Dedicated to putting the conservation of Goa’s heritage at the centrestage and making it accessible and relevant, the first edition of the Heritage First Festival, is set to commence on November 15.
Heritage First Goa is dedicated to preserving and promoting Goa’s built, natural and cultural heritage. The mission is to build awareness, educate and empower communities through contemporary programmes that highlight heritage in an ever-changing world.
Twenty-seven ‘pilots’ or domain-expert curators will accompany those eager to gain in-depth knowledge about the state during a series of informative walks and workshops.
“The walk hosts are called pilots. Inspired by Goa’s iconic motorcycle pilots, known for their wealth of knowledge of the state’s picturesque countryside and iconic landmarks, leading heritage advocates in the coastal state will organise a series of 32 walks and workshops putting the spotlight on natural and manmade heritage sites, as part of the inaugural edition of the upcoming, one-of-a-kind Heritage First Festival, ” said Snigdha Manchanda, who is also India’s first certified tea sommelier.
The festival is an initiative by the newly formed not for profit organisation, Heritage First Goa (HFG), founded by Heta Pandit, Snigdha Manchanda and Jack Ajit Sukhija, with several heritage enthusiasts on board to curate the walks and workshops, which delve into Goa’s native biodiversity, local markets, local and seasonal produce, traditional art, music and craft forms, island life, exploring the state’s beloved cities and more.
According to Pandit, who is also an independent researcher, writer, publisher and heritage home owner, the festival aims to “instil a new appreciation for places we have walked through innumerable times. Several of the places are well known, but we will be looking at them from the lens of learning and educating ourselves.”
Spanning the coastal state from Morjim in North Goa to Rachol in South Goa, the Heritage First Festival comprises four categories — 1) built heritage, 2) nature and biodiversity, 3) arts and crafts, 4) workshops. Thirty two walks and workshops will be held for people to immerse themselves in the state’s cultural offerings, with bookings for the festival open on https://heritagefirstgoa.explara.com/events.
“The Heritage First Festival will showcase our unique culture, agricultural practices, architecture and art. It will also celebrate several talented people who will be hosting walks and workshops and sharing their stories and experiences gained over years of research,” said Sukhija, who is the president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG).
“As part of HFG, we will be planning heritage walks, workshops, presentations, publications, and master classes that will generate meaningful conversations about Goa’s unique, precious and inspiring heritage,” said Pandit.
