Home / Aug 16- Aug 22, 2025 / WEEKEND UPDATES / GSFF IS ON!
GSFF IS ON!
No Comments on GSFF IS ON!

GSFF IS ON!

Aug 16- Aug 22, 2025, WEEKEND UPDATES August 15, 2025 , by

THE  10th, 11th & 12th edition of the Goa State Film Festival 2025 commenced with razzmatazz fireworks at the INOX complex in Panjim on  Aug 14, 2025. Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant inaugurated the welcome festival in the presence of  MLA-Siolim and EST Vice President  Delilah M Lobo, along with Damu Naik (film personality and ex-vice chairperson of ESG),  Rohit Monserrate (CCP mayor, Panaji), Sarpreet Singh Gill (IAS, secretary, Department of Information & Publicity,  Ashwin Chandru (IAS, CEO of ESG),  Dipak Bandekar (director, DIP) and other dignitaries.

Delilah M Lobo gave the welcome address and the main highlight of the opening ceremony was the presence of Mohammad Ali (actor, comedian and television presenter who has worked in more than 1,200 films in Telugu and other  languages). The event witnessed a performance by noted singer Jolly Mukherjee, Goa’s own Mukesh Ghatwal, and an act by “Chala Hawa Yeu Dya” fame Sagar Karande and Ankur Wadhave.

The winners of the 48 hours Short Film Competition were announced by the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant. This is the list of the winners:

  1. Best Film First Prize – “Ful ani Savli” (Flower and Shade)
  2. Best Film Second Prize – “Before Sunrise”
  3. Best Director — Glen Cardozo (“Ful ani Savli”)
  4. Best Cinematographer — Tejas V Naik (“Ful ani Savli”)
  5. Best Editor- Yuri B Carvalho (“Ful ani Savli”)
  6. Best Actor (Male) – Niraj Arrie (“Lift”)
  7. Best Actor (Female) – Rati Bhatikar (“Ful ani Savli”)

The awards will be distributed during the closing ceremony on August 17, 2025 and the award- winning films will be screened on the same day at 11.15 am at Maquinez Palace.  DIP director Dipak Bandekar proposed the vote of thanks for the function.                   

 Several leading cinema personalities from all over Goa were present and the festival will run for 4 days from Sunday, August 17 with a total screening of 19 feature films and four non-feature films. There’s a food court and handicrafts stall set up at the INOX courtyard from Aug 14 to 17th August, 2025. Those wishing to see any of the films being screened may visit and register at www.esg.co.in

JAMBALAYA FESTIVAL AT CANDOLIM

THE Santana Beach Resort at Candolim is organising its annual Jambalaya night festival from August 14. The festival features a wide variety of cuisine, live music and entertainment. The event starts at 7pm every weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Santana Resort is reputed for Goan cuisine served at its restaurants in Candolim.

COCONUT FOR CHATHURTI

GOA government has decided to import over 15 tons of coconuts from Karnataka to meet the festive season’s demand. The coconuts will be sold at a concessional rate of Rs25 each through the outlets of the Goa Horticulture Corporation. Due to a shortage of coconuts in Goa, the price has shot up at an average of Rs50-Rs60.

Also due to the continuous rains it has  become difficult to climb coconut trees to harvest coconuts in the months of July and August. The coconut industry has suffered a setback with falling production by 6.4%. Most of the tender coconuts available in Goa are actually sourced from Kerala. Tender coconut is what Goans seek for a refreshing drink and these coconuts are priced at Rs50 plus nowadays.

COCONUT FOR CHATHURTI

GOA government has decided to import over 15 tons of coconuts from Karnataka to meet the festive season’s demand. The coconuts will be sold at a concessional rate of Rs25 each through the outlets of the Goa Horticulture Corporation. Due to a shortage of coconuts in Goa, the price has shot up at an average of Rs50-Rs60.

Also due to the continuous rains it has  become difficult to climb coconut trees to harvest coconuts in the months of July and August. The coconut industry has suffered a setback with falling production by 6.4%. Most of the tender coconuts available in Goa are actually sourced from Kerala. Tender coconut is what Goans seek for a refreshing drink and these coconuts are priced at Rs50 plus nowadays.

