KALYANI JHA | NT BUZZ
Goa might be a small state, but its richness, both cultural and natural, cannot be comprehended casually. It requires patience, and enough time to observe, to be able to fully grasp its beauty.
Attempting to bring out the hidden significance and beauty of its built and natural heritage, Heritage First Goa is all set to organise the Heritage First Festival for the second time, from November 14 to
December 7.
“You can be a tourist in your own town! You may have been to the areas a hundred times and yet not know the history, the culture of the area. Visiting the places with an expert will help you see the same area, tree, or bird with new perspective and curiosity,” says director, Heritage First Goa, Heta Pandit.
While the last edition had a total of 32 walks, this time around, the festival has 41 heritage walks ranging from a village walk, poetry walk, tree walk, to a caves walk, river island walk, shore walk and moonlight walk, spread across Goa.
Apart from this, there will also be workshops on the Kunbi saree, rice farming, community kitchen, kaavi art, wild edibles, etc.
“For the Heritage First Goa, last year was a baby step. Our walks were grouped under nature, architecture, and crafts. But this around we received proposals from experts from a range of new fields which has helped the festival to grow bigger,” says Pandit.
Among the new experiences will be a trail to Usgalimal to learn about the petroglyphs. “Artist Onkar Khirsagar is a keen student of the petroglyphs of Goa and the Konkan. He offered to curate this trail and introduce us to the petroglyphs that have existed since ancient times,” says Pandit. Guests will also be guided in doing an art activity with the petroglyphs as a theme. Pandit adds that they have received encouragement from the Directorate of Archives and Archaeology Government of Goa for this exercise in the study and awareness of this ancient art form.
Another highlight is a tour of the paddy fields and on-ground knowledge of farming. “Since agriculture is the backbone of Goa’s economy, we thought we should add a paddy field tour where guests will meet with a rice farmer who will share the trials and tribulations of cultivating our staple food of rice,” says Pandit.
Some walks that received great response last year will return this as well. These include the History Walk, Panaji, Art Deco, Wild Edibles and the River Island Walk.
“It may seem repetitive, but those who have taken the walk before can take up the walk again. There’s always some new experience and new research that the pilot (expert leading the walk) shares with you. Besides, the group energy, the dynamics are completely different with a new group. It’s a new way to connect with the subject and with others interested in the same subject,” says Pandit.
