"Santanchem Pursanv" at Goa Velha
Goa – Annual Procession of Saints
Photos by Joel D’Souza

GOA VELHA: The annual procession of saints popularly known as "Santanchem Pursanv" was held at the church of St Andrew here on Monday, March 10. www.goacom.com 
has a few pictures of the traditional procession at http://www.flickr.com/photos/52243088@N00/

Police Launch Murder Probe In Goa
By Lita Barretto in Panaji, India
March 09, 2008 09:30pm
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23346748-23109,00.html

POLICE in the popular Indian resort state of Goa have launched a murder investigation after the partially naked body of a British teenager was found last month on a beach. The announcement came after doctors conducted a fresh autopsy and concluded 15-year-old Scarlette Keeling was murdered, and did not drown as local police had initially insisted. "We are investigating it as a murder case," senior Goa state police official Kishan Kumar said, after a panel of three doctors conducted a six-hour examination of the body. "There will be detentions now," he said, without providing details, though sources say the owner of a cafe on popular Anjuna beach where Ms Keeling was last seen alive is likely to be questioned.

But Mr Kumar denied allegations by Fiona MacKeown, Ms Keeling's mother, that police had initially tried to hush up the murder. "Police never failed in their duty. They were right on the track," said Mr Kumar.

Ms MacKeown pointed to the large numbers of bruises on her daughter's body to bolster her call for a second examination after an earlier autopsy concluded the girl drowned in the choppy Arabian Sea. The first autopsy found only five bruises on Ms Keeling's body, but yesterday's examination discovered as many as 50, with at least half of them believed to have been inflicted before she died.

Ms MacKeown's lawyer also said the family suspects Ms Keeling may have been sexually assaulted. "When a 15-year-old girl is found with her panties and shorts pulled down by the sea and covered with bruises... there is a possibility of sex assault," Vikram Varma said.

The autopsy panel did not confirm rape but said that some of the injuries indicated sexual assault, a Times of India report said overnight.

Ms MacKeown welcomed the autopsy findings.

"We have been saying this since day one," she said.

"In my heart I knew that she was murdered."

Mr Varma also alleged police in Anjuna beach hid vital information about the circumstances in which Ms Keeling's body was found. Local politicians have also queried the police, noting that an officer who initially investigated the case had been suspended for covering up a murder four years ago.

Ms MacKeown, from Devon in southwest England, brought her oldest daughter and five younger siblings to Goa for a six-month stay in November. Ms Keeling's body was found lying on the beach with her clothes partially removed on February 18 while the rest of her family was travelling in the neighbouring state of Karnataka.

Ms MacKeown had wanted her daughter to accompany the rest of the family on the trip, according to Mr Varma, but the two squabbled and Mr Keeling was allowed to remain in Goa. The month before Ms Keeling's death, the Federal Government asked authorities in popular tourist destinations like Goa to review security measures after a spate of highly publicised sexual attacks on foreigners.

Goa receives about 400,000 foreign tourists each year.

Why More Tourists Are Breathing Their Last In Goa
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14618900 
Saturday, 08 March , 2008, 15:42
Last Updated: Saturday, 08 March , 2008, 15:57

Goa: Death of foreign tourists visiting Goa has been on a rise with 17 cases already been registered in just two months this year in the state. With Goa increasingly becoming a hot spot for drug abuse, the involvement of tourists is evident from the fact that nearly half of the people arrested in narcotics cases were foreigners.

Police sources said that many of them who died were found to be drug addicts. Last year, the death toll was 59. And 55 foreigners died in the previous year. The police records reveal that in half the cases, the cause of death is unknown sans the viscera report.

In 2008, the number of such cases sent for viscera analysis is six out of 12. “The viscera report basically establishes whether there is presence of drugs in the stomach or is it poison. Depending on it, section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (murder) can be invoked in these cases,” a senior police officer said.

“Visit any rave party and you will find hoard of foreigners inhaling drugs. The coastal belt is getting increasingly ruined with the drug rackets,” a police officer said. The Goa police website lends an insight into foreigners' link with drug cartels in the state. The anti-narcotic cell has found almost 50 per cent of its drug accused as foreign tourists.

The Traditional (Goan) Arts And Crafts
http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=03072
Innjoy opens in Anjuna
Panaji, March 6

Innjoy, a melting pot of diverse Goan culture encompassing traditional Goan cuisine and arts and crafts has been thrown open at Chivar, near Flushing Meadows, Anjuna.

Situated in a picturesque hillock, it is aimed at being unique tourist attraction with focus on uniqueness and diverseness of Goa, keeping it as simple and natural as possible.

The traditional arts and crafts feature tapestry and beed work by Ms Maria de Sousa from Siolim, who has selected Goan themes in her designs. Crochet jewellery, pottery, shells, paintings, bamboo craft work are also on display while paper jewellery is the highlight of the exhibition. Several local girls are being trained in bamboo craft so that they can be empowered to make a living.

The restaurant brings back the traditional Goan way in which sardines and mackerels were prepared using hay or coconut husk with traditional handground masalas being used for preparing the dishes.

The salient feature is cooking in earthenware pots by Goan ladies so as to provide traditional Goan meals. All traditional dishes like Goan chutney, prawn balchao, molho and fish curry rice, besides continental dishes use locally made masalas prepared by the locals from the village and surrounding areas.

The Austrian Day is observed every Friday where typical Austrian food is served.

India, sixth 'Wonder' of Americans
WASHINGTON (Agencies): India is the sixth most popular country in the US, with 69 per cent of the Americans having a positive image about it, while Pakistan finds itself among the 10 most unpopular nations, according to a new poll. Of 22 countries rated in Gallup's 2008 World Affairs survey, Canada, Great Britain, Germany and Japan win favour with at least 80 per cent of Americans. The top four is followed by Israel at 71 per cent. India ties with France at the sixth spot for the positive image. [GT]

Agriculture still a major occupation in Pernem
MAPUSA, Mar 8: Agriculture is still a major occupation in Pernem, however, it is yet to witness any major development, most of its fields are always seen 'green' clearly indicating that the agriculture is still prevalent in a major way despite of constraints. Cultivation of paddy, groundnuts, bananas and different vegetables is done in a big way so much so that these crops are even grown in a commercial manner. The famed Thursday market in Pernem offers a 'small' platform for these farmers to sell their produce. [Erwin Fonseca, NT]

Victor Rangel talk on "Hiding Places, Rigged Elections and a Rane Murdered on a Hill"
MAPUSA: The Xavier Centre of Historical Research will organise a talk on "Hiding Places, Rigged Elections and a Rane Murdered on a Hill" by Victor Rangel-Ribeiro at the Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Alto Porvorim, on March 13, at 5.30 pm. Rangel Ribeiro draws on his own family's oral traditions, his grandfather's newspapers and his father's memoirs to paint a vivid picture of Goa we no longer know. His varied professional career includes working on a freelance basis for Fairleigh Dickinson University Press as well as teaching both public and private New York schools. [GT]