World Goa Day 2009 Celebrations

"Goenkars - where ever you may go, Goenkars you will always be!" Rene Barreto

Konkani was recognized as one of the official languages of India on August 20th 1992, and the seed was sown for celebration of World Goa Day (WGD).

However, it wasn’t until 2000 when Rene Barreto, located in London England, promoted the idea to the leaders of overseas Goan Associations, to host a day to celebrate Goa and to take pride in its cultural heritage and traditions that the World Goa Day seed grew into a tree of action. August 20th is officially WGD but for practical reasons, overseas Associations usually celebrate on any convenient day in August. Today, WGD is celebrated by over 40 organizations across the globe including, of course, in Goa itself.

In 2000, as the unity of Goan associations globally started to take shape, GOA Vancouver heeded the call. We had our first celebration at one of our summer picnics. It was an event well supported by not only members of the GOA but by the community at large. We played and continue to play a supportive role internationally. Some of GOA Vancouver’s local initiatives have been hosting Konkani classes, Goan cooking classes and soon to come our own Goan Cook Book. We showcased Goan poet Marinella Proenca and her book of poems Heart Beat, and promoted various Goan writings. At our most popular event Night In Goa both adults and children learnt and performed cultural songs and dances like the Kunbi, Marcha, the Manddo Dulpod etc.

WGD made us look outwards and it became apparent that as a community, we needed to give back. GOA started to expand our charity work outside of Vancouver and back to Goa. While we had humble beginnings, our efforts have grown thanks to our own donors and visionaries who have donated everything from cash to cars and held garage sales and raffles etc. To date, we have donated over $10,000 to help needy families and two Christian organizations, the Pilar Sisters and the Pilar Society. Fr. Jack Dias has been instrumental in ensuring that the monies are distributed to the needy families.

This year, we held our annual picnic on August 23rd to celebrate World Goa Day (WGD), and to promote and commemorate the date as a day to celebrate Goa’s history and cultural heritage. It was also a time for Goans in Vancouver to reflect on what it means to be a Goan and more importantly to give back to the community.

It was an event that had something for everyone: Local chefs offered everything from banana leaf lunch to more traditional dishes and food enthusiasts got an opportunity to enjoy many different food specialties and tastes. For the sports enthusiasts there were creative and engaging games for the kids, from sack races to tug-of-war, which turned to tug of-the sexes! And the adults, who were just as competitive, played everything from soccer to basketball. As for our music lovers, no GOA picnic can end without our local musician providing a rendition of oldies and Konkani songs which culminated in dancing on the grass!

However, there was a serious side to all the fun and it was a time to reflect on what it means to be a Goan, a time to promote GOA Vancouver’s mission as a caring society, and to fulfill our mandate to help the less fortunate. All the monies collected at the picnic will go to sponsor our charity work with the Pilar Sister Organizations and to the Support Needy Families program.

Special thanks to our hard working Executive whose creative effort added a cultural appearance to the site and who generously gave of their time and skills to ensure that the event ran smoothly. The ultimate thanks go to each of you who came, participated and donated generously to the charity work done by the GOA. It made this picnic a more heart warming experience that will be memorable for a long time to come.

Finally, it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, so for more on the picnic and other events, check out the galleries on the GOA website www.GoaVancouver.com.

Villa Pinto

Additional information: www.worldgoaday.blogspot.com, www.worldgoadaymessages.blogspot.com/, http://www.melgoans.com/wgd.htm for celebrations in Australia http://www.radiogoa.net/.

