A beautiful evening at the picturesque Ozran beach, Vagator

OZRAN BEACH - BEAUTIFUL GOAN BEACH

Situated not far from the beautiful Vagator beach is a beautiful Goan bean i.e. the Ozran beach, a small but very picturesque beach. Mostly frequented by foreigners. It was evening time, after attending a function, I decided to visit this goan beach on my way back home. I climbed down the hill to get to the beach. As I was coming towards the beach, I saw a lot of people mostly Goans in many groups who were leaving for their homes after spending the day on the beautiful Goan beach, on a picnic, at Ozran beach with their family and friends. They were leaving for their respective homes. They were carrying back the mats, empty crates of drinks, the food utensils, the kids were carrying the bats and balls that they played with all day. They all looked tanned and has smiles on their faces as they climbed up the hill to head home.

As I moved further on, I could see this beautiful Goan beach was filled with tourists. The beach had a number of beach shacks wherein tourists were having a great time. Outside these beach shacks were beach beds where the tourists were resting upon. As it was nearing sunset and the full beach was looking so beautiful and the sky all golden with the sun shining bright just before it would go beyond the horizon. There was music in the air. Tourists were enjoying the bath in the sea. Younger crowd were playing games along the shore.
As I strolled on towards the northern side of the beach where there is a huge human face carved on a rock. I still remember it around the year 1993 or 1994 when I had visited this beach, there was a foreign tourist who was making this carving. Today this carved face is an attraction of this beach and it adds to the beauty of the beach.

As its was nearing sunset, I started my walk back. Here I met a foreigner, I cant remember his name. He was a master juggler and he was exhibiting his juggling skills. I struck a conversation with him. He shared with me his views on Goa, Goan people, Goan music, Goan lifestyle, Goa seafood, Goan experinces and how much he loved Goa and specially this little beach was a paradise for him. They he went on to show me a few of his tricks and as he did so, a little group gathered around. It was great fun. He asked me for the Adidas cap that I was wearing and then he did a little balancing act with it too. He did a few more acts with balls, sticks and various other items. What amazed me was when he brought a wooden stool which was more than medium size. He did a balancing act by holding high up over his head in his mouth. He was awesome. I than said bye to him and moved on, I came across a group of boys both foreigners and Goan playing volley ball. I watched them play for a while as the sun was setting. After enjoying a very beautiful evening at the scenic Ozran beach, I came back home fully refreshed and joyful. Just enjoy some of the pictures of this beautiful Goan beach.

a view of the ozran beach

Foreigners relax above the rock carving at the beach

A juggler from Israel demonstrating his skills

A juggler from Israel demonstrating his skills

A juggler from Israel demonstrating his skills

Group of foreigners and locals playing volleyball on the beach

42nd Mando festival, Goa

It was indeed a glittering start to the 42nd Mando festival organised by the Goa Cultural and Social Center in association with the Department of Art and Culture and at Dinanath Mangueshkar Auditorium in Kala Academy in Panaji which took off on 9th December, 2008 at the Kala Academy, Panjim, Goa.

The different categories in which the participants were judged were Children, teenagers, senior, dance and tradition. In all, 37 groups participated in this years Mando Festival. A point to be noted is that there has been an increase in the number of participants in the Mando festival over the past few years. This shows that Goans of this generation are here to preserve the Goan tradition and heritage of Goa as passed on to them by the art and cultural enthusiast of golden Goa of yesteryear's and "Mando" happens to be one of the very important part of our art and cultural heritage.

It was interesting to note that there were several new Goan Mando compositions. Shri. Lyndon Monteiro, vice chairman of GTDC was the chief guest for the occasion. He has assured all help and support for this dance form of Goa i.e."Mando". Shri. Pandurang Phaldessai, Member secretary of Kala Academy was the Guest of Honour.

The groups which participated on the inaugural day were as under :-

1. Children's Category : Bhurgeancho Naad, Saudik Naad and Merxechim Sobit Fulam.
2. Teenagers category :Merces Firgojecho Saad, St. Xaviers Collegicho Naad, Nuvemchim Mannkulim Motiam.
3. Original Composition: Merces Firgojecho Saad, Saudik Naad, Harmonizer's Chorus, Nuvemchim Mannka Motiam.
4. Dance Category: Merces Firgojecho Saad, Saudik Naad
5. Traditional Category: Kormonecho Saad, Saudik Naad, Nuvemchim Mannka Motiam.Harmonizer's Chorus, Merces Firgojecho Saad.

