Panaji: February 11, 2018 …  The Governor of Goa, Dr. (Smt. ) Mridula Sinha  inaugurated the three-day  conference of the third edition of “Difficult Dialogue” organized by Goa University in collaboration with Goa International Centre, at Dona Paula. The theme of the conference was ‘Gender Equality for Everyone’s Benefit’. Dr. Sinha while speaking on the occasion said that the men and women are important factors of human society. So they each occupy equal importance and their status in equal. Women she said are an embodiment of patience. The Creator endowed certain qualities in women which her different from men. Therefore it is the duty of the society to care and protect the self-respect and dignity of women.

          Dr. Sinha further expressed her happiness at the opportunity to address the gathering of intellectuals. She said that we should not look at women as objects or as inferior. She hoped that the gathering deliberates on various issues pertaining to safety of the women, self-respect and dignity of the women.

           Earlier, Prof. Varun Sahani, Vice- Chancellor, Goa University welcomed the gathering while Prof. Y.V. Reddy Registrar, Goa University proposed vote of thanks.

Panjim, Jan 10: The Goa Food and Cultural Festival  got  underway in the capital city on friday amidst  much fanfare and festivities  with  tourists and  food fans  thronging D. B Bandodkar  Ground in large numbers.

The five  day Food and  Cultural festival 2018 was inaugurated at the hands of Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Mr. Manohar Ajgaonkar, the Hon’ble Chairman  of GTDC, Mr. Nilesh Cabral, Mr. Surendra Furtado, Mayor CCP, Mr. Menino D’souza, Director Tourism, Govt. of Goa, Mr. Nikhil Desai, MD,GTDC and other officials.

The Food festival which began on the eve of  Carnaval 2018 celebrations  is expected to draw lakhs of visitors and  foodies from  all over.

This annual  food and  cultural extravaganza  has earned the distinction of  bringing together professionals from the tourism & hospitality industry; hoteliers, restaurateurs, beverage brands and lifestyle outlets to showcase their premium offerings. The festival also includes an  interesting line-up of  entertainment.

Some of the festival highlights include food & lifestyle stalls, performances by popular national bands including Agnee, Lagori, Ravi Chary with Gino Banks & Troupe, live music by top Goan Bands – Crimson Tide and Rahul with Raagas 2 Riches, international dance performances, fashion show by Anusha Shaikh, sand sculpture workshop, Chef de Goa Cooking Contest, and much more.

This year, the festival  has an exciting Chef de Goa competition which is an excellent platform for those with culinary skills and  creativity to showcase it all. The competition will demonstrate the rich cuisine and various delicacies of Goa. The contestants will have to participate in a series of rounds to win the coveted title and the finals will take place on 13^th February at the festival venue.

The Food & Cultural festival is open to all and will commence at 6.00 p.m. every evening.

The Goa Carnaval Food & Cultural Festival 2018 Itinerary:

Panaji-February 10, 2018  …. Minister for Tourism Shri Manohar Azgaonkar attended the concluding ceremony of  First Edition of State Youth Parliament organised  by Legislature Secretariat Porvorim Goa at Gomantak Maratha Samaj Hall in the city yesterday.

Speaker of  Goa Legistlative Assembly Dr. Pramod Sawant, Shri N. B. Subhedar, Secretary-Legislature were present on the occasion.

Various activities conducted on the occasion included Panel Discussion of youth participation in socio Politics by Shri Prasad Gaonkar MLA and Chairman Goa Forest Development Corporation, Interaction with Chief  Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar on Vision for Youth interviewed  by Shri Pramod Acharya  and Panel discussion on Countering Youth Suicides and Performance by Winners of Students Parliament Competition.

Shri Azgaonkar expressed his happiness over successful organization of First Edition of State Youth Parliament and said, that youths are very intelligent  having good talents and guided them saying this is the right time and age  for them to moved ahead with a vision in their mind to make them self successful person in their life.  

      Dr Sawant appreciated the efforts and hard work put in by all the youths in make this concept successful. 

Shri Attmaram  Barve  compered the programme. 

 Panaji, February 10, 2018  …  The Directorate of Art and Culture will honour 12 eminent personalities in the field of Art and Culture by conferring the ‘Goa State Cultural Award 2016-2017’ for their contribution and achievements respective art forms like music, drama/tiatr, folk art, bhajan, kirtan, craft, literature, painting etc.

Shri Sachin Khedekar, renowned Film Actor and Director will be the Chief Guest and will present the awards. Minister for Art and Culture, Shri Govind Gaude and Shri Daulat Hawaldar, Secretary, Art and Culture will be the Guests of Honor. The function will be held on February 12, 2018 at 4.30 p.m at Kala Academy, DMK Hall, Panaji.

The awardees are Shri Pramod Priolkar, Priol (Music : Indian), Shri F.G. Alvarro de A. Pereira, Utorda (Music Western), Shri Dasu Shirodkar, Tarvalem, Shri Gajanan Jog, Caranzalem and Shri Avecleto Afonso, Panaji (literature), Shri Ganesh Marathe, Corlim, (drama), Smt Maria Fernandes, Sangolda (tiatr), Shri Romaldo D’Souza, Chinchinnim (tiatr), Shri Udaybua Phadke, Mulgao (kirtan), Shri Umesh Tari, Old Goa, (bhajan), Shri Ram Mauskar, Nagargaon (folk art) Shri Sadashiv Parab, Moira, fine art).

