Panjim.. 21st July ….. August is just round the corner and Goa is all set to reverberate and celebrate some unique occasions, festivities and activities.

If you’re looking for a getaway then there is no better place than Goa which is in a midst of the monsoons and a perfect place to rejuvenate and feel the vibrancy of the local celebrations that the state is getting popular for.

This August is simply an awesome August as there is a blend of festivities, activities and celebrations which will portray the deep harmony of all communities residing in Goa from religious fervor to food and folklore, traditional costumes, colours and a lot more. So look no further, be in Goa to experience this rich culture and heritage that Goa is offering to one and all.

The eighth best things to experience in Goa this August:

1. Independence Day (August 15). – Independence Day is celebrated all over India, but in Goa this day has very special significance as the state celebrates India’s freedom and the religious feast of Our Lady of the Assumption. On this day, Goans spread the message of peace through various platforms showcasing Goa’s traditions and customs. One place you need to be is at the village of Socorro, North Goa. It’s a mini Goa you need to experience at Succorro which is about 12 kms from Panjim. This year the village community is celebrating five feasts on this auspicious day. The five festivities include: Our Lady of Assumption Feast, Independence Day celebration, World Goa Day, Konkani Day and celebrating the Ghumot and Patolleachem feast.

2. Traditional Games Festival (August 15): This festival celebrates the long forgotten old games played in Goa with simple, locally available materials in open spaces. To witness this you will have to head to Carmona in South Goa approximately 15 kms from Margao. Enthusiastic men and women, well past their prime, flex their muscles and master their formerly-acquired skills to compete with younger participants in traditional games like mittamni, lobiamni, hu tu tu and other games that are slowly fading from the public eye. This festival is again held on the occasion of Independence Day and the feast of Our Lady of the Assumption which brings the local community cutting across all religions to partake in this very enthusiastic sporting activity.

3. Angling: August offers a great platform for angling and in Goa a large number of angling competitions are organized across the state. One of the most popular fishing hot spots is at Ribandar when on August 15 a mega angling competition is organized with exciting prizes and surprises.
4. Bonderam, the festival of Flags in Divar (19 August)- Bonderam is a local festival on the island of Divar. It takes one back to the yester years when territorial battles took place on the island and a system of demarcating boundaries with flags was used. This festival starts with a flag parade which is accompanied by brass band, fancy dress competition and followed by a traditional float parade. Bonderam is a very popular monsoon festival in Goa which one should not miss.
5. Experience picture perfect Goa (19 August): Come to Goa and blend with nature’s beauty, enjoy the lush greenery, the wild life sanctuaries, the waterfalls, the breath-taking landscapes, the bubbling water bodies and if you are a photography fan then just click away. It will make great pictures if you are planning to participate in any competition organized on the occasion of World Photography Day on 19 August.
6. Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi (25 August): Ganesh Chaturthi is a perfect time to be in Goa as this Sarvajanik Utsav puts up an elaborate display of the Matoli and decorations with grandeur all across the state. In North Goa and South Goa one can visit places like Merces, Pernem, Cancona, Sanguem, Ponda and other cities which are decked-up to celebrate this festivity. State level competitions are also organized and one can spend the long weekend viewing these unique Goan traditions and festivities.
7. White Water rafting activity: Enjoy White Water Rafting activity on the waters of the natural, yet perfectly designed Mhadei River for the season. The first trip starts at 9:30 am and the second trip at 2:30 pm. The exciting trips run for 10 km each, stirring and elating you, along the breath-taking landscapes! The big and bouncy River Mhadei ensures a fun-filled trip for you, your family and friends
8. Eco-trekking expeditions: Goa Tourism organizes trekking expeditions every Sunday from June to September in a bid to explore Goa’s hidden treasures that come alive during the monsoons. These expeditions gives one an experience of the hinterlands, water bodies, lakes, waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries and eateries specialized in serving monsoon delicacies. The trekking expeditions are held every Sunday at various eco-touristic locations of Goa. It is open to all especially those with a spirit for adventure and nature lovers.

Panaji, July 20, 2017 … Directorate of Social Welfare invites applications for welfare schemes for the grant of stipend and scholarship separately for differently abled persons studying in various schools, colleges and other institutions etc., in the state of Goa.

