Resident of Goa or visiting this state, GoGoaNow is your one stop to the sights, sounds and taste of Goa. Here you can plan your weekend or your holiday with things to do, see, visit, eat and drink.
From exhibitions, concerts, dance, food and drink to performing arts, libraries and more, GoGoaNow is the definitive guide to events in Goa.
Featured Events
A Catholic men’s conference will be held on February 5, 4.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Carmelite Monastery, Margao. This event, which is inclusive of Sunday Mass is exclusively for men 21 years and above to deepen their relationship with Christ, enhance their personal, family and social commitments, and become aware of the Christian lay apostolate. The speakers at the conference will be Fr. Mario Fernandes, OCD and Fr. Alvito Fernandes, OCD. Details: 2735052/8050573532.
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr will be conducting a Konkani course from February 7 to March 9, 10 a.m to 12.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday at its premises at B.B. Borkar Road, Porvorim. Details: 2415857/ 2415864.
The Mahalo Ukulele festival will be held on February 18 and 19 at Saraya Goa. Details: +971502460101.
Up Next
A Catholic men’s conference will be held on February 5, 4.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Carmelite Monastery, Margao. This event, which is inclusive of Sunday Mass is exclusively for men 21 years and above to deepen their relationship with Christ, enhance their personal, family and social commitments, and become aware of the Christian lay apostolate. The speakers at the conference will be Fr. Mario Fernandes, OCD and Fr. Alvito Fernandes, OCD. Details: 2735052/8050573532.
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr will be conducting a Konkani course from February 7 to March 9, 10 a.m to 12.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday at its premises at B.B. Borkar Road, Porvorim. Details: 2415857/ 2415864.
The Students’ Council & The Stress Buster Club of the Goa College of Home Science is organising an inter higher secondary school event titled ‘Ukiyo 1.0- Live in the Moment’ on February 8. Details: 9822582022. (Approximate Map Location displayed)
The Mahalo Ukulele festival will be held on February 18 and 19 at Saraya Goa. Details: +971502460101.
Essentially Goa

When a fashion designer is in lockdown…
Life changed a lot as a lockdown was imposed on Goa. Some people loved the free time while others got jittery. Philu Martins, a fashion designer from Goa, speaks to NT GoGoaNow about her life during lockdown. Sheryl Gonsalves | NT GoGoaNow Picture Credit – Shivang Mishra I NT GOGOANOW There is quite a difference between Philu’s daily routine before the lockdown and now. The bubbly fashion designer keeps herself busy with reading, housework, and exercises. “It’s a much healthier lifestyle. I’m eating more nutritious food and I love playing with my lovely dogs.” Philu doesn’t think she’s a good cook but that hasn’t stopped her from trying out Goan recipes. “I really miss going out but this is a much required break which allows me to spend time with my family, and we are praying together and eating together. I’m blessed to have this housewife experience and I’m enjoying but I wouldn’t want it to last forever,” she reveals. Philu also misses her clients, staff, working with weavers, and the practical part of being a fashion designer as her workshop is closed but she grateful for the holiday. For Easter Sunday she was supposed to have a fashion show […]

Smoothie Recipes from Taj Hotels
Chefs share smoothie recipes to beat the heat. GRANOLA & FRUIT SMOOTHIE Ingredients:1 banana sliced1 apple medium (Peeled & Diced)1/3 cup plain Greek yoghurt1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder1tbsp. maple syrup or honey1 tbsp. flaxseed powder1/2 cup granola1/4 cup ice Method:Crush granola coarsely in the blenderAdd Greek yoghurt, soy milk, and honey to blend it wellAdd the rest of the ingredients and blend until smoothVoila! Granola smoothie is ready AVOCADO SUPER SMOOTHIE Ingredients: 1/2 cup of almonds & walnuts1 ½ – 2 cups of spinach leaves chopped1 firm ripe avocado 1 ½ cups almond milk 1tbsp. of liquid apple syrup or honey1tbsp. sunflower seeds1tbsp. pumpkin seeds Method:Add mixed nuts (almond & Walnut), sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds in a blender and blend it wellAdd spinach, avocado & soya milk in a blender. Blend until smoothAdd liquid apple syrup or honey and blend it for another 10 seconds.Pour into glasses and serve. PEANUT BUTTER AND HONEY OAT SMOOTHIE (from Executive Chef Nitin Mathur, Taj Santacruz) Ingredients: 2 cups of rolled oats (pan-roasted)½ yoghurt1 cup almond milk1 large banana3tbsp. peanut butter2 tablespoons honey1tbsp flaxseed powder Instructions: Place oats in blender and processPour milk into a blender and allow processed oats to soften in […]