EAT BEEF FREELY!

MANY BJP-ruled states have sought to ban the consumption of beef on Independence Day. In fact, there is a demand for a ban on meat even in parts of Maharashtra. It has been reported that the Municipal Corporations of Kolhapur, Nasik, Jalgaon, and closer to Mumbai the Kalyan Muncipal Corporation, have ordered the shutting down of slaughter houses and meat outlets on Independence Day.

However, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, has declared that the State government is not interested in deciding who eats what.  The Maharashtra government has clarified that there is no ban on the slaughter of beef or the consumption of meat anywhere in the state. Meanwhile, the shortage of beef in Goa continues as the strike in Karnataka and Maharashtra has yet to be called off.

BAN ON FEEDING PIGEONS

THERE is stiff opposition to the feeding of pigeons in Mumbai on the grounds of public health. There are many kabutarkhana spread over Mumbai  maintained by the Jain community. The Jain community has demanded that they should be allowed to continue to feed pigeons and indeed, a Jain monk, Nilesh Chadra, has threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike. The monk alleged that the civic body used sharp tools to attack pigeons. A section of the Shiv Sena which supports the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra, has called for a ban for feeding pigeons.

SECURITY FOR DIGAMBAR

THE two Goan MLAs, namely Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and writer Damodar Mauzo, are being given police security by the State Security Review Committee. Jnanpith award-winner Damodar Mauzo is a resident of Majorda and has been provided X category security since July 2018, in view of threats issued by the Sanatan Sanstha to leading writers against  Hindutva fundamentalism.

Those who are given Z category security are entitled to armed personal security officers around the clock. I was a beneficiary as I was given X category security after the assault on me in 1989.

(The above item has been contributed by Rajan Narayan)

58 GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS CLOSED

IT has been finally been revealed that since 2021 as many as 58 government Marathi-medium primary schools have shut down. In the academic year 2025-2026 a fresh group of eight schools were closed due to nil enrolment. The Education Department has attributed the closer of government primary schools to the migration of families to urban areas.

Ironically, the introduction of Bal Rath buses has contributed to the shutting down of government primary schools. The Bal Rath buses made it possible for students to go to the aided schools, particularly those run by the church, which charge low fees as they are aided institutions.

STABLE MONEY

A NEW app has come up called stable money which is promoting investment primarily in fixed deposits. The claim is that the stable money investment portal offers a safe alternative to investment in the share market. It is a matter of regret that the yield even on mutual funds has come down sharply. So much so that fixed deposits and the Public Provident Fund have become the best options for a steady but very small return. The return on FD with a public sector banks is down to an average of 7-8% from the record high of 15% a decade ago. The best returns continue to be from investment in real estate in Goa.

GET READY FOR GANESH

THE Paint Club Mapusa is hosting a Ganesh idol workshop. The focus will be on sculpture and ceramics. Ramdas Gadekar will be guiding the workshop being held between August 17 to 24 from  4pm  to 6.30pm for the age group from eight years onwards. More details on  tel no 9049020904.  

BANDODKAR DEATH ANNIVERSARY

Minister for Protocol Mauvin  Godinho along with the Chief Secretary Dr V Candavelou garlanded the statue of the  late Dayanand B Bandodkar, first chief minister of Goa, to mark his death anniversary, at the old Secretariat in Panaji on August 12.

          Collector North Goa Ankit Yadav  (IAS), Collector South Goa Egna Cleetus (IAS), Inspector General of Police KR Chaurasia ( IPS, SP, North), Rahul Gupta (IPS, DySP) and  Sudan Naik (former labour commissioner) and RS Mardolkar and others were present at the function.

Thereafter Minister Godinho also offered floral tribute to the departed leader at Secretariat Complex at Porvorim. Secretary-Printing Yatindra  Maralkar IAS, Secretary Protocol Sanjiv Gadkar IAS, other secretaries, under secretaries and HODs of various government departments  were present on the occasion.

