Sunday 26 August 2012

BONDERAM 2012, at Piedade, Divar



Traditional  Bonderam (Flags Festival) at Piedade, Divar - Goa.
Organised by Piedade Youth Association.

There were in all 6 floats, all depicting/giving social messages on dumping garbage, saving Earth, Communal Harmony, traditional Goa etc

Premeiro ward had  ‘Green Goa’,  Divar Centre had ‘Dhorji’ (Tailor), Vitozem on ‘Garbage Kobar Koruia’, Maddant Stars had ‘Save the Earth, Jingle Bells had  ‘Mollo’ and finally Romantic groups had float on Communal Harmony: Guru - Olav - Akbar (GOA)


The chief guest for the occasion was Goa’s new Governor Bharat Vir Wanchoo along with his wife, Ex. MLA Nirmala Sawant, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, Village Panchayat Sarpanch, Prasad Harmalkar, Church Asst. Priest Fr. Francis Pereira etc (See pics & Video)



Following are the pics
(more pics shown in the video 1 photo show)

 

Clean Goa
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7859980816/in/photostream
 

chief Guest, Goa’s new Governor, Bhart Vir Wanchoo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7859983662/in/photostream/

 With Minister Dilip Parulekar, Ex MLA Nirmala Sawant, Gov. Wife,
Sarpanch, Church Ast. Priest etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860025848/in/photostream/

 
 

Communal Harmony – Christian, Hindus & Muslims


 
 

Paper Boys and girls



Tailor and bridal dress
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7859992610/in/photostream/
 


Looks like I know one of them
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7859995736/in/photostream/

Old Goa, Mangueshi etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860001930/in/photostream/

 Bhendde ani xetantu Mhar (Scarecrow)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860005110/in/photostream/


the judges, Francis Martins etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860006172/in/photostream/

Dorji or Tailor
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860009112/in/photostream/

little ocean Princess driven by Dolphins
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860012444/in/photostream/



Bhendde, konknno dudi, Vaingim etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860016242/in/photostream/

Poddollim, Xir-gonsallim etc on a ‘Mattov’
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860020174/in/photostream/

Bonderam
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860029294/in/photostream/


 cute little Mosquitoes waiting to sting
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860024624/in/photostream/

V3R1
Guru, Olav, Abdul (GOA)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860036366/in/photostream/

 dolphins, Bangddo and the queens
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860032764/in/photostream/

Ram, Akbhar, Jesus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860040030/in/photostream/


God has no religion (We humans have)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860043158/in/photostream/

Welcome to Divar Bonderam (at Jetty)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7860072546/sizes/h/in/photostream/

Ferryboat with Bonderam
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7865597228/in/photostream

Stop Littering
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7865605958/in/photostream/



with bee hive
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7865615658/in/photostream/

Little dancers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7865619268/in/photostream/

Dhorji or Tailor truck
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7865630654/in/photostream/

Little sea life (Lives)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7865641326/in/photostream/

Crowd Bonderam etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7865650832/in/photostream/

 
Video 1 - Photo Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_ML4bm7xyI

Video 2  (Floats)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAZNEJ3niH4


Video 3 ( Governor's speech, less than 2 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMYA1KXgF6E


Video 4 ( Extended Coverage - Floats 47 mins)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M94UxE_0F4g

Thursday 23 August 2012

The unique Khandi Khuris Feast at Maina Curtorim

You may visit here, new page  http://goa-joegoauk.blogspot.in/2012/08/the-unique-khandi-khuris-feast-at-maina.html

I bet many of you never seen like this before.. Khandi Fhuris Feast, Maina Curtorim
 

I too was not aware of such an unique celebrations of the
road side Holy Cross.
On our annual Holy Cross Feast day, we see around 100
including friend and family
But this one we are talking in thousands, say 10,000 plus

I was first notified in an email by a Bombay Goan last
year as he himself was there and spent 3.15hrs in the Q.

We were there around 11.45am, on the main road traffic
was jammed, no room even to walk.
We walked more than a KM to the road opp St. Rita Church,
from where it is about 1.6 Km to the Holy cross shrine via the Fields – Bandh
 

The Q
Two lines moving in opposite direction on the Curtorim
Main Road (opp St. Rita Church)
One would join the Q as far as at Courtorim Church / Lake and walk upto 2kms and then take
U turn to be in the main Q, another KM and then another about 1.6kms to the
Shrine from the main Road. However, we have seen lot of cheating by jumping the
Q etc
I walked about 1+1.6 KM one way.


