Government’s move on theme-based digital portrayals on state should be appreciated
Stories have always fascinated mankind, especially children, and therefore, storytelling has been a simple yet interesting form of entertainment for a long time. In fact, many of the world stories have travelled orally from one generation to another that is until the writing system was invented. In fact, stories have been the unforgettable part of one’s childhood. Sadly, the advent of technology pushed back the live storytelling sessions between grandmothers and grandchildren, or even mother and child. Many alternatives replaced this traditional form of storytelling, such as cassettes and compact discs. Computers and mobile phones went a step forwards and offered animation videos narrating these stories.
The recent book festival organised in the capital city by National Book Trust witnessed substantial sale of children’s literature, including story books. Reading out stories from the books has also enthralled children, and hence the book reading sessions for children are quite popular. Such activities foster a lifelong passion for reading through engaging activities, besides enhancing comprehension and vocabulary for various age groups of the children. Goa has its own share of children’s stories – both traditional and modern – and quite engaging at that.
In Goa, the Karadi Tales audiobooks and the associated ‘Karadi Path’ pedagogy are widely used in the state government schools to improve English literacy and comprehension of students. The initiative began after former chief minister Manohar Parrikar observed the effectiveness of Karadi Tales in helping children learn to read early. All stories here are narrated by Karadi, the bear, with distinguished people lending their voice for Karadi.
Now going one step further, the government wants to encourage tourists to see Goa as a multifaceted and 365-day destination while promoting the state’s unique blend of natural beauty, vibrant culture, rich culinary legacy and immersive experiences. The Tourism Department is currently planning a theme-based digital storytelling campaign that will present journey across the state, from the Western Ghats and the wildlife habitats to the historic landmarks and spiritual sites. The key Goan areas to be focused on through the initiative will include adventure, wildlife, wellness, history and culture, cuisine, spice plantations, religious places and beaches. Through immersive digital storytelling and thematic content, the initiative will showcase Goa’s natural landscapes and cultural heritage.
According to the Tourism Department, it will soon select an agency for content creation, digital promotion and thematic storytelling. The selected agency will develop innovative, digital-first creative concepts. By highlighting both, well-known attractions and the lesser explored experiences this initiative seeks to encourage the audiences to view Goa as a multifaceted, year-round destination. The overarching objective is to enhance awareness of Goa’s thematic tourism offerings, inspire experiential travel and strengthen the state’s image as a destination where nature, culture, history and lifestyle experiences coexist harmoniously.
The Serendipity Arts Festival being organised in Goa for the past one decade, conducts storytelling sessions on various topics. Last year, the Living Waters Museum hosted ‘Goa Water Stories’, an interactive and interconnected storytelling platform narrating Goa’s rich history of water heritage explored by over 30 young individuals and made available online. This online interactive digital web archive of narratives of water engaged and intersected with the local and indigenous communities through 18 interactive and immersive story-projects. These are just two examples of effective storytelling. If the Tourism Department combines storytelling with technology, it could present Goa before the tourists like never before!