KEEP NATION UNITED:  HALARNKAR

THE incident of partition made a tremendous impact on India’s independence. The partition of India in 1947, which led to the creation of India and Pakistan, was a complex event with profound and lasting effects on the newly independent nations and their relationship, resulting in immense violence, displacement, and long-term political and social challenges. This was stated by Minister for Fisheries Nilkanth Halarnkar while speaking after inaugurating the exhibition “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day” at Pernem KTC bus stand on August 14, 2025. He was sharing his thoughts at a three  days exhibition organized by the Department of Information & Publicity.

Halarnkar said, “Violence and displacement during the partition left the country in utter grief. There was a staggering loss of human life and property. The partition took place on the ground of religion. Therefore we have to derive lessons from history. We have to work together to keep our nation united by keeping aside all the differences of religion, caste, creed.” He also said that the interest of the nation should be placed above all differences if India is to rise to be a great nation.

MLA and Chairperson of Goa Handicraft Corporation Pravin Arlekar said, “We are indebted to our freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the independence of our country. We have to do away with all our differences and work for national unity.”

Others who shared their thoughts were Chairman-Pernem Municipal Council Manoj Harmalkar;  ex- Chairperson of PMC  Siddhesh Pednekar, councilors Madhav Desai,  Shivram Tukoji, social worker Kanta Jadhav, staff of KTC and others present at the function. Assistant Information Officer Nikhil Prajakte compered the function.

EXHIBITION ON PARTITION HORRORS

“WE didn’t get freedom for free. A lot of families suffered because of the partition of India that took place,” said  Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant while  inaugurating a three-day exhibition on  “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day” organized by the Department of Information & Publicity at the KTC bus stand, Panaji, August 14. The CM was accompanied by Minister for Tourism Rohan Khaunte and Mayor of Corporation of the City of Panaji Rohit Monserrate.

The CM also said it was Prime Minister  Narendra Modi’s initiative to bring about an amendment to the Citizenship Amendment Act, which has brought relief to scores of Indians, giving them citizenship. “This amendment gave them justice,” Dr Sawant said.

The “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day” exhibition is to inform people about the horrors of the partition and how Indians suffered because of it. Earlier, Director of the Department of Information & Publicity Dipak Bandekar welcomed the gathering. Also present were Information Officer Kiran B Munankar, Assistant Information Officers Shanto Naik and  Govind Gaonkar. Shyam Gaonkar compered the function. The exhibition is also on at the KTC Bus Stand in Canacona and KTC Bus Stand in Pernem.

GSL CELEBRATES 79TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

GOA Shipyard Limited (GSL), a premier Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, proudly celebrated India’s 79th Independence Day at its GSL premises Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, with the theme “Honouring Freedom, Inspiring the Future.”

The celebration commenced with the ceremonial hoisting of the National Flag by Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), GSL, followed by the national anthem and a ceremonial guard of honour. Employees, officers and their families gathered in unity to pay homage to the nation’s freedom fighters and reaffirm their commitment to India’s continued progress.

In his address Upadhyay stated, “Today, as we honour the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, we also look ahead to a future shaped by innovation, resilience, and self-reliance. Goa Shipyard stands at the confluence of legacy and leadership, serving as a proud example of how defence manufacturing in India is powering our nation’s strategic future. Through continuous indigenization and technological excellence, GSL remains committed to building a stronger, self-reliant India.

He emphasized GSL’s pivotal role in advancing the goals of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, having delivered multiple technologically advanced warships and vessels to the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and friendly foreign navies, while consistently maintaining world-class quality and delivery timelines.

As part of the week-long Independence Day celebrations, GSL has organized various community outreach initiatives, including cleanliness drives under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Har GharTiranga, showcasing the company’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth.

Cultural performances by employees and their families added a vibrant note to the event, celebrating India’s rich heritage and unity in diversity. With a legacy of over six decades, GSL continues to honour the spirit of freedom through its unwavering dedication to national service, and to inspire future generations through innovation, integrity and excellence in shipbuilding.

No related posts.

Search

Back to Top