Welcome to Goa
Goa is nested at the base of the Western Ghats, acknowledged as one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots in the world. These ghats are critical for supporting evapotranspiration and the monsoon rains. Here, eleven rivers with their 42 tributaries form the large hydrology schema that critically interconnects rivers, ‘khazan’ lands with their bordering mangroves, Ramsar sites, multifarious water bodies, lakes, tanks, wells, springs and waterfalls, all interlinking with the coastal ecosystem. Along with their indispensability towards an enriched biota and ecology, these water systems have been integral to the diverse cultures and socially meaningful rites and practices, origin myths, music, songs and poetry which have shaped Goa.
Goa Water Stories engages and intersects with the local and indigenous communities living in Goa. Here, the repositories of oral traditions and community knowledge have always been the ‘elders’ of the community. This knowledge, aggregated through lived experience, is codified and passed along the generations through numerous modalities of transference, communication, rituals and folklore. The richness and vibrancy of Goa Water Stories draw on this intimate relationship of knowledge sharing within and from the local communities.
The curation of Goa Water Stories brings together diverse stakeholders, institutions, students, researchers, academics, writers, artists and experts, facilitating critical thinking on water. Through workshops, colloquiums and presentations at libraries, colleges, universities, museums and galleries, we develop articulation and initiate a hyperlocal and public dialogue on various aspects of Goa’s water heritage. Using a multi-dimensional and inclusive lens drawing on research, visualisation and storytelling, we have co-created this discourse on Goa's rich water heritage towards finding sustainable and just solutions to manage our collective water resources for future generations.
Goa Water Stories engages and intersects with the local and indigenous communities living in Goa. Here, the repositories of oral traditions and community knowledge have always been the ‘elders’ of the community. This knowledge, aggregated through lived experience, is codified and passed along the generations through numerous modalities of transference, communication, rituals and folklore. The richness and vibrancy of Goa Water Stories draw on this intimate relationship of knowledge sharing within and from the local communities.
The curation of Goa Water Stories brings together diverse stakeholders, institutions, students, researchers, academics, writers, artists and experts, facilitating critical thinking on water. Through workshops, colloquiums and presentations at libraries, colleges, universities, museums and galleries, we develop articulation and initiate a hyperlocal and public dialogue on various aspects of Goa’s water heritage. Using a multi-dimensional and inclusive lens drawing on research, visualisation and storytelling, we have co-created this discourse on Goa's rich water heritage towards finding sustainable and just solutions to manage our collective water resources for future generations.
Blueprint
