Panaji: The Goa government is planning on making the State a music festival destination, Minister for Tourism Manohar Ajgaonkar said on Tuesday on the eve of World Music Day.
He said Department of Tourism will be formulating various schemes to promote music in all forms through festivals, and the government will be identifying special zones late night music festivals which will not inconvenience locals.
The Minister greeted State musicians, while recalling memories of yesteryears performers who have contributed immensely to both Goan and Indian music, including 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.
Goa is a leader in the Indian music scene, boasting forms ranging from Western and Indian classical, jazz, pop, rock, electronic dance music, traditional, liturgical and orchestra. 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 theatre art forms like Tiatr (traditional Konkani plays) and Sangeet Natak.
Songs in Konkani, Marathi, Portuguese, Hindi and English are popular with Goa youth. Several studios have also set up shop and work with leading music producers.