On the 10th December the rest of the Groups participated in the Mando Festival competition.

The best group award was awarded to "Harmonizers Chorous" Utorda
The list of the prize winners in their respective categories are as given under

1. Children's Category : First prize- Merxechim Sobit Fulam, Second prize-Fatordechim Fulam & third prize Naad, Saudik Naad
   
2. Teenagers category :First Prize:Merces Firgojecho Saad, Second Prize-St. Xaviers Collegicho Naad, Third prize-Vellechim Salkam
   
3. Original Composition Category: First Prize: Harmonizer's Chorus Utorda, Second Prize-Goechim Noketram, & Third prize-Mando Mogi.
   
4. Dance Category: First prize -Merces Firgojecho Saad, Second Prize - Vellechim Salkam and third prize - Saudik Naad.
5. Traditional Category: First Prize - Harmonizer's Chorus Utorda, Second Prize - Goechim Noketram & thrid prize - Merces Firgojecho Saad.
6. Senior Citizens Special Prize was bagged by: Porvorinchim Oketram
7. Original Music: First Prize - Inacio Palmeira, Second prize - Michael Graciaus & third prize - Fr. Olavo Caiada.
8. Original Lyrics: First Prize - Fr. Olavo Caiada, second prize -Inacio Palmeira, and Third prize - Michael Gracias
   

Viva - Goa, Viva- Goa, Long live Goan Mando

Feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception

Feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Panjim-Goa.

The Parishioners of Calangute celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. This feast is also celebrated in Panjim, Margao as well as many other parishes in Goa. This was the day passed as a Church dogma by Pope Pius IX on 8th december 1854 The main celebrant for the high mass was Fr. Frank Pinto along with Fr. Carmo Martins and other priests.
after the high mass a procession was taken out followed by the brass band.
The fair for the feast lasts for three days lasts for three days. There are many stalls put up catering to food stuff, clothes, toys, games, music cd's, and also copper & steel items There are a number of progammes planned in the parish for the occasion over a period of 3 days.

Happy feast to the Calangutkar's, Happy feast to Goans


Feast mass at the St. Alex Church, on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception


The crowd at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception


The crowd at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The procession at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The fair at the St. Alex Church, Calangute on the feast of Our Lady of immaculate conception



The photographs of the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at night



The photographs of the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at night



The photographs fireworks at the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at night


The photographs fireworks at the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at night



The photographs fireworks at the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at night



The photographs fireworks at the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at night



The photographs of crowd gathered at the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at night

The photographs of crowd gathered at the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at night

Workshop on Internet advocacy organised by Video Volunteers

It was great being a part of the internet advocacy workshop organised by the Video Volunteers in Goa.
It was a learning experience all the way in a cool environment
Freeman Murray was the overall incharge for this workshop
The first day of the workshop shop was held in Baga,
a special mention is being made of the beautiful place where we had our workshop, a typical goan style house with a ambiance of a Indian home.
after our morning session which cover a varied number of topics and presentation done by Freeman.
We had a relishing lunch specially prepared for us by the cook.
then we had our evening session which had a lot of discussion and solving of queries related to internet.
The second day of the workshop was help at vagator.
here we had a online experience wherein we put to use all the things we had learnt
with Freemen and Gasper helping us around
we had our lunch at a Tibetian restaurant, we had a lot of music and songs done by the members of the workshop.
here are some of the pictures at the Tibetian restaurant where we had our lunch
Its was just a awesome experience and it was fun all the way with lots of things learnt

Fr. Bismark plays the guitar during the lunch break

Freeman clicks photographs

Jay and Gaspar at the Tibetan restaurant for lunch

At the Tibetan restaurant

At the Tibetan restaurant

The dog show held at Panjim on 30th November, 2008

This was a treat for the animal enthusiast's of Goa

Goa has always been known for its beautiful Goan Tourism Industry, Goan beaches, Goan architecture, Goan music, Goan Culture and the Goan Carnival
The 30th November, 2008 witnessed a well organized Dog show which was held at the polytechnic grounds at Altinho Panaji Goa


The participants were not only from Goa but also different states of India

Herein below are a set of photographs of the events that day.