Goa 123 updates

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa: MoU for IFFI 2010 signed
ITM-Goa, International business-to-business Mart Kicks-off
Goa: All set for Waves 2010
Navratri celebrations in Goa
Goa Police to Enquire into SP’s Boat Ride

Goa: MoU for IFFI 2010 signed

Posted: 14 Oct 2010 07:11 AM PDT

A memorandum of understanding was signed on Wednesday between the Union information and broadcasting ministry and the state government as regards to the hosting of 41st International Film Festival of India to be held here from later half of November 2010.

The chief executive officer of Entertainment Society of Goa, Mr Manoj Shrivastava informed The Navhind Times that the MoU was signed by Mr S M Khan, director in the Department of Film Festival on behalf of I&B ministry, and Mr Narendra Kumar, the secretary for information and publicity department, on behalf of the Goa government.

He, however, expressed his inability to give further information as the MoU but went on to add that the details of the MoU would be made public by Mr Khan during his visit to the state on Thursday.

Courtesy: Navhind Times

ITM-Goa, International business-to-business Mart Kicks-off

Posted: 14 Oct 2010 06:55 AM PDT

Goa's maiden international business-to-business travel and trade mart ITM - Goa 2010 was inaugurated at Panaji on Thursday October 14. Over 200 national and international buyers travel and trade industry honchos and tourism board members descended onto the shores of this coastal state. Chief guest, Dr S S Sidhu, Governor of Goa inaugurated the trade mart. Pradip Madhavji, former chairman, Thomas Cook India and Honorary Consul in Mumbai for the New Zealand Consulate delivered the key note address.

ITM-Goa which aims to boost tourism related business in the state is jointly promoted by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the state department of tourism, India Tourism, Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) and Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). Chief minister Digambar Kamat, tourism minister Nilkant Halarnkar, and leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar, MLA and chairman, Goa Tourism and Development Corporation (GTDC) Shyam Satardekar, mayor of CCP Carolina Po, chief secretary Sanjay Srivastava and secretary tourism Dr M Modassir among others were present on the occasion.

A power packed event, ITM-Goa saw a hosted buyer-seller interactive sessions during business hours at the mart, panel discussions, knowledge-sharing sessions, networking dinners and FAM trips. Over 80 participants will showcase their services and network with industry associates over the next four days. ITM-Goa 2010 has confirmed participation of buyers from over twelve countries including Singapore, South Africa, Canada, UK, Italy, Poland, Russia, UAE, Thailand and Brazil among others.

Knowledge sessions with industry stalwarts on west coast tourism, investment opportunities, branding Goa and adopting the public private partnership (PPP) model to boost tourism will be some of the key highlights at ITM-Goa. Goan artists presented cultural programmes on the inaugural day.

Courtesy: daijiworld

Goa: All set for Waves 2010

Posted: 13 Oct 2010 12:46 PM PDT

From October 14-16 at BITS Pilani, Goa Campus organizes Waves, its annual cultural extravaganza. With the theme "Viva la Vida," this year's edition is a celebration of life itself.

For three days, however, we at BITS plan to step back from this existence, and appreciate life for what it is - an adventure, a roller coaster of emotion and opportunity - in a massive carnival. We invite you to join us.

War of DJs and Raindance to be held on 14th of October.

Performing this year, on 15th of October will be renowned singer Shafqat Amanat Ali, all the way from Pakistan.

Also, on the third day that is on 16th of October, we have one of the most creative and talented bands on the Indian music circuit: Thermal and a Quarter.

Waves also provides the perfect platform for college students from all over the country to showcase and sharpen their talents with a barrage of innovative events and workshops. Events such as Natyanjali, Fash P, Mr. & Ms. Waves, Sea Rock etc are being organised.

Navratri celebrations in Goa

Posted: 13 Oct 2010 11:11 AM PDT

Navratri celebrations that began with the 'gathasthapana' are being held on a grand scale at various places in Mapusa. Pandals have been erected at various locations where cultural activities will be held along with the Dandiya Raas. The main attraction however like every year is the Durga puja celebrated by the Bengali communities alongside the Navratri celebrations by the Shri Durga Puja Seva Samiti.

The president of the Bengali Communities Association, Mr Sayad Raju says that the five day Durga puja at Mapusa organised by this association has been going on for the last four years. Besides Mapusa, this puja is also being held by the community at other cities in Goa. 11 workers are presently working around the clock to finish work on the idols of Durga Mata, Ganesh, Karthike, Lakshmi, Saraswati made of hay and clay and a replica of a Bengali temple. "Last year we had incurred an expenditure of Rs 8 lakhs and this year we expect to incur an expenditure of around Rs 5 lakhs. Though this is the Navratri period we in Bengal celebrate Durga puja five days prior to Dussehra, the same is followed here too" he informed.

