G O A, D A M A N A N D D I U D A Y Lisbon - Portugal, August 16, 17 and 20
P R O G R A M M E August 16, Friday Traditional Music, Song and Dances of Goa, Daman and Diu at "Teatro da Trindade" with EKVAT, GOA-DAMAN-DIU CHOIR, SURY� August 17, Saturday Tour of the city of Lisbon (road names and monuments linked with Goa, Daman and Diu) and Lunch Meeting of Youth and Carrom Tournament August 20, Tuesday Talks on "Perceptions of Goa" with Oscar Mascarenhas, Jos� Eduardo Agualusa, Catarina Portas and Paulo Varela Gomes Closing Dinner at Goan Restaurant THE GOA DAY IN PORTUGAL (2001 and 2002) It was in 2001 that the wish to commemorate the Goa Day in Portugal was materialised. And it was not by chance that the idea came from a "cyber space", namely the discussion forum of the Supergoa.com page. It was through Internet that knowledge was received of these commemorations in the rest of the world. A small group of Supergoa forists - Portuguese of Goan and European descent - decided to act, organising within a couple of weeks the commemorations in Portugal with a lunch and meeting in Lisbon on sunday August 19, 2001. The idea, pushed forward by Eng. Hernani Mour�o and Dr. Francisco Monteiro (two assiduous collaborators of Supergoa.com), was disseminated through Internet and through Goan restaurants of Lisbon, as well as through the media. Though forecasts were bad - August is a month of annual vacations -, the results were excellent. With the presence of around a hundred persons, one socialised and talked about the Goan identity, with the participation of youth and of adults, Goans and other Portuguese, in a discussion that, mingled with much music and songs, lasted till late evening (for more information on the 2001 Lisbon celebrations please log on to http://www.supergoa.com/goaday/2001/lisboa.html). In the face of the vast coverage by the social communication media (LUSA news agency, the dailies "A Capital", "Correio da Manh�" and "P�blico", RTP Internacional ["Sinais" programme] and Macao's "Jornal Lus�fono", among others), it was decided to extend the commemorations in Portugal giving them the practical effect which is envisaged throughout the world: to strengthen the community spirit. In this country, the first step would necessarily be to create a platform of understanding among the six associations related to Goa, Daman and Diu. This objective led to the set-up of an Organising Committee with representatives of all the associations and a common work developed along periodical meetings. The immediate outcome of this cooperation - besides a first proof that a spirit of cooperation and understanding in specific circumstances is possible - is the Goa, Daman and Diu Day which congregates all the Goans, Damanese and Diuese as well as many other Portuguese nationals who for diverse reasons have a special link to those territories. This Goa, Daman and Diu Day will certainly mark one of the biggest commemorations of the World Goa Day throughout the Earth, as has already been asserted by Rene Barreto who initiated this idea. And it is not a chance thing. Although somewhat closed within themselves in the past, the Goan, Damanese and Diuese communities of Portugal are now opening to the world and showing that they are among the most active ones as regards the preservation of their unique identities, being at the same time perfectly integrated in the host country. Thus, this second commemoration of World Goa Day in Portugal mirrors not only the need for a more careful look at what goes on in Goa, Daman and Diu but also the importance that these diaspora communities and all friends of and others interested in these territories can have for a healthy and integrated development of Goa, Daman and Diu. Constantino Hermanns Xavier (coordinator of World Goa Day in Portugal) [EMAIL PROTECTED] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