Remembering Wendell
Today would’ve been the 60th birthday of Wendell Rodricks, the late fashion designer who placed the state of Goa on the world’s fashion map. A child born in Bombay with a simple lifestyle grew up to be world-famous and meet many celebrities. He was an inspiration to many, especially aspiring fashion designers. Sheryl Gonsalves| NT GoGoaNow Picture Credit – SHIVANG MISHRA | Nt GoGoaNow “From a young age people asked my advice as to the choice of a wall colour, what accessories go with a dress, decorations for a party, etc. This was at the age of seven. Later I began to draw sketches of everything from teachers to scenery. By the time I turned twenty I knew it was fashion because I began to sketch clothes. But I had to do fashion much later at 26 after a career in hotel management,” he had told NT GoGoaNow. Wendell didn’t use television, magazines, and newspapers for ideas but loved creating new things. He was known as the ‘Guru of Minimalism’ and won a Padma Shree award in his lifetime. “Goa has played a huge part in my philosophy. If I gave India minimalism, resort wear and eco-friendly clothing, it is […]

Mayem Lake has now been made more tourist- friendly
Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, inaugurated the beautification and up-gradation works undertaken at Mayem Lake on 27th August 2019. He also launched the Bungee Jumping Site there. Mayem Lake is a famous tourist spot for boating or just relaxing and enjoying the scenery. The works undertaken include the development of approach road and parking area for around 57 cars, 40 two-wheelers and 10 tourist buses with a 12m wide approach road. A ticketing booth and tourist information office has been put up at the entrance. The walkway lets the differently-abled move around freely. There is a natural trail, where people can feel and experience the lake view and natural beauty. The existing lake retaining wall and parapet has also been strengthened. Picnic spots have also been developed. Children can enjoy in the play area with swings, see-saw, slopes, etc. To add to the fun, there is now an air-conditioned mirror maze, a duck house, and an amphitheatre (with a capacity for 120 people which can be increased to 200) for showcasing the local folk and cultural dances. Other facilities include a souvenir shop, potter huts to promote local artisans, landscaping, drinking water facility, restaurants, etc. 20 new boats and a jetty with a terminal building for queuing purpose and lakeside […]

The Unwanted… The Abuser… The Dog…
Film: Belle et Sébastien, Nouvelle Generation Directed by: Pierre Coré Duration: 96 minutes A huge round of applause echoed throughout the theatre at the end of a film that was showcased at IFFI 53. This French movie, Belle et Sébastien, Nouvelle Generation, even left some people in tears. While reading the description of the movie, I was expecting a typical dog film which has a dash of cute elements and heartwarming scenes sprinkled in. However, I was blown away after watching it as there were so many elements and layers that made it epic and almost surprising. The opening scene started with the main character, a 10-year-old boy named Sébastien, an aloof-looking character, who saw someone getting bullied and decided to take action and save the victim. Unfortunately, that resulted in an unexpected result – the bully started chasing Sébastien and ended up getting hit by a car! This incident led to him being taken reluctantly for a mountain vacation where he had to stay with his grandmother who seemed to show no enthusiasm with the arrival of her grandson. These scenes were filmed at a place between France and Spain. It was a visual treat on so many levels. […]

Emotions and action as FIFA World Cup kicks off
Qatar suffers the ignominy of being the first host nation to lose opener The countdown for the world’s biggest football tournament is over. FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off with a grand opening ceremony at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor in Qatar on Sunday. However, Qatar suffered the ignominy of being the first host nation to lose a World Cup opener as Ecuador got off to a winning start, thanks to a superb performance from their captain Enner Valencia! Throngs of fans were already arriving in Qatar but the main rush will be later this week. Around 1.2 million football fans are expected to attend the FIFA World Cup 2022. For a small country like Qatar, it is a matter of honour to host such a massive tournament. The World Cup is a source of immense national pride for Qatar in its attempt to raise its profile on the global stage and drive toward modernisation. Qatar welcomed football fans and stars from across the world in a glittering opening ceremony at the Al Bayt Stadium. South Korean band BTS’ Jungkook and legendary American actor Morgan Freeman entertained the fans as Qatar became the first Middle East country to […]

