NT Reporter
Panaji
Goa’s vibrant festival of Shigmo, also called Shigmotsav, will be celebrated across the state from March 5 to March 18, with float parades beginning in Ponda and concluding in Pernem.
Addressing media persons on Monday, Tourism Director Kedar Naik said, “We will provide two types of grants, for infrastructure and the prize money. This year, we have increased the infrastructure grant by Rs 1 lakh.”
“We have also decided on the rules and regulations. The maximum number of participants in a Romtamel team will be 150 and they will have to restrict their performance to a fixed time,” he said.
Under the chairmanship of Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, the tourism department held a meeting to review preparedness for the upcoming Shigmotsav. The meeting discussed detailed planning on logistics, adherence to timelines and promotional strategies aimed at enhancing the festival’s appeal and reach.
Float parade will be held in Ponda on March 5, followed by Calangute on March 6, Panaji on March 7, Mapusa on March 8, Mandrem on March 9, Bicholim on March 10, Sankhali on March 11, Shiroda and Sanguem on March 12, Dharbandora and Cuncolim on March 13, Margao on March 14, Porvorim and Vasco on March 15, Valpoi and Curchorem on March 16, Quepem and Canacona on March 17 and Pernem on March 18.
The meeting was attended by the heads of 19 Shigmotsav committees across the state in addition to officials of various departments like police, health, fire and emergency services, collectorate, etc. “We have also decided to hold the parades within the time decided by the government,” Naik said.
The Shigmotsav parade routes will be finalised by the respective Shigmotsav committees with prior permissions, in consultation with the traffic cell, to ensure smooth movement of traffic.
