The 2nd Ostoreachem Fest on Republic Day radiates joy, unity and sustainability in a quaint corner of Madkai.
The vibrant Ostoreachem Fest (women’s Fest) unfolded at Peaceful Society, Madkai, leaving an indelible mark on Festakar Marius Fernandes’ 82nd fest taking center stage. With an unwavering commitment to heritage preservation, this fest stood out for its unique blend of tradition, inclusivity and environmental consciousness. Drawing more than 300 women from Madkai, Navelim and around Goa, the fest was a testament to the collective effort in safeguarding Goan culture.
Notably, this celebration was distinctive for its notable absence of sponsors and chief guests, focusing instead on the essence of community and tradition. The day commenced at 11 am with “Festakarachi Passoi” an enlightening tour led by host Kumar Kalanand Mani, guiding guests through the natural treasures of the Peaceful Society premises. The interactive session, Bolçaoacheo Gozalli with horticulturist Miguel Braganza, facilitated by senior journalist Prakash Kamat, delved into the festival’s 25-year journey, emphasizing its grassroots origins.
Soon to get a Geographical Indication, GI tag, our state instrument, the beloved ghumot was gifted to Ethan Vaz, the youngest world chess champion in the junior category by Fr. Gabriel Coutinho parish priest of Our Lady of Rosary church, Navelim.
Professor Tania Shirodkar spoke about VAYAM, a holistic healing through counseling.
Dean of Goa College of Agriculture,
Dr. Suresh kunkalikar and his team presented a display of various types of millets of India and Professor Saloni Patil spoke on the benefits of millets. The festakar team pledges to carry on the millet revolution in all future festivals.
Konkani Tiatrist, Armando Fernandes serenaded the audience with soulful Konkani songs and a poem on the Girl- Child adding a cultural resonance to the event.
Local artist Gerald Lopes sssisted by Dominic D’souza presented Marius Fernandes with a portrait, symbolizing the artistic appreciation woven into the festival’s fabric.
Montfort academy, Corlim, distributed leaflets about their value added education in various fields.
The fest also featured a captivating session on coconut plucking using modern tree-climbing machines, presented by young agriculture graduates Estella Pires and Liza Pinheiro. This demonstrated a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, echoing the fest’s commitment to embracing the old and the new.
Since it is a zero waste fest, guests carried their own plates and were served delicious home cooked food including dishes like khotkhotem, local pickles, Goan rice, locally grown bhaji etc. An educative Pudde workshop was held. It is a local age-old Goan delicacy wrapped around a jackfruit leaf and served with futi çha.
The session echoed the nostalgia of the 1940s as 92-year-old Antoinette Fernandes, a woman from three continents sang a konkani classic remembering the greatest konkani singer late Minguel Rod and shared insights into preserving Goa’s culture and ethnic traditions during the Portuguese rule.
Workshops on Candle making and weaving of coconut leaf baskets by José Dias from Benaulim, roteassao was held by Rita Pires from Navelim, mollam by Flavia Fernandes.
The fest showcased the multi-generational embrace of tradition, exemplified by 13-year-old violin prodigy Keziah Juliao from Navelim, who enchanted the audience with her musical prowess on the violin.
The Festival reached its crescendo, a Kottieacho Nach, a collaborative effort pioneered by Festakar Marius Fernandes and choreographed by Angela Valadares showcased instruments crafted from coconut shells amplifying the fest’s commitment to sustainability.
The guests led by Priya Almeida and her team danced to the beats of the coconut shells drawing the festival to a close with Fr. Gabriel Coutinho proposing a vote of thanks and highlighting the collective spirit that made the 82nd Ostoreachem Fest a resounding success in preserving culture, fostering unity and championing sustainability.