Scholarship is also awarded to pursue education in music and vocational courses through recognized board of education or university.

Application forms may be collected from Directorate of Social Welfare, 18^th. June Road, Panaji from July 25 during office hours. The applications dully filled should be submitted to the Social Welfare Directorate on  or before September 30, 2017 dully recommended by concerned schools, Colleges and the Hotels.

Panaji: July 19,  2017 … The Department of Commercial Taxes is organizing a second round of GST Trade Awareness Campaign in Goa. The objective is to disseminate the salient features, proposed business processes and other information about GST regime to the stake holders.

GST Trade Awareness Campaigns will be held on July 25, 2017 between 2.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at Main Hall, Institute Menezes Braganza, Panaji.

On July 26, 2017  between 2.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at Sirsat Hall, Mapusa.

On July 27, 2017 between 2.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at Ravindra Bhavan, Sankhali.

On July 28, 2017 between 2.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at Conference Hall, 4^th Floor, Sub – District Hospital, Tiska, Ponda.

On July 31, 2017 between 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. at Ravindra Bhavan, near Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Margao.

On August 1, 2017 between 2.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at Ravindra Bhavan, Baina, Vasco da Gama and on August 2, 2017 between 2.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at Ravindra Bhavan, Maruti gad road, Curchorem.

Panaji: July 18,  2017 …  The Directorate of Art and Culture, Govt. of Goa in association with Ravindra Bhavan, Sankhali will be organizing a “Kirtan Workshop” at Ravindra Bhavan, Sankhali; under the guidance of Shri MohanbuvaKuber, renowned kirtankar, founder and Vice Principal of Nagpur Kirtan Vidyalaya.  The workshop will be held from August 17 to August 20, 2017 between 9.30 am to 5.00 pm.

The workshop has been organized to provide basic as well as advance knowledge of ‘Kirtan’ to the Goan Youths. Interested participants must register their willingness of participation for the workshop by filling a prescribed application forms which are available at the office. Entry fees of Rs. 300/- shall be charged for participating in this workshop. Department shall provide working lunch and tea for the participants.

The forms may be collected on or before  August 8, 2017 From Directorate of Art & Culture, Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji during office Hours. Filled forms must be submitted to this office on or before August 11, 2017 during working hours.

Margao, July 17,  2017 …. Town and Country Planning Minister, Shri. Vijay Sardessai inaugurated one week programme on “Landslide Risk Mitigation” organised by Collectorate, South Goa District, Margao in association with Geological Survey of India at Seminar Hall, Mathany Saldanha Administrative Complex, Margao.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri. Sardessai said, State have unplanned development issue, mostly having development on hill slopes and areas which have gradient. He also pointed that unplanned development takes place as State doesn’t have Regional Plan. Most probably landslides happen because of such unplanned development and most of the disasters take place as people do not understand Mother Nature.

Shri Sardessai urged the need to preserve fragile ecosystem areas which includes mountain slopes, low lying area, khajans, private forests, conservation zones. Government is working to bring forward Regional Plan 2030, having Double Development Right (DDR) policy which will be first of its kind in the country by which Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarpon will be protected he said. He also commended organisers for bringing all officials together for this programme and be prepared to face something which may happen.

While welcoming the gathering Shri. Swapnil Naik said that earlier Goa was considered stable as far as slopes and landslides are concerned. But subsequently due to unplanned development it became vulnerable to landslides Shri. Naik pointed. Landslide is a very complicated issue, he remarked.

Smt. Avelina D’sa, Joint Mamlatdar, Salcete compered the programme. Additional Collector, Shri. Johnson Fernandes proposed vote of thanks. Officials from various Government Departments took part in this programme.

Director, Geological Survey of India, Dr. Pankaj Jaiswal and Dr. Jorson Fernandes were the prominent persons present on the occasion.

Panaji: July 16, 2017 ….. The Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) has invited applications for National Awards for Bravery for Children (2017).

The main objective of this scheme is to give due recognition to children who perform acts of bravery with a view to inspire other children to follow their example. The deed should be “an act of spontaneous selfless service in the face of risk to life or threat of physical inquiry and or an act of courage and daring against a social evil/crime”.

The prescribed form is to be accompanied by a write-up of about 250 words giving the details of the deed performed by the applicant, proof of date of birth, newspaper/magazine clippings and/or the First Information Report (FIR) or Police Diary filed with the Police Station regarding the brave act and the account of the incident as well as the supporting documents endorsed by listed two competent authorities.

