~ The Heritage First Festival, organised by Heritage First Goa (HFG) Education and Learning Foundation, runs from November 14 to December 6 across Panaji, Assolna, Benaulim, Old Goa, Mapusa and Margao, with 47 walks and workshops exploring Goa’s rich heritage.
Goa Khabar: From the lettering on Mapusa’s old shopfronts to the river maps that trace Goa’s waterways, the state’s heritage finds expression in places, practices and memories that often go unnoticed. Bringing these everyday aspects of heritage into focus, the Heritage First Festival, organised by non-profit organisation Heritage First Goa (HFG) Education and Learning Foundation, opened on Friday, at the FL Gomes Garden, Campal. The inaugural event brought together historians, cultural practitioners and members of the local community to reflect on the many ways in which heritage shapes Goa’s identity.
The festival was inaugurated in the presence of documentary filmmaker, ethnomusicologist and teacher Nalini Elvino De Sousa and Professor Sushila Sawant Mendes, a professor of History, author and columnist, who were the guest speakers.
Introducing the festival, Snigdha Manchanda spoke about its approach to heritage as a living culture encompassing language, food, stories and crafts, rather than focusing solely on monuments. She noted that the festival had grown from 32 walks in 2024 to 47 walks and workshops in 2026, led by well-researched local guides or ‘pilots’ (named after Goa’s iconic motorcycle pilots), who share the histories and traditions of their communities. Manchanda further said the festival aimed to encourage people to engage with their heritage, understand its significance and develop a greater interest in preserving it.
Jack Ajit Sukhija, co-founder of Heritage First Goa Education and Learning Foundation, thanked the individuals and businesses that had supported the festival by sponsoring its heritage walks, which were popular with visitors during the festival’s past editions. “To all the individuals and business houses who have adopted and sponsored our walks, 18 of our walks have been sponsored. We depend a lot on this fund. And so anyone who is feeling generous, please reach out to us to sponsor the remaining walks as well,” the Panaji councillor said.
Speaking about the legacy of Dr Francisco Luís Gomes, Professor Mendes recalled his contributions as a Goan surgeon, writer and three-time elected member of the Portuguese Parliament. She highlighted his opposition to colonial policies and his advocacy for Goa and its people. Mendes said, “He is our heritage, he is our human heritage of every Goan. We need to know the fact that such an intelligent man lived, and Napoleon III, the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, honoured him.”
De Sousa shared memories of moving from a small apartment in Portugal to a larger space in Campal in 1998. Recalling the neighbourhood and the people who had shaped her experience of the area, she spoke about the importance of preserving shared memories. “To see all these beautiful memories is what creates our heritage. This is our heritage. And I hope we can keep it. I hope we grow old,” she said.
Heta Pandit, co-founder of Heritage First Goa Education and Learning Foundation, offered an overview of the festival programme and what participants could expect from the walks and workshops. She said the activities would give participants an opportunity to experience Goa’s heritage first-hand and learn from people who had spent years researching and documenting their subjects. “They will not only witness, they will actually experience. And they will understand from people who have spent years and years researching their subjects,” she said.
The 22-day festival will run from November 14 to December 6 across Panaji, Assolna, Benaulim, Old Goa, Mapusa and Margao. Its programme features 47 walks and workshops exploring Goa’s architectural, cultural, social and natural heritage.
