars is animating your sector of
dreams, long-term plans, friendships,
and groups all month, and this
enhances your ability to assert yourself
and pursue your desires with ease.
Decision making skills are generally
quite good, although there are dates to
watch for impulsiveness, and these are
the 6th, 10th, 20th, and 28-29. Group
and friend activity is dynamic this
month. Even so, with Venus in your
privacy sector, there is some unfinished
business to take care of when it comes
to love relationships.
PISCES
LIBRA
This is an excellent month for a new
mental pursuit or project, if only you
have a chance to focus on it! The New
Moon on the 11th gives you a nice
boost of energy and motivation to make
connections. Your communication
skills get a boost, and often times are
the key to advancement this month.
Your appetite for comfort is strong, and
you may be considering ways to enjoy
yourself more fully. Family matters
come into stronger focus as the month
advances. You’re also awakening to
a professional goal or dream that’s
coming alive inside you now.
The month begins more demanding
than it ends. You are more accountable
to others when it comes to what you
have and haven’t done, and you’re
looking to fulfill your responsibilities
and promises. This can sometimes feel
uncomfortable for a Pisces, but you’re
also in a position of strength. The New
Moon on the 11th energizes your sector
of career and reputation, and you have
the chance to bring fresh energy to your
career, reputation or life-path goals.
This is a good time for sharing your
knowledge with associates.
93
INFO
Must
See,
Do
Beaches
NORTH
While most tourists seek
Goa’s heady beach belt
of Baga, Calangute and
Anjuna, visitors would
find it rewarding to head
further North to the solace
of Arambol, Mandrem and
Morjim. Enjoy the calm of
the cool breezes brushing
against the pristine waters
minus the cacophony of
motor boats and thronging
crowds. A popular spot
for yoga practitioners and
seekers of zen, you can
indulge in some serious
relaxation and meditation.
SOUTH
It’s in the extreme tips that
you may find your peace
haven in Goa. Canacona,
located at the tip of Goa’s
southern border, is a perfect
escape for those this side
of Goa. Stay rustic at the
bamboo huts at Cola
beach or relax at a beach
shack to enjoy the perfect
sunset. On weekends
you can even groove to
music yet in silence at the
Silent Noise party.
Islands
Goa’s long stretch of inland
waterways offers many
lesser known, unexplored
islands like Divar, St Esteve,
Chorao, Bat Island and St
94
Explore Goa’s famous landmarks and
those off the beaten track
Jacinto. Bird watchers will
enjoy spotting Goa’s avian
creatures at the Salim Ali
Bird Sanctuary at Chorao.
Ride around aimlessly
through Divar’s gliding roads
or take in the breathtaking
view of the meandering
Mandovi river from the hill
top. The vistas offer plenty of
selfie moments for a picture
perfect holiday.
Museums
Museums in Goa offer a
treasure trove of historical
nuggets, showing glimpses
into Goa’s past. If you are in
and around Panjim, the state
run museum of the Indian
Customs and Central Excise
houses interesting and varied
artefacts for the history lover.
In the South, Goa Chitra
in Benaulim offers an age
old view of rural Goa while
in Old Goa and Rachol
invaluable offerings of
Christian art will fascinate
visitors. The Naval Aviation
museum in the port city of
Vasco displays old fighter
planes and more..
Religion
Goa’s religious landscape
is as variegated as it’s past.
Each ruler introduced his
own belief systems on the
local population leaving
behind testaments to various
faiths. Temples abound in
the interiors of Bicholim,
Marcel, Ponda, common
sites for Hindu pilgrims from
across the country. A must
on the itinerary is Goa’s
oldest temple at Tambdi
Surla. The 12th century
Shiva temple attracts visitors
not only for its intricate
black basalt carvings, but for
the waterfall close by too.
Christianity, brought by
the Portuguese, grew and
flourished in Goa during
their regime. Tall white
washed edifices mark
the skyline. Besides the
Basilica de Bom Jesus and
Se Cathedra,l visit the
other beautifully adorned
churches in Old Goa and
the many hillside chapels
across the state.
Heritage
Homes
The Portuguese not only
left behind a religion,
but influenced local
architecture too. The
grand old homes with their
balcaos and sloping roofs
stand in all their glory at
many locations. Some like
the Menezes Branganza
mansion in Chandor
have been converted into
museums. The Figueiredo
home in Loutulim is another
magnificent old mansion.
www.timelinegoa.in
Flight Timings
Airlines
Air Asia
Go Air
Indigo
Spicejet
Vistara
Airlines
Air Asia
Go Air
Indigo
Jetair
Spicejet
Vistara
Depature (Goa to DELHI)
07:15, 13:55, 15:00, 16:05, 22:00
18:30
14:20, 13:50, 16:00, 16:30, 17:20, 21:55
13:35, 15:55
14:30
Depature (Goa to MUMBAI)
Airlines
Air Asia
Air India
Go Air
Indigo
Jetair
07:15, 15:00, 17:40, 22:20
06:50, 16:00, 16:35, 23:55
13:30, 13:55, 14:35, 15:05, 16:40, 17:20
05:00, 07:00, 07:05, 13:40, 14:35, 16:40, 18:50
13:45, 18:05
Depature (Goa to BANGALORE)
08:05, 14:50, 16:45
04:10, 13:45
14:50
08:10, 16:00
14:40
15:20
Railway Timings
Train schedules from
Margao to Mumbai CST
Train schedules from Margao to Delhi
Train
No.
Dep.
Time
Destination
Arr.
