‘Purple Fest 2023, Celebrating Diversity!’ Day 2 was a spectacle. It kicked off with Zumba which warmed up Purple Fest attendees, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience.
Here is a round-up of various events that took place on the second day of the one of its kind inclusive fest.
Blind Car Rally, the first-ever accessible car rally, featuring visually-impaired individuals as navigators and braille maps as their guides, made it a historic event on Saturday morning. Sighted individuals served as drivers in this innovative exercise that displayed the true meaning of inter-dependence. The Blind Car Rally was flagged off by the Minister of Social Welfare, Subhash Phal Dessai and State Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities, Guruprasad Pawaskar. Actor Pooja Bedi was the special guest.
A Cultural programme by children, and Persons with Disability from various schools, including Shree Kamaleshwar High School, Pethechawada, Goa, performed the Goan folk-dance Fugdi with enthusiasm. Students of New Dawn Ashadeep Special School performed a Marathi folk dance, and the Gujarati Samaj Special School, Margao put-up a stunning drama performance called ‘Upkar’. There were many performances by students of other schools, and the audience included schools such as Lourdes Convent, Saligao, SFX, Mapusa, and Shree Ram Vidya Mandir.
The National level ADIP camp was set up to assess persons with disabilities and provide them with aids and equipment at no cost. To promote their physical, social, psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhancing their economic potential.
As part of ‘Purple Think Tank : Role of Government In inclusion of PWD’s’, Enable India collaborated with the government and organisations to implement models that include awareness sessions, infrastructure, training sessions to help in employment of persons with disabilities.
For Self Employment of PWD’s opportunities available through self-employment were discussed in detail. Loan facilities to help start self-employment were deliberated. An example of Kalakappa who started self employment by availing all the facilities for the disabled was shared so that others get an insight into how lives can change.
Performances as part of Purple Rain were held at the INOX Courtyard. A performance by Jyothi who is a singer with autism and Visual Impairment, Stand-up comedy performances by Abhay Kumar Sharma with Visual Impairment and a performance by the band ‘Udaan’ with Visual Impairment allowed the audiences to unwind and enjoy talent.
The Employment Convention began at Vivanta by Taj, Panaji; in collaboration with GCCI as a part of the ongoing Purple Fest. Purple Dialouge, Purple Bioscope, Purple Kaliedoscope, Cruise Ride and more were also part of the Day 2 activities at Purple Fest.
Purple Kaleidoscope, is part of Purple Fest that is being held at Entertainment Society of Goa, Panaji, which is curated TIES – (Towards Inclusion Everywhere in Society).
The event is organising Art Activities at the Art Garden. These activities spark interest of those inclined towards Art. Facilitated by Alpna Kale, an artist with Locomotor disability, she tells us that the activities planned include: Community painting on canvas, Poster making, Craft, and Origami.
Elizabeth Kurian, Secretary of TIES says, “Art is a medium of peace, and it is therapeutic and can bring about inclusion. So as a parent and an architect, I suggested that we should have an Art Gallery at the Purple Fest to showcase talent of people with various disabilities.”
At the Art Gallery, Minister for Social Welfare, Subhash Phal Dessai met the artists and complimented them for their artwork. “It is a wonderful opportunity to experience the art done by the specially abled. The works are extremely beautiful and mesmerising,” he said.
The Art Installation at Promenade opposite Dempo House, focuses on Photo Exhibits and a Ramp created by Salil Chaturvedi, an author, poet and artist.
Elizabeth Kurian expresses hope in having these specially-abled artists to be part of a collaboration with the industry as items like mementos, paper bags, mugs, etc, can be made and provide financial sustainability to the specially abled and their families. “ If mementos gifted by the Government of Goa could be made by our artists, they will use this chance to prove themselves.”
All India Para-Table Tennis Open Championship was conducted at Sports Authority of Goa’s indoor stadium at Campal. Sports Minister Govind Gaude, Minister of Social Welfare Subhash Phal Dessai, State Commissioner for Persons with disabilities Guruprasad Pawaskar graced the occasion. 140 paddlers from 15 different states, were part of the tournament with 82 standing players and 58 wheelchair players. The players are classified into two class: 1-5 for Wheelchair Category and 6-10 for standing category.
Sports Minister Govind Gaude expressed happiness over the event. “The Goa Government has to come out with the Sports policy for Para and Persons with disabilities, I feel happy to announce that we have already initiated the process in order to take para-sports to greater heights.”
The three-day event conclude on Sunday, January 8.