Peculiarities of the feast:
- It takes 3-5 hours in the Q to venerate the Holy Cross in the Field Bundh or
Khanddi /Handi /Manos or sluice gate. Nothing can stop them, not even the heavy rains.
- If the line or the Q was in a straight line, it would be about 4.5km long
- From the main road to the field Holy Cross (Shrine / Chapel), the distance is about
1.6kms
- No Feri or Hawkers around the shrine or the entire 1.6kms stretch (There were
beggars though, seated on the ground).
- Although the entire stretch if of Tarred road, it was like NoMoZo or no vehicles on the road not even two wheelers and cycles.
- Free drinks to all (Pepsi products) as you come out of the shrine – Snacks also offered.
- Main Attraction: FREE meals to all (Biryani, Pullav, Chicken, Sweets, Dos, Attol
/ Goddxem, etc see pics) offered by the devotees who have been granted favours, and who
have pledged (Angonn) to give free lunch etc. Offered in plates and packs, some even take home.
- Normally, in any feast fair, one can see some 'chonnekars' or Doskars shouting – Chonne vhor bai, Khajem vhor bai but we see here ‘ Jevonn jei bai, yo bab yo bai..’
- Besides Donation Counter, there is also a gift counter ‘gift to God’ ranges from
buiscuits packs, Cakes etc see pic. As for the Donations, it could even cross 10
lacs this year. We Had Id Holiday on 20th Aug.

Besides, there was Helpline, Lost & found Counter, Feast brass band etc see pics / video


The feast is celebrated on 20th August every year except when 20th falls on Sunday, it is celebrated on Monday, I am told. But 2017 its on Saturday 19th Aug 2017
Starts early mooning till late.
Best time to visit I would say early morning and after say 4pm, as I feel there is more rush during lunch time

And the joke of the day is..
I took 4 guys with me for the free meals etc but I ended up paying their lunch bill at a restaurant in Margao, behind Holy Spirit Church 'Cool & Spicy' ?
Reason being, there was no way we could stand in the Q for 3-5 hours. However, I  requested a volunteer to let me in so that I can take some photographs etc.
( I was not at all aware of the Q, although it was mentioned in the email last year)


Some pics here

The starting Point from the
Main Road
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7839746046/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk58/7839711760/in/photostream



Video (Uncut)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbGR3hn2Rxg

Monday 20 August 2012

Konkani Rocks 2012



Konkani Rocks on the occasion of World Goa Day 19th Aug. 2012
at Heritage Jazz Street, Campal, Goa (opp. Gonsalves Mansion )

It's Goa ForGiving presentaion in association with Heritage Jazz (Armando Gonsalves)


Some Pics

Sonia Shirsat
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819040168/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819049662/in/photostream/

Musician for Sonia/ O'Luv  and others
Sancho Menezes (Keyboards /accordion), Joaquim  De Souza (Sax / Clarinet),  Colin Dias (Rhythm), Jairaj Joshi on Drums & Sergei Godinho on Bass guitar

O’Luv

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819065740/in/photostream/

with Sancho on Accordion
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819102718/in/photostream/


with Colin, Sancho and JaiRaj (Drums)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819105176/in/photostream/



Eric Ozario
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819080812/in/photostream/

with others - Joyce, Lavita, Prakash etc
Their Musicians were: Richard Monteiro (Keyboard), Roshan D'Souza (Lead Guitar)
Sachin Sequeira (Drums) , Asley (Bass) and Umesh on Sax / Trumpet
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819086042/in/photostream/


Prakash and Lavita
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819029180/in/photostream/

3 young musicians (blowing instruments)
Ketan, Canrick & Shaine
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819097394/in/photostream/


Xavier Almeida
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819100058/in/photostream/

3 unsung heroes were felicitated at the hands of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar
Brazinho Soares (Tiatr Literature), Octavio Rodrigueis (Mando/Folk Art) & Late Shanta Kadri for her immences help in organising Konkani Rocks movement over the years)

Brazinho Soares receives awards at the hands of Goa Chief Minister
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819018552/in/photostream

with Armando Gonsalves, CM Manohar Parrikar, Brazinho, Octavio etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819076980/in/photostream/

two of three awardees
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819116592/in/photostream/


the host - Bismarque Dias
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7819092806/in/photostream/

some more Pics added next day

 


Armando with CM Parrikar
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7829253640/in/photostream/


O’Luv Playing National Anthem Jana-Gana-Man on his comb
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7829254662/in/photostream/


With CM, Armanido, Awardees, O’Luv etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7829255684/sizes/l/in/photostream/



Varun Carvalho
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7829422948/in/photostream





Video 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LIe72Nju2s

Video 2 (Sonia ans the rocking band)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCf45fc-swA

Video 3 (Playing Comb)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cok2x4D7EU


konkani Rocks from previous years...