Durga puja in Bengal is considered to be a grand festival where all Bengalis come together. "In Mapusa, the Durga puja celebrations will get off to a start from October 13 after the inauguration ceremony at the hands of Aldona MLA, Mr Dayanand Narvekar" states Mr Raju.

The programme of all five days includes Garba dance, shaptami puja, asthami puja, mahanavami puja, dashami puja, bali dan, shosti puja, bhog nivedan etc. The Ghat sthapana will held at 10 pm on October 13.

Meanwhile Navratri celebrations have already begun at another pandal erected by the Shri Durga Mata Puja Seva Samiti. Divulging further about this event, its president, Mr Ramakant Pandey said that for all these nine days, various cultural activities will be held before the immersion which will finally take place on October 17." Though we may be from some other state we consider ourselves Goans and for this reason we along with all Goans come together to celebrate Navratri for all nine days with a prayer to goddess Durga to bless Goa, said Mr Pandey. He said that Goans who turn up at this venue on all nine days outnumber those from other states or other communities and therefore he says that this is a celebration more of the Goans.

Courtesy: Navhind Times

Goa Police to Enquire into SP’s Boat Ride

Posted: 13 Oct 2010 10:41 AM PDT

Goa Police have initiated enquiry after its senior officer was found fishing in a sophisticated boat meant to guard state’s coast. Superintendent of Police (Anti Narcotic Cell) Veenu Bansal was photographed by a local newspaper while angling in a boat that belongs to Goa Marine Police force.

The photograph also shows Bansal’s guests enjoying a day out wearing lifejackets meant for Goa Marine Police force. A senior police officer stated that the department has initiated an enquiry in the matter. ”We have taken note of it. I can not tell you more than this,” Police spokesman Atmaram Deshpande told reporters today.

When contacted, Bansal refused to comment stating that only Director General of Police will be able to make comment on the issue. Bansal, an Indian Police Service Officer, heads the crucial Anti Narcotic Cell which recently hit headlines in the police-drug peddler nexus case.

Courtesy: daijiworld

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Goa Blog

Bhakti becomes Goa’’s first International Woman Master

Posted: 13 Oct 2010 08:59 AM PDT

Bhakti Kulkarni has become the first Goan to bag the International Woman Master (IWM) title, awarded by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) at its annual meeting at Khanty Manski (Russia). Bhakti had scored seven norms for IWM in the last two years when it was mandatory to score just three, according to a release by Arvind Aaron, Press Officer, All India Chess Federation.

A player must reach the rating of 2200 to be eligible for the IWM title. Bhakti had crossed that milestone long back and is enjoying a rating of 2294 with the first position in her age group in the Under-18 Asian category. “I consider this as not my destination but one of the stepping stones for my future achievement,” said Bhakti, the brand Ambassador for Goa Carbon. “I am grateful to Srinivas Dempo, Goa Carbon and my coach Raghunandan Gokhale for the achievement,” she said. The newly appointed vice-president of FIDE and Secretary of All India Chess Federation, D V Sundar hailed Bhakti as one of the leading stars of Indian chess with bright future. “Bhakti will be one of the leading woman players of our country within the next three years,” stated Sundar. She is training currently with Dronacharya Awardee Raghunandan Gokhale in Mumbai before leaving for Halkidiki (Greece) for the World Youth Championship on October 19.

Courtesy:IBN

GST: State FMs to meet in Goa on Oct 29 & 30

Posted: 12 Oct 2010 10:06 AM PDT

State finance ministers will meet in Goa for two days between October 29 & 30 to firm up their views on the Centre’s revised draft for implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which has been facing uncertainty for quite some time.

“(We discussed ) how we can converge, what are the points on the basis of which convergence can be achieved. I would have to report to the empowered committee of state finance ministers which is scheduled to meet on October 29 & 30 in Goa,” the chairman of state finance ministers’ panel, Asim Dasgupta, told PTI after meeting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee here toda

Dasgupta, who is West Bengal Finance Minister, further said that he has conveyed to the Union Finance Minister views of the states on the GST related constitution amendment and the revised draft.

The indirect tax regime, GST, is expected to replace excise duty, service tax on the Centre’s end and VAT on the states front, besides local levies, cesses and surcharges.

The Centre has so far floated two drafts on Constitution Amendment bill. The first one was rejected by states as it proposed a GST Council, which they alleged gives veto power to Union Finance Minister on taxation issue of states.

The draft had proposed that changes in GST could be brought about by two-thirds majority in the council.

To assuage states, the Centre came out with another draft, which says that changes in GST could only be made when there is complete consensus in the GST council.

This draft is also opposed by the BJP-ruled states, besides Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Mukherjee had suggested that the Centre would come out with another draft.

The rollout of GST has missed the deadline of April 1, 2010, and the next slated date of April 1 next year is unlikely to be met.

After the revised draft, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Asim Dasgupta also came out with alternative model on GST.

However, the Centre refused to accept the alternative model of GST, saying it does not allow the essential features of GST to operate.