1. When is the official World Goa Day celebrated in Goa? Answer: August 20th
2. What is World Goa Day anthem? Answer: Am Proud to be a Goan
3. Who penned it and how old is he? Answer: Penned by Basilio Magno and he is 85 year old
4. How many GOA overseas organizations celebrate World Goa Day? How many can you name? Answer: Today WGD is celebrated by over 40 organisations, across the globe including Goa, Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec, Montreal, Calgary), Australia (Melbourne, Brisbane, New South Wales), New Zealand, United States (New York, LA, New Jersey, Houston, California), Kenya, Mombasa, Tanzania, Mozambique, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Tanga, the Middle East, Portugal, Spain, Pakistan and Germany.
5. What year was the route to India discovered and by whom? Answer: 1498 - Discovery of the route to India by Vasco da Gama.
6. What year did India get its independence? Answer: Aug 15th 1947
7. What year did Goa gain statehood? Answer: 1987 - August 12th, Goa gained statehood. & May 30 became a state within Goa.
8. When did St. Francis Xavier arrive? Answer: 1542 - Arrival of St. Francis Xavier.
9. What is the population of Goa? Answer: Population of Goa: 1.4 million (2001)
10. What is the capital of Goa? And where is it located? Answer: Panaji or Panjim is the capital of Goa. It is located on the banks of the Mandovi River.
11. What are the two principle languages of Goa? Answer: Principal languages are Marathi and Konkani
12. Goa is often referred as_____________ or ________________ Answer: Konkan coastal belt, Goa is often referred to as the 'Pearl of the Orient' or 'tourist's paradise.'
13. Name a Goan author Answer: Check out John Nazareth’s Bibliography of Books on Goa & Goans at http://www.goacom.com/culture/books/bks.html
14. How many beaches in Goa? Answer: Not Confirmed but 95! Just to name a few: Aguada Beach, Agonda Beach, Anjuna Beach , Arambol Beach, Ashwem Beach Baga Beach , Baina Beach, Benaulim Beach Betalbatim Beach , Chapora Beach, Coco Beach , Cola Beach also known as Khola Beach Colom beach ,Colva Beach , Dona Paula Beach ,Galgibag Beach ,Hansa Beach, Hollant Beach, Keri Beach, ,Majorda Beach ,Mandrem Beach ,Miramar Beach Mobor beach ,Morjim Beach , Palolem Beach , Patnem Beach, Polem Beach Quegdevelim beach , Rajbag Beach , Sinquerim Beach , Siridao Beach, Talpona Beach , Utorda Beach , Vagator Beach ,Vainguinim Beach,Varca Beach ,Velsao Beach.
15. Name some foods sold on the beaches in Goa. Answer: Prawn Balchao , Chicken Cafreal , Fish Xacuti , Prawn Ambot Tik etc.
16. Name a movie with a aspiring model turned actress. Answer: Slumdog Millionair and actress Freida Pinto
17. Name a five star deluxe hotel in Goa. Answer: Just to name a few: Fort Aguada Beach Resort, Cidade De Goa, Majorda Beach Resort, The Leela Goa, Taj Exotica, Goa Marriotta Resort.
18. What is the local drink called? Answer: Feni
19. Who do Overseas Goan Associations credit as a founder of WGD? Answer: Rene Barreto
20. What does 'goenche' means: Answer: of Goa or belongs to Goa Answer: of Goa or belongs to Goa

• You can listen to Konkani music 24/7 on Radio Goa net
• Sing, dance, play a Goan song, dance or game
• Cook a Goan dish
• Learn a Konkani word today
• Buy a Konkani book to learn Konkani or books by Goan authors (GOA has some books)
• Buy the new song book by Francis Rodrigues (On WGD in Goa (Aug 20th) Francis Rodrigues will release a book of original hits of the last 50 years in Konani. The songs include Adeus Korchea Vellar', Lisboa', Kampala', Sacrament Zoddlo', Mollbailo Dou', Malaika,' Maria Isabel,' Encosta Tua Cabecinha', Cecilia', Mogacho Divo', Proud to be a Goan', and others. Besides the lyrics, the compiler has provided the chords for the songs. Not only have these been annotated to the music, but intricate chord-diagrams have been supplied for each song, making it easy for the musician. The book will include sheet-music for the piano, accordion, keyboard and guitar. For bands and musical groups worldwide, separate music in tablature form for the guitar will be included. The book will also include a free DVD.
• Surf the Goan websites.
• Ask a senior who lived in Goa for a funny or a personal story about Goa and pass it on to a child.
• Tell someone who does not know about Goa about the beaches of Goa.
• What ideas can you share with us (email: communications@goavancouver.com).