Konkani Rocks 2010

Lorna with Remo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4xPlLr-NIE

 Lorna singing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3GxJNADQDc

 With others –
 Webly, Sonia, Buyao, Roshan, Chari, Tomazin, Irene,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziJR1H9gvWI

Konkani Rocks 2009

Sigmund, Sonia etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7sZ_HNhDGw



Sunday 19 August 2012

Glenn Perry JAZZ Concert with Miles and Giles (Sons of Chris Perry)




Glenn Perry Jazz Concert in Goa at Maquinez Palace auditorium on 18th August, 2012  8pm 


From Times of India, Goa (16/8/12)
Glenn Perry to 'jazz' up Goa this Saturday
Two years ago, life came to a halt in Haiti. When the 7.0-magnitude quake struck the Caribbean nation, the conscience of the world shook with it. Around that time, forty-something Glenn Perry was with his beloved guitar in New York, doing what he usually does-writing songs, recording and producing them. From the Atlantic, humanity beckoned, and the jazzman didn't say no. Music, his first love and inheritance, would have to wait. He took off immediately-Destination Haiti. Structures still brittle, Mother Nature wasn't quite done yet. That realization dawned on Perry like a brick, as he lay beneath the rubble of a building which collapsed on him. When he emerged from the quagmire of concrete and dust, he was partially paralyzed, his playing hand the main casualty. Without it, his orange and black, custom-crafted electric guitar was forced to retreat into a box.

Two years later, it will reunite with its master in the land of his birth. Glenn, who is the elder son and a staunch disciple of Goa's jazz & tiatr colossus Chris Perry, will lead a quartet comprising his brothers Miles and Giles, as well as a Dutch trumpeter, in Panaji on Saturday. This will be his first concert in Goa, a place where his stature still pales before that of his legendary father.
Glenn Perry is known for his MTV hits 'Laila', 'Tonight', and 'I'll keep on loving you', but is quick to add that those (pop) days are behind him. "The concert will exclusively feature classical jazz," he told TOI. In life, that's the first genre he encountered. While his childhood friends crawled and bawled to Yankee Doodle, he was immersed in the trumpets of Miles Davis, the blistering keys of Chick Corea, and the reedy sax melodies of Charlie Parker. The consequence? At two, he was already exploring his home piano's black and white territory.
Years later, the names he saw and heard so much about made it to his own albums. When he released Reincarnation in 2006, he had Dave Weckl, Eric Marienthal and Bunny Brunel (all of whom were associated with Chick Corea) with him. His second record, Nostalgia, boasted the likes of Lenny White (of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew fame) and Ron Carter (also a Davis man, and perhaps the most recorded bassist in jazz history).
When it comes to inspiration, though, none of the maestros he's played with can match his father. One needs only to utter the name, and the superlatives come flying thicker and faster than an Yngwie Malmsteen arpeggio. "To me, he was the greatest musician in the world," he says of Chris Perry. "He didn't need a piano to compose. He did it all mentally; the piano was in his head." Greeted with a very skeptical look, he justifies-"God put certain people in certain parts of the world: Mozart, Bach and Beethoven in Europe, and Chris Perry in Goa." For most of those who have experienced the magic of Goa's Mozart, disagreeing with Glenn is not an option.
Today, Glenn Perry is not all about his guitar, and deconstructing him is no easy task. He lives in a bigamous relationship with music and "peace activism", and is quite unsure about which spouse he loves more. "My heart is in the slums," he confesses. The shift from full-time music to activism started around 2002, when Chris Perry passed away. Following Saturday's concert, he will fly off to help out in the Philippines, where floods have wreaked havoc, just as he's done in several other countries when tragedies had befallen their shores.

