Goa must promote its rich culture and traditions: Speaker

Panaji: Pointing out that Goa is only being promoted as a destination for beach tourism, Goa assembly speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Tuesday said there is a need to also showcase the state’s rich culture and traditions to the world. As a step towards achieving this, he said, President Droupadi Murmu and Union ministers have been invited to attend the cultural festival, Lokostav, at Adarsh Gram, Amone, Poinguinim, so that the event is recognised nation-wide.
“Today, wherever we go, be it nationally or internationally, Goa’s village culture is not being promoted. Goa is being promoted at a different level, considering beach tourism. We have a strong demand that the state’s culture and traditions be showcased to the world. This will also generate employment,” Tawadkar said. “Not all tourists are interested in beach tourism. They want to explore heritage and culture.”
Tawadkar, who is the president of Adarsh Yuva Sangh which organises Lokotsav, said the five-day event will begin on December 7. The concept of the festival, he said, is based on self-reliance and showcasing traditions and cultures that are fast-vanishing. He also said that it seeks to promote Goa’s food culture at a time when it is spreading rapidly across the country.
In response to a question over whether the government has been reluctant to promote Lokotsav while lending support to music festivals in the state, Tawadkar said that while some ministers back music festivals, it is also important to promote cultural events like Lokotsav.
Today, wherever we go, Goa’s village culture is not being promoted. Goa is being promoted at a different level, considering beach tourism. Not all tourists are interested in beach tourism. They want to explore heritage and culture