Panaji: Goa Rehabilitation Board Chairman and Cumbarjua MLA Rajesh Faldessai said that the state government should render financial support for cultural festivals like the Sangodd in Cumbarjua. He was speaking at the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Shantadurga Cultural Association, Cumbarjua on Saturday. Those present were Cumbharjua Sarpanch Nanadakumar Shet, deputy sarpanch Sachin Gaude, and other dignitaries.
“The government must provide financial support for festivals like the Sangodd at Cumbarjua canal. Such festivals need a budget of around Rs 15-20 lakhs as thousands of people come for the Sangodd. We can scale up the festival. Our village has become famous world over. I am sure the government will support this festival financially. The plan for the internal road will be taken up post monsoon, and i have also requested the chief minister to install a military bridge of 6mts that will benefit the locals of Cumbarjua. It has been approved by GSIDC. Only some final formalities are left. People coming to see the Ganpati and other festivals here can visit properly as they can come from Marcel, Old Goa and other Corlim and PDA. Traffic jams will be resolved. Within 2 years, this will be a reality,” he said.
“Organising a Sapt Rang Programme is no easy task. Running an organisation for 50 years is a huge achievement. This programme was started during the year when Dayanand ‘Bhausaheb’ Bandodkar died 50 years ago. I am sure this will carry on, and assure you that I will support it. We all must support the Shantadurga Cultural Festival,” he said.
“It is a proud achievement that this organisation has been working for the past 50 years. Such events provide a platform for artistes to showcase their talent. Thus we need to have such more events,” said Shet.
Gaude said, “Cumbarjua is famous for its artists, be it Ganpati installations, or Konkani events. I thank the MLA and organisers for holding such events and making Cumbarjua famous.”
Also present at the function were Social worker Sanjiv Gad, Ex Panch Prashant Bhandari and Mahendra Gaonkar.