Courtesy:PTI

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Goa Blog

NYC gets new president

Posted: 12 Oct 2010 04:05 AM PDT

In a move that it hopes will bring in the numbers, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has appointed Tanveer Khatib, former North Goa president of the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress (GPYC) as president of the Nationalist Youth Congress (NYC) in Goa.

Khatib’s appointment, it is learnt, had the backing of NCP national secretary Jeetendra Deshprabhu, former Pernem MLA and Congress party member.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that five additional names have been approved by the NCP high command, and who will hold executive posts in the NYC.

The NCP high command has approved the name of Nitesh Pandit of Mapusa, who will be given charge as NYC working president; Edwin Fernandes of Verem and Greg Fernandes of Vasco have been approved as senior vice presidents, while Charanjeet Sapre and Ram Mandrekar - both from South Goa have been approved as vice presidents, NCP sources said.

Courtesy: TOI

Vedanta to rope in “strong” partner for making steel: Agarwal

Posted: 11 Oct 2010 10:14 AM PDT

Mining major Vedanta Resources today said it will partner a “strong” steel company as and when it decides to foray into the manufacturing of this commodity.

“As of now, there are no plans for the steel plant. We are iron ore player. We don”t have expertise in steel making.

We are manufacturer of pig iron though. But in future if we go into steel making, we will go with a strong partner,” Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal told PTI.

Sesa Goa, iron ore subsidiary of the group, manufactures pig iron at its facility in Goa. The company had said it had applied for land in Jharkhand for the steel plant.

The group was also looking at Karnataka, Orissa as other possible locations for its diversified steel making business.

“In Orissa, Sesa Goa had last month written to the state government to transfer an MoU signed with Vedanta’’s flagship firm Sterlite Industries to it. As per the MoU, Vedanta had to set up a five million tonnes steel plant,” a person in the know of the development said.

Sesa Goa, the country’’s third largest iron ore exporter, is expanding its annual production capacity of pig iron to 6.25 lakh tonnes from the present 2.50 lakh tonnes.

Iron ore is a vital steelmaking input. Sesa Goa has also planned to double its iron ore production capacity to 50 million tonnes by 2012.

Foreign and domestic steelmakers are looking at securing the key raw material in making steel to expand their India operations.

With the delays in regulatory processes involved for allocation of captive iron ore mines, companies are looking at forging alliances with mining companies to run steel plants.

JSW Steel is in pact with a local Karnataka miner to run its steel business, since it has still not been allocated captive iron ore blocks.

Foreign companies like Posco are finding it tough to set up their independent plants in the country and are in the process of setting up such unit in joint venture with state- owned SAIL. Similarly, ArcelorMittal has partnered domestic steel firm Uttam Galva to mark its first operational presence in India.

Recently, JFE Steel of Japan agreed to purchase nearly 15 per cent stake in domestic steelmaker JSW Steel, thereby taking its first step to tap in growing steel demand in India.

Vedanta’’s proposal for a joint venture in steel making could attract more global steel makers to India.

Courtesy:MSN News

Monday, October 11, 2010

Goa Blog

Laxmikant Shetgaonkar upset with IFFI panel
Bhansali’s playing safe with Guzaarish
Goa in top 100 flight search destinations
Maiden Konkani award for writer

Laxmikant Shetgaonkar upset with IFFI panel

Posted: 11 Oct 2010 09:03 AM PDT

he film fraternity in Goa has lambasted Chief Minister Digambar Kamat for including industrialists, their wives and journalists at the expense of film makers in the key decision-making body which is responsible for hosting the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here.

The Federation of Film Fraternity of Goa (FFFG) has also accused a key IFFI official of corruption in the hosting of the festival.

Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Laxmikant Shetgaonkar, whose "Man from Beyond the Bridge" won the critics award at the Toronto film festival, said film makers were being given "step motherly treatment" by the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) and the governing council which controls its affairs.

"There are no film makers at all on the governing council who can guide the ESG, which organises the film festival. One does not understand the logic," Shetgaonkar said.

The inclusion of Anju Timblo, who runs a five-star hotel, which is part of a business empire operated by a mining-intensive group; Ranjana Salgaonkar, wife of another mining magnate, in addition to a host of bureaucrats and close aides of the chief minister, has raised several questions about the functioning of the council.

The FFFG has also accused the governing council of corruption and said that they had submitted several documents under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to the chief secretary Sanjiv Srivastava to nail down those responsible.

"The short film centre (SFC) which is one of the components of the ESG is a scam. While the chief executive officer of the ESG, Manoj Srivastava, publicly claims that he has spent only Rs.18 lakh on the centre, RTI documents reveal that the money sanctioned for this component was Rs.75 lakh plus. Where has the rest of the money gone," asked Arnold D'Costa who is the convenor of the FFFG.

Shetgaonkar said the FFFG has demanded deletion of the SFC and the Film T-20 (an IFFI sideshow, a contest in which the top 20 films from Indian cinema are ranked) segment from the memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will be signed with the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF), a division of the union ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The IFFI gets underway in November this year.

