Chairman of Goa Rehabilitation Board and local MLA Rajesh Faldessai assured to keep alive the rich culture and tradition of artists in Cumbarjua.
He was speaking as the Chief Guest at the felicitation of four senior natak artistes at the ‘Gomant Rang Bhumi Din’ event organised by Shree Shantadurga Sanskrutik Mandal, Cumbarjua and Samrat Club Panaji, at Cumbarjua panchayat hall on Sunday.
Those felicitated were Madhukar Ramchandra Sawant, Shreedhar Heeru Naik, Ramchandra Molu Kholkar and Eknath Teelu Bhosle.
Present were Cumbarjua Sarpanch Nandakumar Shet, President of Shree Shantadurga Sanskrutik Mandal, Cumbarjua Prashant Bhandari, President of Samrat Club Panaji Rohidas Naik, Bhalchandra Amonkar, Secretary, and other dignitaries.
In his address, Faldessai said that many a times, lack of financial support comes in the way of organising cultural events.
“Cumbarjua is famous the world over for its art, and is known as a hub of artists. People from all over the state flock to Cumbarjua to see the Ganapati Dekhavo every year. We restarted the cultural activities last year. We have to continue it, be it floats, etc. Our youth are ever willing to come forward. Whatever is needed to infuse enthusiasm in them will be done. They need support and I am ready to give everything to them. Nothing should stop. All activities should continue at any cost. Getting finances is the main reason such activities are affected. Samrat Club should also be appreciated for their efforts,” he said.
Shet emphasised on the need to get today’s youth involved to preserve Goa’s culture.
“Art is an inborn talent and it develops further as the years go by. Unlike now where nataks are mostly for entertainment, earlier through these performances, one could learn about a lot about history. Today’s youth are not interested in nataks and are engrossed in the phones. In order to preserve our culture, we need to get our youth to interested in these nataks,” he said.
Bhandari praised the MLA for their overwhelming support in various activities.