Miracle Lyrics – A session with Prasoon Joshi
“I feel that all of us as human beings have to express something. We’re all bubbling with something,” said Prasoon Joshi, Indian lyricist, screenwriter, and poet. He gave a master class at the prestigious film festival Iffi on the topic ‘The Art and Craft of Lyrics’. He started off with a story of how a girl narrated to him that someone shouted at a house and the house shouted back. She didn’t know the word ‘echo’. He said that if the word goes extinct, the whole narrative of the experience is gone. An interesting fact Joshi revealed was that artificial intelligence (AI) has entered the world of scriptwriting. He acknowledged the importance of data and data processing but there was something that bothered him. “Imagine you’re standing in front of a funeral pyre feeling the heat and smelling the body burning. Everything you subliminally experienced can’t be captured by AI. Humans have so many dimensions. So, AI has a lot to catch up on,” he said. He went on to talk about the market. “The market has one thing very clear – if it doesn’t sell then it stops getting made. I don’t completely agree with the market philosophy. Different […]

‘Rediscover Goa’ with Airbnb and experience the true beauty of the sunshine state
*A week long celebration of all things Goan announced in collaboration with Goa Tourism Department* Airbnb in collaboration with the Goa Tourism Department, launches ‘Rediscover Goa’, a week-long celebration of Goa’s vast cultural diversity beyond its beaches and dazzling nightlife. Cultre, a creative and cultural enterprise that seeks to promote India’s pluralistic cultural heritage through content, products and experiences has been onboarded as the knowledge partner to help curate the experiences and bring to life all things Goan. … The ‘Rediscover Goa’ celebration will take place from December 12-18, and will offer 20+ specially curated unique Airbnb Experiences hosted by local experts highlighting the eclectic culture, rich heritage, musical traditions, culinary delicacies and thriving landscapes of Goa across the Northern and Southern districts of the state. … This week-long celebration of Goa and its culture aims to highlight how the state’s inherited traditions and cultural legacy form the basis of Goan living even in this day and age. The experiences will not only let one indulge in the many bounties of Goa but also help engage with the vibrant local culture. The existing pockets of lesser-known curiosities that make Goa unique will now be accessible for all enthusiasts to experience. […]

Online Art Competition
In honour of Mario Miranda’s 94th birth anniversary, an online art competition titled ‘Who will be the next Mario Miranda?’ will be held. The title of the competition is ‘Life in the time of coronavirus’. Entries will be accepted in the following categories, namely, up to 10 years; 11 to 17 years; 18 to 70 years; above 70 years. Each participant will win a gift voucher of `200 redeemable at the Mario Gallery. The best entries in each category stand a chance to win a gift voucher worth `10000, redeemable at the Mario Gallery. Details: www.mariomiranda.com/ 9822123152

Menezes Braganza Mansion
The Menezes Braganza house is located at the Chandor village in Goa.It is known to be more than 350 years old and is situated near the church square in Chandor. This mansion is the most exquisite heritage house in Goa and also has a Portuguese style facade. It is a museum of chandeliers, paintings, porcelain, crystal and other antique items. Luis Menezes Braganza was a luminary. He used the power of his pen to spark off the anti-colonialist movement in Goa and was referred by people as “the Tilak of Goa”. Luis Menezes Braganza along with another reputed Goan writer, Professor Messias Gomes, established the first Portuguese language daily in Goa. Rare porcelain from Macao brought by the English and Dutch East India Companies beautifies the walls, and two thick porcelain vases that belonged to St. Francis Xavier are kept on the table in the dining room. The floors change from room to room: the visitors’ salon has Portuguese tiles, the library Flemish wood, and the ballroom Italian marble. There are crystal chandeliers from Belgium that illuminate the ballroom when lighted up. The ballroom is fashioned after Louis XIV’s Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles and a set […]
t