Courtesy:B

Bhansali’s playing safe with Guzaarish

Posted: 11 Oct 2010 07:33 AM PDT

The film, which has been set in the Portuguese pockets of Goa, had a lot of English dialogue, which have now been dubbed in Hindi.

The film, which had many crucial scenes in English, will now be seen with 95 percent Hindi dialogue to avoid any risk of losing patronage.

Our source said, “The film is based in Goa, in a part where the inhabitants are Portuguese, so it was bound to be in English. However now that the film is shot and done with, the producers of the film, UTV as well as Bhansali, felt that the film needed more Hindi dialogue to appeal to wider audiences.

The initial thought was that the film will only appeal to the gentry, but they realised that it does strike an emotional chord with one and all. They do not want to limit the prospects of the film by having more English as Hrithik’s last film Kites bore the brunt of having too much of a foreign tongue.

However, in this case, there is Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the combination of Hrithik and Aishwarya Rai, so why not go all out and target all sections? Keeping all these aspects in mind, most of the English portions were changed to Hindi.

Now the film is 95 per cent in Hindi. The film is based on the concept of euthanasia (mercy killing) and these were shot in English. However, now the producers feel that these scenes need to be made in Hindi. At the end of the day, it is the emotions in the film which count.”

The source added, “Bhansali is confident about the film and in the past too his film Black, which had a lot of English dialogue, was a blockbuster. So, he wanted to go by his coNviction even with Guzaarish. But since everyone said that some vital scenes have to be in Hindi, he agreed to this.”

Conversely, when contacted, CEO of UTV Motion Pictures, Siddharth Roy Kapoor, denied the story. He said, “That’s not true. It’s a Hindi film made for audiences in India and for South Asians overseas.

There is no separate dub at all.” The official spokesperson of Sanjay Leela Bhansali also said, “The film was always in Hindi and shot in sync sound, so there is no question of making any changes.” Theek hai, point noted.

Courtesy:TOI

Goa in top 100 flight search destinations

Posted: 11 Oct 2010 04:12 AM PDT

Even though it is off season, Goa broke into the Top 100 online flight search destinations for September 2010, in Skyscanner Travel Trends.
Though the top three search spots for UK travellers remain Spanish, Bangkok bagged top place in Asia, to make it into the Top 10. Indian destinations fared well. Mumbai was up 14 places and Delhi up 16 places.

Goa entered the Top 100 for the first time in the off season to take number 80, Singapore ranked lower, at number 84. Australia's Salzburg, a popular winter skiing destination, was at number 94.

Courtesy:Heraldo

Maiden Konkani award for writer

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 10:10 AM PDT

Konkani Language and Cultural Foundation, in its endeavour to give Konkani literature its due place under the sun, on Sunday announced the setting up of the Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Sahitya Puraskar. This award, that carries a cash component of Rs 1 lakh will be presented to Goa-based writer, Mahabaleshwar Sail, hailing from Majoli near Karwar in Uttara Kannada sometime next month, either in Goa or this coastal city.

Basti Vaman Shenoy, president of the foundation, welcoming the gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Smt T Vimala and T V Rama Pai Hostel Block at World Konkani Centre Campus at Shaktinagar here, said the foundation presently is busy with various procedures relating to presenting this maiden award to Sail. “We want to give this award the same seriousness that is attached to the Jnanapith award,” Vaman said.

The foundation is seriously toying with the idea of holding this maiden award function in Goa, which is home to many Konkani writers, he said, adding that there are slight fears that the possible dates may clash with the upcoming International Film Festival of India to be held at Goa from November 22 to December 2. In such a scenario, the function may be shifted to Mangalore to which the Goa chief minister would be invited, he noted.

Plans are afoot to translate the work of Sail in to other languages, bring out a booklet on his life and accomplishments, he said, adding that the prize money would be the highest ever given in any Konkani literary award. T V Mohandas Pai, director and head, Finacle, administration, human resources, Infosys Leadership Institute and Education and Research, has donated the prize mone

Courtesy: TOI

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Goa Blog

Congrass Party will play only a costitutional Role: Shantaram Naik, Secretary, AICC
Kumaraswamy asserts BJP Government will be defeated
Goa: People asked to take care of newly renovated garden
CISF stops Parrikar at Goa airport

Congrass Party will play only a costitutional Role: Shantaram Naik, Secretary, AICC

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 04:50 AM PDT

Mr Shantaram Naik M.P. and Secretary ,All India Congress Committee in charge of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Pudicherry in a statement issued today has said that that Congress approach over the BJP crisis in Karnataka has been to wait and watch , and that , the party is not interested in the internal quarrels of BJP ,and added that, it will only play a role as per the provisions of the constitution , as and when required.

