June 20, 2017 TnH Global

Goa to be developed as Music Festival Destination: Minister for Tourism Ajgaonkar on World Music Day June 21

Greets Goan music artists on the occasion of World Music Day
Hails contribution to Goa by all musicians
Urges parents to encourage children to take to music and keep alive Goa’s culture through various traditional music forms

On the occasion of World Music Day, June 21, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Manohar Ajgaonkar unveiled plans of formulating various schemes through the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Goa to promote the spirit and gift of music in all forms through music festivals here in Goa.

“Another reason that draws tourists to Goa is music and I will strive to make Goa a Music Festival Destination,” said Ajgaonkar on the eve of World Music Day 2017.

He pointed out that the State government has proposed to identify special zones for conduct of late night music festivals which will not inconvenience the locals and such festivals are proposed to be held upholding all rules and laws of the land. Ajgaonkar has greeted musicians of Goa whose music resonates on all platforms, and recalled memories of musicians from the yesteryears who contributed immensely to Goa through their melodies.

Music legends like Dinanath Mangeshkar, Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki, Mogubai Kurdikar, Lorna, Kishori Amonkar, M. Boyer, Alfred Rose, Rita Rose, Emiliano Da Cruz, Anthony Gonsalves, Sonia Sirsat, Hema Sardesai, Selwyn Menezes, Zezinho Fernandes, Colin D’Cruz, Oliver Sean and many more have brought name and fame to Goa and placed Goa high on the world music map. He also remembered Goyem Shahir late Ulhas Buyao whose birth anniversary is coincidentally on World Music Day.

Goa is one of India’s leading music cities and music genres of various forms ranging from Western, Indian, classical, jazz, pop, rock, electronic dance music, traditional, liturgical, orchestras etc. Musical instruments like the dhol, ghumot, mandolin, traditional songs like the mando, dhalo, dulpod, fugdi, etc are very popular and continue to be played and sung during festivities and celebrations. Music is also part of the theatre art forms like Tiatr and Sangeet Natak.

Songs in Konkani, Marathi, Portuguese, Hindi and English have caught on with the youth in Goa and are played extensively during weddings and other celebrations. Goa is a land and home to several music events from India and abroad be it light music festivals, jazz festivals, electronic dance music festivals, and festivals promoting music from across the globe. Several music studios have also been set up and music recordings are done in Goa for leading music producers as well.

Considering the fact that music run deep in the blood of Goans, Ajgaonkar has also urged parents to encourage their children to take to music, in an exercise to keep Goa’s traditional culture alive for posterity. He also complimented music lovers of Goa for supporting and keeping the musical identity of Goa alive.