Architect Calvin D’Mellow shares the idea behind ‘The Panjim Pursuit’
and his hopes for the people taking part
VINIKA VISWAMBHARAN NT BUZZ
In a time when much of social interaction happens online, finding reasons to meet in person can make a difference. Architect Calvin D’Mellow hopes to create one such opportunity through ‘The Panjim Pursuit’, a treasure hunt taking place across Panaji on October 25.
The first edition of the event is organised by D’Mellow along with Brett Sequeira, Nadia Laura de Abreu and Rohitesh Sutar. While social media has made it easier to find people with similar interests, he believes opportunities for face-to-face interaction are becoming increasingly important. He says, “Community is what people are thriving to create.”
D’Mellow has been organising events since his college days. Earlier this year, he organised a pub crawl that attracted around 200 to 250 participants. The response encouraged him to try a different format, with teams navigating the city through a series of challenges.
The hunt will begin at The Shade Garden, Miramar, at 6 a.m. and conclude around 11.30 a.m. Participants will cover approximately seven to eight kilometres on foot, completing tasks at checkpoints along a route that will be disclosed only on the day. The locations will include prominent and culturally significant parts of the city. Teams will start from different locations and follow separate routes to prevent congestion at checkpoints. The tasks will test their problem-solving skills, creativity and ability to interact with others, with points awarded for each challenge. The team with the highest score will win. Participants are also encouraged to choose a team name and slogan and prepare a flag before the event.
D’Mellow says the results are only one part of the experience. He hopes participants will form friendships that continue after the event. He says, “If you have people that care about you, people to push you forward, people to do things with you, you’ve already won in life.”
He also wants participants to notice parts of Panaji they may overlook in their daily routines. “There’s a lot of slow life. There’s a lot of calmness to it,” he says.
Participants can register for Rs. 1,000 each through the link in The Panjim Pursuit’s Instagram bio and will be assigned to teams of around 16. Friends can request to be grouped together. The event has a capacity of 160, with five to 10 places reportedly remaining at the time of the organisers’ latest update.
D’Mellow credits Panaji mayor Rohit Monserrate and the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) for their assistance. “Without his backing, none of these events would be possible. He has helped us with permissions and financial support, while also giving young people the confidence to organise such events,” he says.
