Team Goemkarponn
Canacona: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai will inaugurate the Silver Jubilee edition of the three-day Lukosthav-25 at Amone–Poinguinim in Canacona on Friday, January 9, announced Art & Culture Minister, Canacona MLA and Lukosthav-25 Organising Chairman Ramesh Tawadkar.
Addressing the media at Adarsh Gram in the presence of Adarsh Yuwa Sangh President Chandrakant Velip and other organising committee members, Tawadkar said preparations are in the final stages for the 25th edition of the rural and tribal cultural festival, organised by Adarsh Yuwa Sangh and Balram Education Society, in association with the Art & Culture Department and Tribal Welfare Department.
“Our aim is to showcase and preserve the unique rural and traditional cultures and practices of our region and make them known across Goa and the country. We have been doing this for the last 24 years and have introduced several improvements for the Silver Jubilee edition of Lukosthav,” Tawadkar said, extending an invitation to people from across the state to attend the festival.
As part of the Adivasi Khel Mahotsav, a road race will be organised from Amone (Adarsh Gram) to Khotigao, Gaondongrim and back. State-level traditional sports competitions including Kabaddi, Volleyball, Kho-Kho, Vitti-Dandu, Negoreo, Milamni and Tug-of-War will also be held. The festival will feature a traditional Khadi Bazaar, displays of traditional medicines, handicrafts, adventure activities and a wide range of cultural performances over all three days. Prize and award distributions will be held on the same day as each competition.
The inaugural function will be graced by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, while AO Madhavi Lata will attend as the second chief guest. On the second day, Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and former Union Minister of Health Bharati Pawar will be present. The valedictory function on the third day will be attended by Union Minister Shripad Naik, former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu, and Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanawade, along with several ministers and MLAs across all three days.
Tawadkar also informed that, as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations, traditional households such as those of potters and carpenters are being set up at Adarsh Gram, which will be further expanded in future editions of Lukosthav.
Around 35 nationally recognised personalities from Kerala, Bengaluru, Delhi and different parts of Goa will be felicitated for their achievements—11 on the first day, 11 on the second day and 13 on the third day.
He further noted that due to the festival being postponed twice owing to Zilla Parishad elections, the earlier schedule to inaugurate Lukosthav-25 by President of India Droupadi Murmu had to be cancelled. “We hope to invite and host the President of India for a future edition of Lukosthav,” Tawadkar added.
