The third day of Serendipity Arts Festival 2024 unfolded with a vibrant tapestry of projects celebrating sustainability, cultural ingenuity, and genre-defying music performances. Among the highlights was Discovering India’s Hidden Melodies with Madhur Padwal, a special project supported by IPRS. This hour-long music piece by Folks-Wagon captured the sounds of India’s West Coast, from Gujarat to Kerala, blending native music and instruments with a compelling narrative. Held at Azad Maidan, this performance featured Madhur Padwal and promised an enchanting auditory experience.
Poems on the Move, curated by Salil Chaturvedi and Thukral & Tagra as part of the ‘Multiplay’ series, transformed the mundane urban experience of a cab ride into a journey of poetic discovery. Live poetry readings and immersive recitations within moving shuttles brought poetry into everyday life, creating fleeting yet profound moments of connection. Featuring poets like Anamika Joshi, Deepali Sutar, and Rochelle D’Silva, the project ran across Panaji, blending verse with the rhythms of the city.
“Art is about connection. In this project, we want people to engage with their surroundings in a way that encourages introspection,” says Thukral. As participants are taken through Panaji’s scenic landscapes, the journey becomes an act of both physical and creative movement, with the road serving as a metaphor for personal exploration and self-expression.
Another standout project was Abundance in Scarcity by Sandeep Sangaru, supported by Royal Enfield and commissioned by Serendipity Arts Foundation. This immersive showcase at Samba Square explored Ladakh’s sustainable ingenuity through stories, installations, and performances by artisans like Tsering Angchuk and Skalzang Tundup. The project celebrated resourcefulness born from scarcity, sparking conversations around cultural preservation and environmental stewardship.
At The Food Lab in the Old GMC Complex, Redefining Goan Food for the Next Generation – curated by Smitha Menon, examined the evolution of Goan cuisine through a panel discussion featuring seaweed farmers, restaurateurs, and bar experts. The session delved into the question of custodianship in Goan culinary traditions and the innovative ways local food culture is being redefined for the future.
Dance enthusiasts gathered for the Super Stranger Workshop, a two-day intensive led by Yuuki Aoki and the Newcomer “H” Sokerissa! dance group. The workshop, held at the Directorate of Accounts and culminating in a performance at Panjim Market, offered participants a unique opportunity to learn and perform contemporary dance techniques while connecting with international choreographic styles.
Adding a musical touch, the band Bombay Lights, curated by Bickram Ghosh, brought a lively fusion of folk, contemporary, and Bollywood rhythms to The Art Park. The day concluded with a mesmerizing performance by Blackstratblues on the Main Stage at the Arena at Nagalli Hills. Curated by Zubin Balaporia and supported by Campa, the blues-rock project, led by guitarist Warren Mendonsa, captivated audiences with its blend of blues, psychedelia, and electronic influences.
The day concluded with a high-energy set by Blackstratblues on the Main Stage at the Arena at Nagalli Hills, powered by Campa. Curated by Zubin Balaporia and supported by Campa, the instrumental blues-rock project led by guitarist Warren Mendonsa captivated the audience with its melodic blend of blues, psychedelia, and electronic influences.
Day 3 encapsulated the festival’s mission to blend diverse art forms with pressing social, cultural, and environmental narratives, leaving attendees inspired and energised.