Mr Naik who is presently in Chenai on his way to Goa from Trichillapally where he had gone to attend the public meeting addressed by Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, said that even in past, whenever Yeduriappa Government faced crisis, congress party did not play any role to pull down the government and took a mature stand of closely watching the situation.

The Leader of Opposition in Goa Assembly Mr Manohar Parrikar and other BJP leaders from Goa should refrain themselves from making wild charges against Congress leaders in Goa in the matter, Mr Naik said.

Mr Naik said that Mr Parrikar, who has been appointed by the BJP High Command the Chairman of a Committee on good governance, should have given some doses of advise to the Chief Minister of Karnataka on the governance of his State rather than trying to exercise undue influence and coercion by quoting the provisions of anti defection law and simultaneously offering them lollypops.

Mr Naik said that, BJP crisis apart, the present government in Karnataka has looted the state from all sides and the BJP leaders in the State, have to explain to the nation about the plunder.

Kumaraswamy asserts BJP Government will be defeated

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 04:40 AM PDT

Accusing Karnataka Assembly Speaker K.G. Bopaiah of misusing his chair and adopting illegal methods against the dissident BJP MLAs and others, Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday said the BJP government headed by B.S.Yedyurappa would be defeated in the no confidence motion even if the MLAs were disqualified by the Speaker.

"We have full confidence that this time Yedyurappa cabinet cannot win by money power or by misusing the government. The MLAs will teach a lesson to them. They will face any kind of influences and won over them," Mr Kumaraswamy, who is camping in a hotel with the dissident MLAs, told reporters.

Asked whether these dissidents would vote against the government or abstain from voting, he said everything would depend on how the Speaker would behave.

He said for the first time in the history of politics a Speaker was misusing his power and talking about disqualifying independent MLAs. "How the rules are going to permit him," he said,

Mr. Kumaraswamy also presented the dissident BJP MLAs before the media persons to drive home the point that they were not kidnapped. In Karnataka, BJP party workers had filed a complaint that their MLAs had been kidnapped. The MLAs included S.K. Bellubi, Dr Bagli, Raju Kage, H.S. Shankaralinge Gowda, Manappa Vajjal, Y. Sampangi and Nagaraj.

On the stand of the Congress, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the party would take its own decision. "Naturally, Congress is not supporting the BJP government," he said.

Refuting the allegation that dissident MLAs had been paid Rs. 25 crore each, he said it was the character of the BJP to indulge in these kinds of allegations. "After the 2008 elections, they made a few MLAs to support the BJP by paying them money. They think that we will also be doing the same," he said.

He said though in the last one week the BJP Ministers were pressuring all the MLAs with their efforts, the MLAs stood together. "Even now they are going to vote against the government or abstain from voting," he further said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy described as "hypothetical" the question whether the dissident MLAs would be given berths in the ministry of the Janata Dal (secular) formed the government.

Asked whether more MLAs would join his camp, he said, "We have another 24 hours."

"We have a strategy to defeat the government," he said, adding he also had plans to challenge the Speaker legally.

Courtesy:Hindu

Goa: People asked to take care of newly renovated garden

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 12:26 AM PDT

Four days after the Corporation of the City of Panaji inaugurated the Jardim de Garcia da Orta, popularly known as municipal garden, the CCP Commissioner, Mr Elvis Gomes appealed to the public to display civic sense and take care of the garden as it was their own. The appeal comes after a lady was found going out of the garden with plucked flowers. Few persons who had consumed alcohol were also found to be sleeping in the garden, during late hours.

Confirming these facts, Mr Gomes told this daily that proper security for the garden is still not in place. "Presently, workers of the CCP are taking care of the garden security and they are not exactly experts in the field," he said, adding that soon professional security team would be recruited to take care of the garden. Mr Gomes further informed that the garden would be kept open from 9 a.m to 9 p.m, and not until 10 p.m as proposed earlier. "I feel that 10 p.m is a bit too late and general public would not be interested to stay in the garden that long," he noted.

It may be recalled that the garden was renovated at a whopping cost of Rs 2 crore. The Goa Forest Development Corporation, which took care of the garden vegetation including lawns, will maintain the garden for next one year.

Meanwhile, Deshpremi Nagrik Samiti has taken strong objection to the name of the garden. The Samiti maintained that Garcia de Orta was a Portuguese physician and belonged to the era of Portuguese regime in Goa. "If someone in the CCP is interested in this name, then that person can name his or her house after Garcia de Orta," the Samiti noted.

Courtesy: Navhind Times

CISF stops Parrikar at Goa airport

Posted: 10 Oct 2010 12:17 AM PDT

Goa BJP leader Manohar Parrikar rushed to Dabolim airport on learning that JD(S) supporters had spirited away the Karnataka dissidents, only to be stopped by CISF personnel. He was later allowed to meet the MLAs. Parrikar, a former chief minister, had been negotiating with the BJP dissidents staying at the Taj Exotica in Benaulim.

