PANAJI: The Spirit of Goa festival 2022 presented by Goa Tourism, was inaugurated on the 29th April. Minister for Tourism, Rohan Khanute, Ganesh Gaonkar, Chairman of GTDC, Ravi Dhavan IAS, Secretary Tourism, Menino Dsouza IAS, Director Tourism, and Nikhil Desai, IAS, Managing Director of GTDC; graced the occasion.
The inauguration event included a walkthrough by the dignitaries around each stall to inspect and interact with stall owners and their product offerings. “Tourism and IT compliment each other and hence an integrated plan will be drawn up including an event calendar that will present itself from time to time,” said Khaunte. He added: “The true Spirit of Goa is living in harmony and Goans have always lived in harmony.”
The festival presented some local Goan brews, distillers, infusers and some very authentic Goan cuisine. Also featured were live demos of the Kunbi Saree weaving and basket weaving at the venue by self-help groups including display of organic local Goan fruits and vegetables.
The festival also featured cashew stomping, masterclasses, felicitation of Toddy-tappers and some innovative games using the coconut.
The entertainment was power-packed with Goa’s very own legend Lorna being featured on the first day to a housefull with many more local Goan artistes lined up to perform at the festival. Free masks were distributed to all those who entered with advisories to observe covid protocol as an important guideline for attending the festival
The Spirit of Goa Festival was conceptualised to preserve the Goan way of life and it’s various art forms. This festival also brought to fore the art of brewing Feni from two of Goa’s favourite food ingredients: coconuts and cashew. Both define the very essence of the Goan way of living and it’s culture.
Cashew Feni won the GI status in 2009 through the efforts of the Goa Cashew Feni Distillers & Bottlers Association and the Department of Science, Technology & Environment of the Government of Goa and is today considered to be a Heritage Spirit.