Time
Travel
Time
12450 Goa Smprk K Exp New Delhi
06:20
12618 Mngla Lksdp Exp H Nizamuddin 09:15
22654 Nzm Tvc Sf Exp H Nizamuddin 10:05
22660 Ddn Kcvl Sup Exp H Nizamuddin 13:55
12780
Goa Express H Nizamuddin 15:00
Margao
Margao
Margao
Margao
Margao
15:00
20:30
21:00
22:25
05:40
32:40
35:15
34:55
32:30
38:40
Train Name
Origin
Days Of Run
M
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
T
N
Y
N
N
Y
W TH F SA SU
N N N Y N
Y Y Y Y Y
N N N N N
N N N N N
Y Y Y Y Y
Tr.
Num
10104
10112
12134
Tr. Name
Mandovi Exp
Konkan Kanya Exp
Mumbai Exp
Dep.
Time
08:30
16:45
21:50
Arrival
Time
21:40
05:50
10:33
Tuesday Goa (Madgaon) to Bangalore (Yeshwantpur)
Train
No.
Train Name
Dep.
Time
Destination
Arr.
Time
Travel
Time
17309
Ypr Vasco Exp Yesvantpur Jn 14:30
Margao
05:15
14:45
Origin
Days Of Run
M
N
T W TH F SA SU
Y N N N N Y
Wednesday Goa (Madgaon) to Bangalore (Yeshwantpur)
Train
No.
Train Name
17316
Vlk Vsg Exp
Dep.
Time
Destination
Arr. Travel
Time Time
Krishnarajapuram 12:00
Margao
05:15
Origin
17:15
Days Of Run
M
N
T W TH F SA SU
N Y N N N N
Friday Goa (Madgaon) to Bangalore (Yeshwantpur)
Train
No.
17311
Dep.
Time
Destination
Arr. Travel
Time Time
Mas Vasco Exp Krishnarajapuram 20:10
Margao
11:55
Train Name
Origin
15:45
Days Of Run
M
N
T W TH F SA
N N N Y N
SU
N
PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICE NUMBERS
Departments
Phone Numbers
Police100
Fire101
Ambulance
108 / 102
Goa Tourism Development Tel: (832)-2424001/02/03
Corporation Ltd
Fax: +(91)-(832)-2423926/2430133
Email: reservations@goa-tourism.com
Web: www.goa-tourism.com
Airport Facilitation Counter
Tel: +(91)-(832)-2540031, 2540829
Fax: +(91)-(832)-2423926
Email: dabolimcounter@goa-tourism.com
Margao Railway Station Tel: +(91)-(832)-2715851
Helpdesk/Ticket Counter
Fax: +(91)-(832)-2423926
Email: margaocounter@goa-tourism.com
Hospitals and Blood Banks
Casualty (GMC), Bambolim
GMC Bambolim
Asilo, Mapusa
Hospicio, Margao
Hospicio Blood Bank, Margao
Blood Bank, Margao
GMC, Bambolim
Blood Bank
Vintage Hospital, Panaji
Apollo Nusi Hospital, Cuncolim
Apollo Nusi Hospitlal.
Manipal Goa Hospital, Dona Paula.
Phone Numbers
2223026
2233700-707
2262211/ 2262372
2722164
2703801
2705167/ 664
2233700-707
2223037
2232533/ 2426670
2862903
2863333
2843111
Ambulance
Indian Red Cross Society, Panaji
Care Foundation, Miramar
Esperanca Clinic, Miramar
Phone Numbers
2224601
2423488/9
2222413
Ambulance Trust, Margao
2723129, 2731759
GATES 102
Pernem9822980721
Verna 9822980726
Airways
Jet Airways
Indian Airlines
Phone Numbers
1800 22 55 22, 022-39893333
Airport : 2540029, 2540005
2431100-04, 2225172, 2426363,
24282822, 2428181
Airport : 2542444/45/46/47/48
Roadways Enquiry
K. T. C.
M. S. R. T.
K. S. R. T. C.
Phone Numbers
2438034/2438035
2438253
2438256
95
ENTERTAINMENT
BOOKS
BANDODKAR
HONOURED
Movies
HOLLYWOOD
STAR WARS: THE FORCE
AWAKENS
Star Wars is back! Set 30 years since the Jedis first captured
our imagination, the latest instalment is the first of a trilogy.
The film directed, co-produced and co-written by J.J Abrams,
stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver
and Daisy Ridley. The movie is produced by Lucasfilm and
Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions. The Force Awakens will
be released more than ten years after the franchise’s last
instalment, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005).
The book “India’s First Democratic Revolution: Dayanand
Bandodkar and the Rise of the Bahujan in Goa” by Parag D.
Parobo, was released last month. The work engages with
Goa’s transformation
by exploring the life
of Goa’s first chief
Mmnister Dayanand
Bandodkar and his
policies towards
democratizing Goa. It
traces Goa between
British and Portuguese
colonialism, recounting
the reconstruction of
caste, the emergence of
the Bahujan ideology,
land reforms, expansion
of the social sector and
deepening of democracy
in a broader pan–Indian
context.
The book suggests
that variations
in state policies,
implementation and investments were the result of political
will and not predetermined by socio-economic and cultural
constraints alone. In what way were Goa’s land reforms
different? How different was it for Goa’s education
and health sector to have a leader whose vision for Goa
was very different from that of Nehru? Even as North
India embraced Bahujan politics, why did Goa’s Bahujan
movement fragment? Answers to these questions are
important in the broader context and help us to understand
the transformations which came about in Goa once the
fundamentals for continuing economic growth were in
place.
BOLLYWOOD
WAZIR
The much awaited action thriller Wazir will finally
hit screens early January. Starring Amitabh Bachchan
and Farhan Akhtar, it is produced by Vidhu Vinod
Chopra. The film revolves around the story of two
friends: a wheelchair-bound chess grandmaster and a
brave ATS officer brought together by a strange twist
of fate. Wait and watch out for this one!
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