The Goa BJP lodged a complaint with airport authorities against the CISF for allowing entry of persons without valid documents or boarding passes. The airport director then summoned all the MLAs to his cabin. They had to wait at the airport for quite some time before they boarded a 9.30pm flight to Chennai.

Courtesy: TOI

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Goa Blog

Karnataka crisis: 13 rebel BJP MLAs leave Goa with JD(S) men
Makhars—a unique celebration of Goan Navraatri
Goa: 300 entries for Short Film Centre contest
Deadlock in Karnataka BJP as rebels stay put in Goa (Roundup)

Karnataka crisis: 13 rebel BJP MLAs leave Goa with JD(S) men

Posted: 09 Oct 2010 04:29 AM PDT

13 of the 14 rebel BJP MLAs, who were engaged in negotiations with BJP leader Manohar Parikkar in Goa, have now left Goa. They are reportedly headed to Bangalore with an associate of former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H Kumaraswamy. BJP MP from Karnataka Ramesh Katti has however alleged that JD(S) men forced the MLAs to come with them.

One of the rebels, Renukacharya, has meanwhile alleged that the 13 rebels have got Rs. 20 to 25 crores each from Kumaraswamy to topple Yeddyurappa government. “I have been isolated because unlike the other MLA’s who have made deals involving bribes of around Rs. 20-25 crore and I refused to accept this,” Renukacharya said. But Kumaraswamy, who has now returned to Bangalore from Goa, has denied that he has the support of the dissident MLAs. “I only came here to take rest…I am 100% confident they will fail the floor test,” said Kumaraswamy in Goa.

Earlier, 11 rebels were given notices under the anti-defection law to confirm their support to the government by Sunday evening …. or be disqualified and not allowed to take part in Monday’s trust vote. Meanwhile, Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa maintained that he’ll prove majority on the floor of the house.

Courtesy: ndtv

Makhars—a unique celebration of Goan Navraatri

Posted: 09 Oct 2010 12:25 AM PDT

Though the name of the festival of Navraatri reminds every one of Gujarati 'Garbhaa' and 'Daandiaa' many Goans are oblivious of the grand Navraatri celebrations which take place in the Goan temples. This festival is also celebrated with great pomp and gaiety all over Goa. As the name suggests Navraatri means "Nine Nights". The festival culminates on the 10th day which is called as the Dasro or Dasraa.

Each of this night is unique for the temples of Ponda, Kepem and Bicholim taluka. A traditional mega wooden swing called the 'Makhar' is suspended by fat chains of iron from the roof in the temple 'Sabhaamandap'. This swing is made to look like a small shrine. The colours used to paint this swing are very striking. It is decorated very attractively with coloured paper, flowers and lights. The central position of the swing is occupied by the Goddess. After the traditional 'Kirtans' or 'Bhajans' in the night the huge mega swing is swayed, turned and rotated on the heart throbbing beats of 'Dhol', 'Taaso', 'cymbals', 'gong', 'Shehnai' etc.

The nine forms of Goddess Durga or the female divine power are venerated on these days. Though Durga is a fierce form of the goddess; in Goa we also have her calm and serene form called the Shaant-Durga. The temples of Shri Navdurga in Bori, Shri Mahalsa at Mardol, Shri Navdurga at Madkai, Shri Chamundeshwari in Vargao, Shri Mahalakshmi at Bandoda, Shri Kamakshi in Shiroda, Shri Devki Krishn and Shri Shantadurga Kumbharjuvekarin in Mashel, Shri Shantadurga of Kavlem and Veling are some of the important temples in which this Makhar is a must-see.

Apart from the temples of goddesses the temples dedicated to various gods like Shri Mangesh at Mangeshi, Shri Nagesh at Nageshi, Shri Shivnath at Shivnathi, Shri Lakshmi Narsinh at Veling, Shri Ramnath at Ramnathi also celebrate the Makhars in a grand way. Each night of this Navraatri the deities are positioned in different manners and styles in the Makhars. In the temple of Shri Devki Krishn at Mashel the mother of Krishn; Devki is shown seated with baby Krishna on her lap. The images of Shri Devki and the baby Krishna are decorated with ornaments and rare beads. In this temple along with the pulsating beats of the traditional instruments one can also hear the conch blown.

Normally, during the initial nights the goddess is shown in a calm and serene form. On the first night the goddess Navdurga of Bori is shown seated in Makhar wearing a traditional Nav-waari Saari. Her one hand is in the Abhay Mudraa while the other hand is in Varad Mudraa. During the last few nights of the festival the goddess changes her form from calm to the fierce one in which she killing the demon Mahishaasur. In the temple of Shri Shantadurga a colossal figure of a Goddess in a fierce form killing the demon Mahishaasur is depicted in the Makhar. While on the last night a bright golden image of goddess killing the demons is shown in the Makhar of Shri Kamakshi temple of Shiroda.