The application must be recommended by any two of the following:

·        Principal/Headmaster of the School, Head of Panchayat/Zila Parishad

·        General Secretary or President of the State Council for Child Welfare

·        Collector/DM/Govt. Official of equivalent rank

·        Supt. of Police of the area or police official of higher rank.

The child should not be below 6 years and above 18 years of age on the date of the incident.

Incidents should be occurred between July 01, 2016 and June 30, 2017 will be considered for the 2017 awards.

The award consists of a medal, a certificate and cash award. The awardees shall also receive various gifts from philanthropic organizations. The awards are in 4 categories.

Eligible awardees are granted assistance until they complete their schooling. ICCW provides financial assistance under its Scholarship Scheme to those undertaking professional courses such as engineering and medicine and to other till they complete their graduation.

The eligible child may submit their application in soft copy (CD in word/Pen Drive) and hard print in the prescribed format available in the Directorate of Women & Child Development or login on the website of ICCW (www.iccw.in) on or before 10 August 2017 in this Directorate.

For any clarifications, contact the Directorate on phone no. 2235308/2426112 during office hours.

Panaji: July 15,  2017 … Task Force for Integrated school complex at Cujira in association with all schools in Cujira, EDC Ltd, Mahalaxmi Trust, Goa Education Dev Corp and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shikhsha Abhiyan organised a two day workshop on ‘Environmental Awareness and Science Inculcation’ for students and teachers by Padmashree Dr Sharad Kale, Sr. Scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

The workshop organised at Dempo College complex was recently inaugurated at hands of Chairman EDC & Chairman Task Force for Integrated school complex Shri. Sidharth kuncalienker in presence of Padmashree Dr Sharad Kale and Principals of all schools and task force members Shri. Mahesh kandolkar, Sandip Chodankar, Pundalik Raut Desai and others were present on the occasion.

Panaji  :  July 14, 2017. …. The Government of Goa has implemented a new Scheme “The State Mission for Food Processing Scheme (SMFP)-2016”. The scheme envisages extending the financial assistance/ incentive for establishment of new food processing units as well as technology up gradation and expansion of existing food processing units which can help in creating sustainable local employment in the State.

Food based units to be set-up/up-graded by Individuals/ Partnership/Private Sector/State Government Undertaking/ Cooperatives/Self Help Groups will be eligible to avail of financial incentives under this Scheme. 

The financial assistance to be provided will be up to the extent of 25% of the cost of Plant & Machinery and Technical Civil Works, subject to a maximum of Rs.30.00 Lakh.

For more details, interested can contact the Directorate of Industries, Trade and Commerce, Udyog  Bhavan, Panaji, Goa, or call on 0832-2420787.

July 13, 2015 … The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, ( TRAI) has issued notice to the M/s Bhima Reddi Digital Services, Solapur (BRDS) for disconnection of the signals of TV channels of linked LCOs without specifying the reasons for disconnection.  

Shri Srinet Kothwale, Director, Department of Information & Publicity had filed a complaint with TRAI based on a report by District Collector North Goa, Smt Nila Mohanan, IAS.

The BRDS is required to submit their comments within 15 days to TRAI.

Panaji: July 12,  2017 …. The Directorate of Art and Culture, is organizing an Enamelling Workshops at Painting Studio, Sanskruti Bhavan, Panaji. The workshop will be on “Vitreous Enamel on Copper & Pre-Enamelled plate”, which will be conducted by expert Shri Meghan Salgaonkar, from Maharashtra. The workshop will be held from August 1 to August 4, 2017 between 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Shri Meghan Salgaonkar will conduct a workshop on the basic medium of “Enamelling”. Total 15 to 20 practicing fine artists, art students and hobby artists of Goa shall be selected to participate in the workshop.

The practicing artists/art students, hobby artists must register their willingness of participation for the workshop by filling a prescribed application form available at the office. Entry fees of Rs. 1000/- will be charged for participating in workshop. Department will provide raw material, working lunch and refreshment for the participants.

 The application form must be submitted on or before July 25, 2017 during working hours. The application received from the applicants will be shortlisted. The participants selected for the workshop will be informed by the department.