Entertainment industry and music in the state need to be strengthened
It’s that time of the year when one set of festivities is over, and the other is getting started. From musical events to Konkani natak and tiatr festivals, small music events to the 2025 Carnival dates being announced for end-Feb to early-March. The India International Music week 2025 ends today. A diverse World Peace Music Festival is also on the cards on Feb 7-8 at the Kala Academy. The tiny but notable ukulele festival comes up mid month. In Aldona, a festival of music, art and dance has got announced and will take place in end Feb. The Monte Music Fest is just over. This all is just the tip of Goa’s cultural iceberg.
Over the years, Goa has seen changes in its cultural calendar and traditional time for celebrations. Traditionally, celebrations came about here just after the monsoons, when the harvest was in and the heavy yearly agricultural work done with. Later, perhaps sometime in the mid 20th century, a whole lot of Goans settled outside Goa would return from places like Bombay and during the summer holidays. This saw a big influx at that time of the year, leading some villages to even adapt the timings of their festivities and the celebration schedules on their annual calendar. A couple of decades ago, December-end became the most crowded and favoured season to visit Goa. Now, we see a rush during long weekends and school holidays. The early-year series of events reflect not just attempts to extend the tourism season, as the Carnival does, but also show a growth in organising events and shows which involve a lot of local talent, innovation and initiative. Skills of outstation folk also surely blend in organising many of these events, often adding value to the same.
There are quite a few issues that emerge here. Can talent of this kind take Goa to a new high by helping its economy while also building an enhanced version of itself? It could be argued that by integrating culture and entertainment into the State’s wider economic goals, Goa can create job opportunities, preserve its diverse heritage, and attract global recognition while also improving the livelihoods of its people.
Culture and entertainment surely have a bigger role to play in the tourism and hospitality sector, especially if it is done not in a cliched and stereotyped way. Local artisans and handicrafts can gain from a rising tide on this front as well, and opportunities to showcase the same at such events should not be lost. Overall, there is need for strengthening Goa’s music and entertainment industry, more so because of the pressures it has faced during the pandemic and over recent copyright issues too. Such initiatives could also lead to a boost to the food and culinary sector, and the digital and creative economy.
At the same time, these trends do not come without their challenges. If events are promoted without a genuine tone around them, it is likely that these will come across as inauthentic and artificial. Irritants like noise-pollution and uncontrolled crowds are something which need a lot of thought and insight, if such factors are not to upset the entire applecart. Given enough thought and good intentions, such issues could be tackled. But what’s most needed is a long term vision that appreciates where such initiatives could make a difference. Without hype.