In the temple of Shri Nagesh at Nageshi, Shri Nagesh, the form of Shiva is depicted like sage with blonde hair and a beard. Ganga the river is shown flowing through his matted hair. He has hooded snakes around his neck and a crescent moon in his hair. Normally the 'Makhars' are celebrated only on the nine nights of Navraatri. But in case you have missed a Makhar celebration then you can still witness it on the tenth night. At Veling in the temples of Shri Lakshmi Narsinh and Shri Shantadurga Shankhvaleshwari after the celebration of Dasro the last Makhar of the year is celebrated. On this day the image of Shri Shantadurga is shown seated on a silver horse at Veling.

By Rohit R Phalgaonkar

Courtesy: Navhind Times

Goa: 300 entries for Short Film Centre contest

Posted: 09 Oct 2010 12:04 AM PDT

Around 300 entries have been received for the Short Film Centre contest, including 10 entries from Goa, the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) said Friday. Addressing a press conference, ESG chief executive officer (CEO) Manoj Srivastava introduced the jury who had spent the day screening the movies.”They will complete the selection by October 14. The winners in the international film category will receive 5 lakh, 3 lakh and 2 lakh respectively. The Vasudha award for enviornmental films will also include 3 lakh,” Srivastava said. He also added that the memorandum of understanding with the directorate of fim festivals will be signed next week.

Although the jury couldn’t inform how many of the entries from Goan film-makers were in Konkani language, they said it was an encouraging sign that locals were showing interest in the contest. Meanwhile, the Federation of Film Fraternity of Goa, a newly formed body of various film associations in Goa have demanded the scrapping of the short film centre and T-20 of Indian cinema from IFFI. A delegation of the core committee on Thursday met chief minister Digambar Kamat and submitted to him a memorandum with various issues concerning the federation.

The federation has alleged that the Short Film Centre is of no benefit to local filmmakers, film lovers or to the state. When asked about this at the press conference, Srivastava countered: ” The Short Film Festival has a budget of only 18 lakh, from which 13 lakh alone will be the prize money. Why didn’t people make an issue when IFFI expenditure was 18 crore, but are making noise now when the budget has been reduced to 7 crore,” he said.

Courtesy: TOI

Deadlock in Karnataka BJP as rebels stay put in Goa (Roundup)

Posted: 08 Oct 2010 10:59 AM PDT

The crisis in Karnataka's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued Friday as 11 rebel legislators refuse to budge from their defiant stand and stayed put at a resort in Goa even as beleaguered Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa claimed he would win the confidence vote Monday. Claims and counter-claims about the crisis continued to be made by BJP and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leaders, adding to the confusion.

Though the faction-ridden BJP prevailed upon assembly Speaker K.G. Bapaiah to issue a show-cause notice to the dissident lawmakers for indulging in anti-party activities, Yeddyurappa remained confident of proving his majority to save the 29-month-old first BJP government in the southern state. "I am hopeful of getting full support. I have prayed to goddess Chamundeshwari to help me in the development of the state without any impediment during the next three years," Yeddyurappa told reporters after praying at a temple to goddess Chamundeshwari at Mysore, about 150km from here, on the first day of the popular 10-day Dussehra fest.

Asserting that the clouds hovering over the political climate in the state have started clearing, the chief minister said he had prayed to the goddess to give wisdom to the rebels and make them return to the party fold.

In Panaji, BJP leader Manohar Parrikar, the party's chief interlocutor for the Karnataka crisis who has been holding discussions with dissident legislators camping at a Goa resort, has said the dispute would be resolved by Saturday. Addressing reporters outside a five-star resort, where the 14 dissidents are staying, Parikkar also accused JD-S leader and former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of horse-trading. "It's a dispute within the party and it will be resolved by tomorrow," he claimed.

Even as the mining magnate and state Infrastructure Minister G. Janardhan Reddy, who rushed to Goa late Thursday to win over the rebels, continued to stay back with them in the resort, Kumaraswamy returned to Bangalore after meeting the rebels, including some independents who were sacked from the ministry for expressing lack of faith in Yeddyurappa's leadership. "All the rebel legislators are united in their stand and cause. They will take a collective decision as they are not under pressure either from our party or the BJP," Kumaraswamy told reporters in Goa before leaving for Bangalore.

Denying that he had gone to Goa to indulge in horse-trading and persuade the rebels to vote against the confidence motion, he said their (rebels') decision would be known Monday in the assembly. "Wait for another three days … up to Oct 11. You will know their decision. I came here to take full rest. Having done it, I am going back. The rebels will take their own decisions," said Kumaraswamy, who is the working president of the JD-S.

Meanwhile, all the 73 Congress legislators in Karnataka were brought to a resort in Maharashtra's Lonavala town Friday to prevent poaching by the BJP.

