WEEKEND UPDATES

GOD IS ULTIMATE JUDGE!

ELECTED representatives, government, bureaucracy and Raj Bhavan will work together for the betterment of the people. Governor of Goa PS Sreedharan Pillai was speaking on the subject of God being the ultimate dispenser of justice but we can certainly do our best to help cancer patients and patients in need of dialysis. He noted that out of 200 types of cancer 161 types are curable and one can overcome this disease.

Fear in our mind about cancer disease stops once but we can learn to face it with confidence, said Governor Pillai, while interacting with Sarpanchas, Panch Members of Village Panchayats of Rachol, Camurlim, Curtorim and Raia at Raia Panchayat Hall on Octorber 27, 2022.

The governor expressed his happiness at being able to visit Raia village as it has similarities with his own native village in Kerala. Kerala and Goa have similarity and peculiarity in many aspects. Greenery shows our country’s commitment towards nature and agriculture, he added. He distributed financial aid Rs25,000 each to 11 dialysis and seven cancer patients from the Raj Bhavan Discretionary Fund. The Raj Bhavan’s initial target was to provide financial aid to 71 dialysis patients but to date more than 850 patients have benefitted.

The governor decided to use his Discretionary Fund of last year by making it available for providing assistance to the needy people of Goa. Representations by all Panchayats will be studied, discussed and the genuine issues and grievances will be resolved, failing which they would be placed before the State and Union governments. Governor Pillai also points out that Mahatma Gandhi’s Grama Swarajya mission is all about people being supreme. This is the mandate of an elected government.

KADAMBA CONCESSIONAL PASS

THE Kadamba Transport Corporation which is operating a monthly concessional pass scheme for the benefit of commuters and students has revised the concession for students, senior citizens and the general public from November 1, 2022. Now for weekly pass the revised percentage of concession for students and senior citizens is 60% while for general commuters it is 20%; for fortnightly pass the revised percentage of concession for students and seniors is 65% and 30% for general commuters. Monthly pass revised percentage for students and seniors is 70% and 40% for general commuters and for half yearly/yearly pass, the concession is 70% and 40% respectively. Passes may be renewed at KTCL pass counters at Sanquelim, Mapusa, Panaji, Ponda, Vasco, Margao, Curchorem and Canacona.

HIGH MORALITY!

THE reason why Lizz Trust had to resign from her position as Prime Minister of UK was because of the high standards of morality that public officials have to follow or at least appear to follow.  Truss made the mistake of sending some confidential government documents in personal email. This is considered a major offense as it could endanger UK security. When this was pointed out to Truss she promptly resigned. In UK, unlike in India, even members of the royal family and the government are penalized for any wrongdoing. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had to step down because he had violated his own ban on not holding parties during Covid-19 lockdowns. An anyone imagine such high standards of morality in India?

GOA BIG DIWALI

AS A matter of fact most Goans do not celebrate the traditional Diwali or deepavali as elsewhere in India. For Goa is celebration of burning effigies of the asura Narkasur is important and Diwali is on Narakchaturdashi which marks the end of Narkasur in a battle with Lord Krishna. Some stories say Narkasur was the demon Kans. Unfortunately, in Goa, more attention is paid to burning Narkasur in the wee hours of the morning during the Diwali days, and Lord Krishna is kind of side-lined although some effigies will have a pygmy Lord Krishna with a sword battling Narkasur a la the battle between Goliath and David.

For Goans the “big Diwali” will be on  November 5 when Tulsi Vivaha is celebrated.  On this occasion of the tulsi plant being married off to Lord Krishna marks the beginning of the marriage season. Some say the tulsi plant represents Radha and they are married off symbolically during the Tulsi Vivaha puja. Radha had to satisfy herself residing in the aangan or courtyard while Krishna’s wife Rukmini was officially married to him. There are different versions of this. Lord Ganesh is also invoked during Tulsi Vivaha puja when most extended Goan families gather in the village ancestral home and catch up with each other.

DABOLIM GOING, SOON GONE?

FROM the beginning of November all charter flights which used to land at Dabolim airport will land at the new Mopa airport up north Goa in Pernem. Which means that foreign tourists may focus on the northern beaches like Baga, Anjuna and Mandrem-Morjim beaches. They won’t go down south Goa at all. The distance from Mopa airport to the Leela Hotel at Carvollossim beach is more than 100 km. All international flights like Goa-Oman flights will also shift to Mopa. It is also possible that domestic flights not able to use Dabolim between 6am to 12pm may seek slots at Mopa airport. Will Dabolim airport survive?

CIGAR CHAMPIONS!

IN High life where the bold and the beautiful, rich and powerful live, there is we believe very little conversation over lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinner are gourmet meals laid out by Michelin-schooled chefs of five-starred hotel restaurants. Guests focus on special foods prepared by the chef in a sit-down meal maybe or earn the displeasure of the chef. The post-meal custom is still for men to say au revoir to the women to meet in a special lounge to discuss politics or strike deals over a pink champagne or expensive liqueur and of course the best cigars are offered to puff.

The best cigars is undoubtedly Cohiba made in Cuba. Panaji now has an outlet which has been set up by the CTC training company in collaboration like Magsons. This outlet is located next to Starbucks on Campal promenade where Magsons Tower now stands. Magsons have earned the reputation of being the pioneers in  much desired premium imported foods. Cigar men may want to drop in to look at the cigars imported and available for a price of course.

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