Want to experience the nightlife as well as the serene beaches during a tight vacation? Baga is the place to be! Baga is indeed one of the most serene yet commercialized places in Goa. Baga, a small village, along the coast of Goa is nothing but beautiful for the traveler who is on a time limit. Baga creek Baga creek is the perfect place for you to sit and watch the sunset. Right next to Baga beach lays the creek and it has one of the most beautiful views. The picture perfect place makes it a get-away to few locals who come fishing daily and also a view of the ever buzzing Baga beach. The creek is surrounded by beautiful rocks with the waves clashing against it. Saturday night market Another place to visit whilst in Baga is the Saturday Nite Market. As the name specifies, the market is open during the nights. The vast number of stalls sell clothes, jewelry and other kinds of artistic pieces. They also have food stalls that’ll help curb that mid-night hunger! They also have an open stage which gives upcoming talent showcase their work. Baga tibetian market Baga Tibetian Market is another flea […]

A 60-member choir will perform Palestrina’s compositions along with Goan Lenten hymns SHERYL GONSALVES Polyphony, a complex style of music, was almost lost in the 16th century. Goa now has the chance to hear it, preserved through the work of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, the Italian Renaissance composer credited with safeguarding polyphony in the Church. “This style was almost abandoned as composers adapted it for secular music and church authorities felt sacred texts became hard to follow when sung in multiple voices,” says the Director of the Western Music Department at Kala Academy, Goa and Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Fr. Romeo Monteiro. He adds that Palestrina’s Missa Papae Marcelli was a turning point. “Its harmony impressed the cardinals, who recognised its importance and preserved it for posterity.” The upcoming ‘Concerts of Sacred Music’, a personal initiative by Fr. Monteiro for spiritual purposes, will showcase 60 singers and musicians. The programme includes Gregorian chant, early and later polyphony, popular hymns and Goan Lenten music. He says, “The Goan Lenten Motet is an important part of our heritage and deserves to be preserved.” The main attraction of the concert will be Palestrina’s Mass to mark the 500th anniversary of the composer’s birth. […]

“We’re lucky to have a roof over our heads and our basic needs met,” says Divya Kapur, the founder of the Literati Bookshop in Calangute, while talking to NT GoGoaNow.   Sheryl Gonsalves | NT GoGoaNow  This ex-lawyer started focusing on what she could do at home during the lockdown. She checked in on her friends and family to see if they were okay. Divya jokingly shared that she’s not that productive but she spent her time reading, watching television, and engaged in some physical activities. Speaking about the Literati Bookshop she reveals that they’re encouraging people to opt for home delivery. Now they hold virtual book club meets but movie screenings and book launches can’t happen. Divya is of the opinion that a simpler life is better. She says, “I’m looking forward to going to the beach, swimming in the sea, and watching the sunset.” [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget]

With a deep understanding of agriculture and a desire to bring locally grown marigold flowers to the Goan community, Amona-based farmer Krishna Sinari has embarked on the high-tech venture of marigold farming. RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT  Inspired by the need for locally grown marigold flowers, Krishna Sinari, the owner of Prakriti Farm Products, has started a high-tech venture of marigold farming in a 3,000-square-meter plot. With a total of 5,000 plants, his farm boasts vibrant yellow and orange marigold flowers. The inspiration behind choosing marigold flowers as the primary crop stems, he says, is that even though Goa has a suitable environment for its growth, a majority of the flowers are brought in from other places. “Marigolds are essential for Diwali celebrations. So I chose to start my own marigold production to meet the local demand,” says Sinari, who holds a diploma in agriculture and has done various courses to enhance his knowledge in the field. Currently enjoying his first marigold harvest, the next crop of flowers will be during Diwali and later for Tulsi Vivah. After that, he will move on to the next crop. Sinari has previously cultivated hybrid chillies and lady fingers and plans to explore other […]

Dedicated to the people of Goa, Goan musician O’luv has come out with his new music video ‘The CASHEW song of Goa’ Goan musician O’luv has released his new music video single ‘The CASHEW song of Goa’ on his YouTube channel O’luv Goa. The video has been created over a span of three months, with site visits to understand the process and to draw inspiration for the lyrics and to create the visuals. From the picking of the tree-ripened cashew apples with the ‘tochni’ or ‘kantto’ [ a stick with a spur or thorn near the tip], to the separation of the nut from the cashew apple for the extraction of the juice at the ‘kollbi’, to the fermentation and the two distillations at the ‘battie’ using the traditional clay-pot ‘lavnni’ as the condenser, most of the processes involved are covered in a song. The aim of the song is to celebrate the cashew (anacardium occidentale) that came from Brazil and became one of our own in Goa. We have found a number of uses for the tree, its nut and the cashew apple and it is now an integral part of the Goan culture and traditions. It is used […]

When I close my eyes, I’m often transported to our old house with its traditional clay-tiled roof, where my entire childhood was spent happily with my grandparents and the lovingly tended trees that surrounded it. Our quiet afternoons were spent playing Bhatukali, the kitchen-kitchen game under its deep green and tranquil shade. Along with children, the tree also hosted parties for its guests: the birds. It was always a treat to our eyes to spot birds like the paradise flycatcher, grey hornbills, leafbirds, and orioles peeping through its thick, glossy leaves. Locally known as Fanas, the jackfruit tree is quite a useful tree in Goa and across many tropical regions. It is the state tree of Kerala and is held sacred in many cultures around the globe. In Goa, its roundish, thick and lustrous leaves are collected and stitched together with coconut sticks, to craft traditional plates (patravali). These patravalis are deftly crafted and stored throughout the year, ready to be used during village functions and other large community gatherings. Having a jackfruit tree around is like having a companion to the house. One can smell its sweet fragrance permeating the surroundings, although at times it can also be fetid. […]