Courtesy: thaindian

Friday, October 8, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa: Films from Australia, New Zealand to be screened at IFFI
Goa serial killer gets seven years of imprisonment
Karnataka crisis: Overnight drama in Goa
Goa eyes Commonwealth Games visitors

Goa: Films from Australia, New Zealand to be screened at IFFI

Posted: 08 Oct 2010 07:30 AM PDT

Film lovers at the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held in Goa will be treated to movies from Australia and New Zealand this November. IFFI's 'Australian Indigenous Representations in Fiction Films' section will focus on two titles that achieved both critical acclaim and box office success - 2009 Camera d'Or winner Samson & Delilah and Bran Nue Dae. Shankar Mohan, Joint Director and Artistic Curator of IFFI said, "We hope that Australia, through its cinema, would find a platform in India to bridge the people of two nations."

Other films from the two countries to be screened at the fest from November 22 to December 2 include Boy, Animal Kingdom, Home by Christmas, Beneath Hill 60 and Mother Fis. Special invitees from the two countries are Beneath Hill 60 director Jeremy Sims and its producer Bill Leimbach. Producer of Bran Nue Dae, Robyn Kershaw, director David Michand and Animal Kingdom producer Liz Watts will also be present for the screening of their films.

"David Michod and I are delighted at Animal Kingdom's selection into this year's International Film Festival of India. As the country's oldest and most esteemed Festival, it's a great honour to be screening there and we are looking forward to the audiences' reactions to the film there!" Ms. Watts said. Her words were echoed by Bran Nue Dae producer Kershaw. "Indian and Australian cultures share much common history and contemporary interests and our futures are bound to be entwined. I can't wait to experience our film in front of the home of the world's leading force in dance and music filmmaking."

Courtesy: hindu

Goa serial killer gets seven years of imprisonment

Posted: 08 Oct 2010 04:53 AM PDT

A local court today sentenced alleged serial killer Mahanand Naik to seven years of imprisonment for raping a girl in 2009. Additional District and Sessions court pronounced the sentence in presence of the accused, who has also been charged for murdering 16 girls and slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on him.

Mahanand (40), was arrested in 2009 after the victim, his wife’’s friend, complained to the Ponda police that he was threatening her. The girl had claimed that he was raping her for over three years. The victim, belonging to a poor family, had said she was being “blackmailed” by Mahanand by showing her semi nude pictures.

During interrogation after his arrest, Mahanand had confessed of killing 16 women for over 15 years. The killer had confessed that he was murdering the girls using their dupatta after luring them for a date.

Courtesy: msn

Karnataka crisis: Overnight drama in Goa

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 08:53 PM PDT

Battleground Karnataka has moved to Goa where the rebel MLAs are camping at a five star hotel. It has taken a dramatic twist overnight when arch rivals, the JDS president HD Kumaraswamy and Yeddyurappa’s man Janardhan Reddy, came face to face. Both are firefighting to guard the MLAs. Kumaraswamy was heckled outside the hotel by BJP workers when he reached there. Goa Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar rushed into the hotel close to midnight along with supporters, breaking security barricades, to hold discussions with the Karnataka BJP legislators.

“They have some grievances but nothing against the party, they are ready to talk to a few people. What does Kumaraswamy’s presence here indicate? asked Manohar Parrikar, Leader of Opposition, Goa. Several Congress ministers were also at the hotel even though the Congress had said the rebellion was an internal matter of the BJP. ”It’s like they have kidnapped our MLAs, thery are not letting us talk to them,” said G Janardhana Reddy, Tourism Minister, Karnataka.

Even as Karnataka’s Crisis dissidence drama shifted venue to Goa where 13 rebel MLAs continue to stay put, another dissident, 4-time MLA from Mysore, Shankarlinge Gowda, was allegedly assaulted late on Thursday evening at the Legislators’ Home behind the Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore. It is not yet clear though whether Mr Gowda had attempted suicide, or if his own son attacked him, as is being alleged. Sources told NDTV that there had been pressure on Shankarlinge Gowda to return to the BJP fold and withdraw his protest letter.

A couple of days back, Gowda had lashed out at Yeddyurappa on TV channels calling him ‘mentally unstable’ and had also accused the chief minister of denying him a Cabinet seat despite having won elections on a BJP ticket all four times in what used to be a JD(S) bastion.

Courtesy: ndtv

Goa eyes Commonwealth Games visitors

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 12:32 PM PDT

With tourists in the country for the Commonwealth Games (CWG), India's best known sun and sand destination Goa can't be far behind. The state is busy churning out brochures and leaflets to attract visitors. Nikhil Desai, managing director of Goa Handicraft Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation, said more than 30,000 brochures and 20,000 leaflets carrying information about the state will be distributed in a major advertising endeavour.

'The information is a blend of both Goa and Delhi. We have published both information about the Delhi Metro service as well as info about Goa and its various handicrafts,' Desai told reporters, adding the campaign would focus on busy thoroughfare sites as well as Metro stations in the national capital. 'What we also foresee is an increase in the traffic on our website where one can buy products online,' Desai said, adding that the plan was to create a buzz about Goa among CWG invitees.

Courtesy: calcuttatube