Goa News Clips
 

Rains slow down traffic in Goa PANAJI: Aug 12: The rains accompanied with squally winds continued to lash Goa on Monday especially during the morning and as the day progressed traffic in the city was almost normal. The city bus stand that wore a deserted look in the morning saw normal rush in the evening. The bus traffic that was disrupted at Patem, five km before Quepem, due to water logging led to diversion of busses and delay in many cases but the afternoon saw the resumption of services. In South Goa as Paroda, parts of Karebhand and Benaulim continued to remain submerged under water. The water level at Selaulim dam is also rising at a rapid speed and the district authorities are keeping a close watch on the dam. The incessant rains have severely affected attendance of students of schools and colleges, especially in Salcete, Bicholim and Sattari talukas. Most of the schools in Sanquelim, Bicholim and Sattari declared a two-day holiday. A major landslide was reported near Bharatline, Bogda late on Sunday night due to heavy downpour during the last couple of days. There were no reports of any casualty. There still exists a threat from the overflowing of Valvanti river of Sanquelim and Bicholim river that could lead to the flooding of some parts of Bicholim and Sanquelim. [NT]

“World Konkani Day - 2008” Goan Review Art Foundation (GRAF), the cultural body of the Konkani-English bi-monthly The Goan Review is celebrating the World Konkani event - WORLD KONKANI DAY 2008 at the Goan Institute Hall, Thakurdwar, Dabul, Mumbai 400 002 on 23rd. August 2008, commencing at 6.30 p.m. World Konkani Day is being celebrated in recognition of Konkani as one of the national languages of the country. This year, August 20, commemorated the 16th anniversary of inclusion of Konkani in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution. This great day will be celebrated with a talk on the Konkani language by J B Moraes renowned Konkani litterateur and Sahitya Akademi award winner, followed by cultural items highlighting rich traditional culture of the Konkan, consisting of Mando-dulpods, song, mimicry & music. GRAF will also conduct a Konkani Seminar on 24th. August 2008, commencing at 3.30 p.m. at Victoria School Hall, Mahim, Mumbai 400 016.

NRIs could become directors of corporations in country PANAJI, Aug 13: Non resident Indians could become directors of corporations in the country if a suggestion made to the NRI Commissioner, Mr Eduardo Faleiro, during his recent visit to Toronto is taken note of by the Union and state governments. A proposal to link Goans abroad through a network based in Goa is also on the cards. A proposal to unite all Goan organisations outside Goa, whether in India or abroad, under one global network based in Goa is also on the cards. [NT]

Global Goans office by 2010: Faleiro PANAJI: The government intends to set up a Global Goans office in Panaji by December 2009 to unite all Goan organisations outside Goa, whether elsewhere in India, or abroad to redress the grievances of non-resident Goans. Announcing this at a press conference on Tuesday, the commissioner for NRI Affairs, Eduardo Faleiro, said the Global Goans office in Panaji will be the apex organisation for all Goan organisations abroad.[TOI]

Celebrating 50 years of priesthood on Sunday Celebrating 50 years of priesthood on Sunday, Goa’s own management guru Fr Romuald D’Souza has already launched his fourth management institute, the Marian Institute of Healthcare Management in Goa. This is his third management institute in Goa. Ordained priest in Belgium, where he also did his postgraduate studies, Fr Romuald says his career has been mostly in the field of education. Eldest of 5 siblings, including former Goa chief minister Dr Wilfred de Souza, Fr Romuald’s latest initiative, the Marian Institute of Healthcare Management, will be built at Saligao. [Joaquim Fernandes, TOI]

“Merlincholic” Keyboard Genius Her fingers fly over the keys and there’s a magical quality to the music she produces that weaves a spell over the audience. That’s Bandra based keyboard player, Merlin D’Souza, who produces music that has been described as, “mystical, mercurial with parts of soulful seductiveness, poetic genius, feminine intuitiveness and occasionally ‘merlincholic’.” She has played in Goa for the Great Jazz Revival Concert along with Jazzy Joe, Chris Perry and others. Hailing from Colvale, Merlin has strong recollections of the early years in Goa. “My village was dense with foliage and huge teak trees. Almost jungle-like and I lived there for while as a toddler,” recalls Merlin, now settled in Mumbai. [Alexandre Moniz Barbosa, TOI]

Goa’s traditional pancakes Polles are sweetened or unsweetened pancakes prepared on the fourth Sunday of the sacred month of Shravan by the Catholics, Hindus and Muslims in Goa. Since it is considered to be the week of the newborn, mothers have to be cared for so that they in turn take care of their newborns. There are some polles specially meant for lactating women. The basic preparation is from soaked udid dal and rice called fugiche polle. In this preparation rice should be double the quantity of udid dal to prevent sticking to the pan. Soaked raw rice, parboiled rice, fenugreek seeds, udid dal, coconut, a pinch of turmeric are ground to a very fine paste. The amount of fenugreek seeds used in any polle should always be less - that is 1 tsp for 1 cup of rice or else it tastes bitter. These polles are fried with coconut oil to a golden brown colour called sunollyo and are then soaked in coconut milk, cardamom powder and jaggery (ross). [Melinda Pereira Kamat, TOI]