Government will also honor ‘Antruz Lalitak’ Bandora, Ponda as Best Cultural Institution in the field of Art and Culture for the year 2016-17. Best Library Award will be presented to St.Xavier’s College, Mapusa and Best Librarian Award will be presented to Shri Sadanand R. Shirgaonkar and Shri Mohandas Naik.

Panaji: 10/02/2018 …The much awaited Goa Carnival began its celebrations on Saturday with the traditional Inaugural float parade in Panaji being attended by thousand of Goans and Tourists from all over the world.

The Parade, which is hosted by Goa State Tourism Department, was held along the seashore on the road connecting from Miramar beach to Dona Paula, and was flagged off by the Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar in the presence of Goa Tourism Development Corporation Chairman, Nilesh Cabral, Panaji Mayor, Surendra Furtado and other dignitaries.

Carnival is celebrated before the beginning of lent when Christians in the state undertake fasting, repentance, moderation, self-denial and spiritual discipline for 40 days as a religious observance. Carnival presents an opportunity to indulge in eating, drinking and celebrating, which is prohibited during lent.

the Carnival float parade this year turned took a new way through the spacious Miramar-Caranzalem Road for the first time. In an effort to decongest the city the festival parade this year had its starting point near Goa Science Centre unlike the usual DB road earlier.

King Momo threw the festival open aboard a mermaid themed tableau. This year, Bruno Azaredo from Utorda, South Goa was chosen to lead the Carnaval Parade as King Momo.

The parade, with more than 30 floats, was led by King Momo who decreed that one was to eat, drink and be merry over the four days of festivities. More than 20,000 people lined the route, said organisers.

Revelers were seen participating in the parade wearing self designed costumes and being cheered by the audience along the Marine drive near Miramar beach.

Carnival is one of the flagship tourism events of Goa. It is the symbol of our goan culture and tradition said Tourism Minister Babu Ajgaonkar .

this year one of the new addition was a float by the Goa Police which highlighted citizens to follow traffic rules and dissuading them from driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This is for the first time that goa police had participated in the float parade.

chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation Nilesh Cabral said that the state tourism department would bring more creativity in to the next year’s carnival float parade along with better seating arrangement in this new location.

After the innaugural parade in Panaji, similar parades would be also held in Margao on February 11, Vasco on February 12 and Mapusa on February 13. The parade in Ponda will take place on February 11, Curchorem on February 12 and Morjim on February 13.

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Panaji, February 09, 2018  … The Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar along with the Minister for Health, Shri Vishwajit Rane launched a new fleet of twenty 108 First Responder Bike ambulance at the Secretariat, Porvorim, today.

            The Chief Minister while speaking at the launch said that such a facility will help people get immediate and primary medical response as it will overcome obstacles of traffic jams, narrow roads etc.

            The Chief Minister further said that the bikes are fitted with facilities for provisions like oxygen cylinder and other healthcare required to stablise the patient.

            The Minister for Health, Shri Vishwajit Rane, said that the First Responder Bike ambulance will help save lives of people. Shri Vishwajit Rane further said that this facility will help attend to cases of drowning in coastal areas. “Our mission is to save lives”, he said. He appreciated the interest shown by private company to sponsor an additional 25 ambulances. He said that the government is working to increase the fleet First Responder Bike ambulances to 100.

Present on the occasion were Director of Health Services, Dr. Sanjeev Dalvi, Head of Operations, 108 Ambulances, Smt Purti Patkar, among others.

            The First Responder Bike ambulance is targeted to reach an injured person in the State without undue delay. Professional paramedics will ride these bikes. While the paramedic starts the resuscitation measures, a full size ambulance will be sent en route to relieve and take the victim to a hospital.

Panjim,  Feb 9: Hon’ble  Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Parrikar today inaugurated a four lane road and beautification of traffic island at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Circle at Curchorem,  in the distinguished presence of  Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Mr. Manohar Ajgaonkar and Hon’ble MLA & Chairman   of GTDC, Mr. Nilesh Cabral. This mega project   has been  undertaken  by  the Department  of Tourism, Govt.  of Goa and  Goa Tourism Development  Corporation (GTDC) through its SPV Cell  under  the Development of Hinterland Tourism.

The  objective  of the  project was to  develop various  places of interest in the Sanguem and  Quepem Taluka to provide basic amenities  and upgrade junctions with signages, toilet blocks, traffic islands, footpaths etc.

Goa Tourism has undertaken the four lane road with signages,  traffic island and  beautification of Dr. Ambedkar Circle in three  phases. The four laning of the road covers a length of  1.2 kms,  underground  HT  (33 KV) and  LT (11KV) electric cabling by providing separate  ducts below the footpaths.

Footpaths on either sides of the road have been  constructed with sit outs and  under ground  storm  water drains.  Illumination  of  the roads,  a fountain  and  garden  at the Dr Ambedkar  Circle,  traffic and  signages for safety of  tourists,  providing  toilets block  facilities for tourists  near  the railway station are some of the components under the development project.

The work has been  carried out  by M/s Bagkiya Constructions and the consultants for this project are Fourth Dimensions, Pune.

Also present  at the function were councilors  of Curchorem – Cacora Municipal Council and  officials from the Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of  Goa and  GTDC.