World Goa Day is a vehicle to unify Goans and get them to think about what it means to be a Goan. World Goa Day is not just all fun and games. The first step perhaps is a picnic, a party, a theatre to bring Goans together. But that is only the first step. Several Goan organizations have used the occasion to raise funds for a specific charity or cause in Goa. Rene Barreto who is the prime initiator and instigator behind Goa Day, has always, from day one, urged us to give something back to Goa. So I hope we will not characterize World Goa Day as just a day to have fun and games.
Getting Goans all around the world to celebrate this day is a way to affirm our identity, for ourselves and also for our children, especially in the diaspora, as children born in foreign lands may not have the same depth of feeling for Goa as those of us born in Goa or who have lived in Goa. For these reasons, celebrating this day is a worthwhile exercise. Happy Goa Day to all Goans wherever you may be !!! Vivian A. D'Souza