In happier times, he spreads music in slums. "I want to give back to the world the way I got from the world," he says. With this in mind, he's set up 20 music centres around the world. "I've given them instruments and provided them teachers." He hopes the kids he helps can one day be stars. "A centre in India, too, is on the way," he adds.
He may be an established musician in his own right, but by virtue of being Chris Perry's son, one question is inevitable-that of his disinterest in Konkani music. "I've known my dad as a jazz musician," he clarifies immediately. "I've got my experience playing with him, and he's my mentor."
Why, then, isn't Glenn Perry recording a Konkani album? The answer isn't forthcoming. He's silent for a moment, and then the diplomat in him comes to the fore -"When the time is right, I won't stop myself," he says.
(The Glenn Perry Jazz Band will perform at the ESG Auditorium in Panaji on Saturday, August 18)

Some pics from the Goa Show

Giles Perry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7814091544/in/photostream



Glenn Perry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7814096386/in/photostream/



Miles Perry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7814104996/in/photostream/



3 brothers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7814113494/in/photostream/

the Band
with Glenn, Miles, Giles and Marten Visser (Sax)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7814107908/in/photostream/

Miles and Marten
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7814110640/in/photostream/


Stage background
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7814112034/in/photostream/

Video 1 (Meet Chris Perry's Sons - Glenn, Miles and Giles)

Friday 17 August 2012

Feast of Cabo Raj Niwas Chapel, Grotto of St. Paula etc




The feast is unique. Never seen like this before.

More people visited not for the feast /Chapel but for St. Paula whose grotto lies below the Cabo Chapel. Long Qs are seen with devotees carrying flowers and candles. Majority of them were non-Christians including the youth. Looks like they come here year after year i.e. on 15th August.

Never heard of this little known Saint Paula nor I know how the devotion first started here.

I was amazed to see such a huge crowd and they did not mind staying in the Q under the hot sun for more than one hour. So strong must be the devotion, probably come down from their ancestors. Cabo was open for Public from 8 am and were suppose to leave by 1pm due to security reasons. But even at 12.45, we saw more and more devotees joining in the Q which would take them at least 1 hour to reach to the grotto which means 1.45pm but all devotees were to leave by 1pm, don’t know if this was extended by few hours.

Some pics

The Chapel (about 500 years old)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802458212/in/photostream/



inside the Chapel
Main altar etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802468530/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802480656/sizes/l/in/photostream/

 

the Patron Saibinn
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802483526/in/photostream/



silver candle stands etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802475422/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Golden pulpit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802472108/in/photostream/

Our Lady of Lourdes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802477912/in/photostream/

Huge cross
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802485932/in/photostream/

part of Governor’s residence
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802460660/in/photostream/

 

Beautiful view of the Arabian sea
Even kids seems enjoying the view
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802463026/in/photostream/

 

Long Q not for the feast Chapel but the Grotto of St. Paula or Paulin
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802465338/in/photostream/




 

St. Paula
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802524380/in/photostream

 
Feri
Khajem
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802456130/in/photostream

Another view, protection wall etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802530666/in/photostream/

Cabo garden / Fountain
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802538452/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Directions – sign board
Tennis Court, Parking, Secretariat, Grotto, Chapel, Raj Niwas, Library etc




Way to cafeteria / Gymnasium but Cafeteria was closed on the day
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802545588/sizes/l/in/photostream/


Cabo Helipad
Place of Helicopter Landing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802548292/sizes/l/in/photostream/

the Main Gate
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7802551410/sizes/l/in/photostream/




Video 1  (Feast, Mass, chapel etc)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=096dCtkv2PU



Video 2 ( Long Q to the Grotto of ST. Paula)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQDCHiXgziU

More pics added few hours later..

The Chapel
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7804751040/in/photostream/


Rear section of the chapel with balcony

Boys with flowers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7804743446/in/photostream/


the Grotto (inside)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7804746020/in/photostream/


 the Saint (St. Paula)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk57/7804748578/in/photostream/


Video 3  (Photo Show)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkC4CIe797U


From 2008

The Chapel
http://www.flickr. com/photos/ joegoauk5/ 2395070028/ sizes/l/



Inside
http://www.flickr. com/photos/ joegoauk5/ 2394236571/ sizes/l/

if you come out of it .. from the main entrance
http://www.flickr. com/photos/ joegoauk5/ 2395070824/ sizes/l/

To your right
http://www.flickr. com/photos/ joegoauk5/ 2395071162/ sizes/l/

and this is in front the chapel - View
http://www.flickr. com/photos/ joegoauk5/ 2394237497/ sizes/l/



video 2008 (Sunday Mass etc)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHw2aI3aD-k

Update: 19.12.13
Illuminations on Goa Liberation Day

The gate / Arch / cannon gun etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk54/11461510344/




 
Restricted entry – Delays expected
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk54/11461521984/in/photostream/

 
about half a kilometre road to the palace
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk54/11461642653/in/photostream/


 
The Palace
The official Residence of Governor of Goa
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk54/11461647153/in/photostream/


 
Lawns / garderns / Fountain
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk54/11461477915/in/photostream/

Video: 19.12.2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpXQi8BSz_I