International Lusophone Festival:
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in partnership with Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Goa government will organize the International Lusophone Festival in Goa from 3-6 December. It will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant at Durbar Hall in Raj Bhavan. Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi will be the Guest of Honour. AIR correspondent reports that Lusophones are people that speak Portuguese as a native or as a common second language.
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The festival seeks to further India’s connect with the Lusophone world. Goa has had historical linkages with the Lusophone world, which has been nurtured through the presence of Portuguese cultural institutions like the Orient Foundation and the Camoes Institute which promote Portuguese language and culture in India. This has deepened our economic, cultural co-operation and people-to-people ties with the CPLP member countries.
History of the festival:
- The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa) also known as the Lusophone Commonwealth (Comunidade Lusofona), is a multilateral forum, founded on 17 July 1996 at the 1st CPLP Heads of State & Government Summit in Lisbon.
- Goa has had historical linkages with the Lusophone world. This has been nurtured through the presence of Portuguese cultural institutions like the Orient Foundation and the Camoes Institute which promote the Portuguese language and culture in India.
- As part of the festival, workshops on Lusophone music for artists and volunteers, as various workshops and exhibitions of unique Goan architecture, Goan handicrafts and Goan furniture are being organised. The Lusophone Food and Spirits Festival will also showcase the culinary links between India and the Lusophone world.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Goa Capital: Panaji;
- Goa Chief Minister: Pramod Sawant;
- Goa Governor: S. Sreedharan Pillai.