The pity of Serendipity

-Brian Mendonça

The Serendipity Festival was held in Goa from 15-22 December 2018.  All I salvaged were a few tunes sung by Usha Uthup – and that too at the invitation of a poet-friend and his wife who had travelled all the way from Rajkot to attend the festival.

Leafing through the festival guide after the festival, I ticked off what events I would have attended – given time and leisure – and what I actually did.

DATE	EVENT	VENUE	TIME	WHAT I ACTUALLY DID
15th Dec., Sat	The Bartender – classic Bollywood tunes set to jazz music.	Dayanand Bandodkar (DB) ground, Panjim	8.30 p.m. -10 p.m.	Piano classes, Caranzalem followed by dinner  with Naveen and family from Delhi at resort in Candolim
16th Dec., SUN	Songs of Nature – the changing seasons in the songs of the Qawwals, Bauls, Langa  and Manganiyars	DB ground, Panjim	8.30 p.m. to 10 p.m.	Practising carols on the guitar  at home
17th Dec., Mon	Akshayambara – A play set in Yakshagana style exploring the conflict around tradition, gender, power and morality	Kala Academy, Open Air theatre – Panjim	7 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Guitar and carol-singing practice for Christmas choir
18th Dec., Tue	Agent Provovateur - how the body is effected by the climate of growing intolerance	Kala Academy, Black Box – Panjim	6 p.m. to 7.15 p.m.	On duty as announcer at All India Radio, Panjim
19th Dec., Wed	Notes on Chai – how everyday conversation reveals the inner and outer landscape of urban life	Kala Academy, Black Box – Panjim	4 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.	Christmas party for my son, organized by our parish.
20th Dec., Thur	Baandish Antaakshari –a performance-based game featuring Hindustani musical forms like khayal, thumri, and dadra composed in various raagas	Adil Shah palace, Panjim	5 p.m. to 7 p.m.	Guitar and carol-singing practice for Christmas choir
21 Dec. Fri	Urubhangam – a play by Bhasa, in Kuttiyatam style, with Duryodhana as the hero of the Mahabharata	PWD complex, Panjim	6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.	Christmas choir performance in Panjim
22 Dec. Sat	Panjim 175  - a commemoration of the city on its 175th anniversary	PWD complex, Panjim	10 a.m. to 6 p.m.	Christmas party organized by the housing society

The pity of Serendipity is that it is held just before Christmas. A lot of folk celebrating Christmas in Goa feel so consumed just rushing around preparing for the 25^th. 

True, the weather could not have been more perfect and the festival is free. But a lot of South Goa feels alienated.  The beastly snarls of traffic over the Zuari river would deter even the bravest. Most events wind up at 10 p.m. when there is no public transport in Goa. Even if you have your own transport, parking is almost always full.

Given the fact that there are multiple venues (10) and projects (90) for the performances, festival guide booklets could be made available to aficionados much before the event kicks off. There’s nothing like reading hard copy.

As Usha Uthup crooned the ABBA favourite at the festival, it’s ‘Hastamanãna’ till we meet again. 
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 Published in Gomantak Times Weekender, St. Inez, Goa on Sunday, 30 December 2018.