Mapusa to host Shigmo float parade on March 8
NT Reporter
Mapusa
The 47th Mapusa Shigmotsav will be held in Mapusa with the Shigmo float parade scheduled for March 8. The festival is being organised by the Mapusa Shigmotsav Mandal in association with the Tourism Department.
The new committee for 2026 has been elected, with MLA Joshua DāSouza as president and MMC chairperson Priya Mishal as vice president.
The executive board is headed by Dr Gurudas Natekar. Dr Tarak Arolkar is the senior vice president. All elected councillors have been named vice presidents. Sainath Raul has been elected secretary, with Sushant Harmalkar and Milind M Mahale as vice secretaries. Yashwant Gavandalkar is the treasurer, while Chandrashekhar Benkar and Vikas Arolkar are vice treasurers.
The celebrations will begin with Rangotsav at the Mapusa taxi stand. Fancy dress competitions for children will be held on March 5. On March 6, the historical drama āAakashmithiā written by Vasant Kanetkar will be staged, followed by a musical programme by a Mumbai-based winner of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Zee Marathi on March 7.
Raul said distribution of entry forms will continue till March 5. An online draw will be conducted on March 6 to finalise the sequence for the parade.
16 romtamel, 14 chitrarath in Ponda parade line-up
NT Reporter
Ponda
The state-wide Shigmotsav procession will commence from Ponda taluka on March 5, Shigmotsav Trust chairman Ritesh Naik said at a meeting held on Friday.
The Ponda taluka Antruz Shigmotsav Committee announced that 16 Romatamel troupes, 14 Chitrarath floats, five folk dance groups and fancy-dress spot entries will participate in the Shigmotsav parade.
The order of presentation of teams participating in the Chitrarath, Romatamel and Folk Art competitions was decided at a meeting held at the committee office.
Apart from the competition entries, a special Romtamel by children will begin the procession as the centre of attraction.
The rules and conditions imposed by the Tourism Department will be binding on all competitors. Prize winners will be declared on March 19 at the conclusion of the state-level Shigmotsav competition featuring participants from across Goa.
The formal Shigmotsav function will commence on Sunday. The concluding function will be held on March 5, when the State-level Shigmotsav procession will begin in Ponda city, featuring fancy dress, romatamel, folk dance and float presentations.
