Ganesh Chaturthi is the festival to celebrate Lord Ganesh in all his forms and the festival is celebrated with even more grandeur in Goa. Lord Ganesha is praised for his unlimited characteristics and his ability to give strength and happiness. He is welcomed into Goan homes with prayers with an open heart accompanied by the laughter of loved one and the beats of musical instruments. The ghumot takes centre stage and when the first Konkani devotional video song ‘Mangal Murti Morya’ was released in Goa in 2018, little did one know that the trend would continue with the younger generation bringing in their own charm.
Born and brought up at Tisk, Ponda, well-known Konkani lyricist, John Aguiar was surrounded with the love for Lord Ganesh and the same now translates into the devotional songs that he writes for the Hindu God. Since his first song, ‘Mangal Murti Morya’, John has released six songs including two new songs this year. He recently released ‘Vazat Gazat Yeta Ganapati’, sung by vocalist Akshay Naik. The music composition/arrangement/mixing is done by Akshay Naik and was recorded at Shree Mahalsa Recording studio, Savoi Verem. The DOP is Saeej Naik and drone piloting is done by Krishnaraj Naik. The music video has been uploaded on John Aguiar’s You Tube channel. “My mother Shalini was a Hindu and Savita, my wife too is Hindu. When I was growing up I was part of the grand celebrations as in my neighbourhood I had artist Tulsidas Naik who used to paint Makars and Vaman Parsekar who created idols out of clay. These memories inspired me and encouraged me to start writing poetry when I was a Class 8 student,” says John Aguiar, who retired as an information officer from the Information and Publicity Department.
John has released songs for Ganesh Chaturthi in Konkani, Marathi and Hindi. “I wanted to release this song last year which did not happen. So this year, I put in more efforts and even included my three-year-old grandson, Nivaan, in the video. These songs are played during Chaturthi for a devotional atmosphere. The song shows the excitement a family feels when they visit a Chitra shala where the idols are on display and how everyone are dancing to welcome the Lord Ganesha who comes riding on Mushak,” says John.
John has also written the lyrics for a visarjan song, ‘Deva Bappa Morya Re’, by Jojo Productions. The concept of the song is by Joe D’Costa. The music is composed, arranged and directed by Joe and sung by Akshay Naik and Mahanand Kavlekar. The choir includes Shrusty Naik, Aarushi Shirish Sangelkar, with extra voice effect by Mahanand Kavlekar and Joe D’Costa. The song is recorded at Mind Vision Studio, Panjim and mixing and mastering is by Jojo Productions Studio, Andheri West, Mumbai, DOP is Sudesh S Salgaonkar with camera by Gauresh Virnodkar (cinematic) Pratik Pednekar, drone by Deepti Konadkar (assistant) and choreography by Nirbhay Bhav Academy of Performing Arts Dance with choreographers Mukul Kaushik (Bhagat) and Sumit Malviya. Art direction is by Shanti Kinlekar.
“This is a record breaking Ganpati visarjan song with typical Maharashtrain Bombay style song. I was planning this song back in 2021 as I wanted to do something more powerful than a devotional aarti song. The song was shot at Sant Sohirobanath Ambiye, Govt. College of Arts & Commerce, Virnoda, Pernem, thanks to Dr Pravina Kerkar, the principal and Shanti Kinlekar and the Ganesh Murti shoot was with Umakant Poke, Morjim Pernem,” says Joe, a noted Bollywood music producer.
Ghumat aartis are key elements of praise and worship in Hindu devotional music. Every village and city in Goa has their own groups that sing ghumat aarti for Ganesh Chaturthi. This year, ghumat aarti groups went a step ahead and worked on story lines that went with the song. Suraj Pinge is a noted ghumat instructor who trains students across Goa for over 25 years and is also featured by his students in their music videos. This year, he was instrumental in composing the lyrics for three songs. ‘Dhavun Ye Re Morya,’ is an enchanting Gajar by Shree Sai Damodar Ghumat Aarti Mandal, Margao. “This Gajar was specially composed by me for Ganesh Chaturthi and as the name suggests it’s a prayer from each and every devotee of Lord Ganesh to come running and remove all the obstacles from our lives as Lord Ganesh is the remover of all obstacles.
The composition, vocals/harmonium is by Shubham H Naik, composition and lyrics by Sooraj Pinge, flute by Rohit Wankar and Vishnu Pai, co-singers/chorus is by Piyush Gawande, Manthan Mokhadkar, Devendra Hundre, Sunad Naik, Ronak Naik and Keshav Jamuni, ghumat is by Shubham S Naik, Saheel Naik, Anish Naik, Saiesh Naik, Ashvek Naik, Sidhant Shirodkar, Shubham Gawande and Shreyash Naik, shamel is by Sujay Naik, Parshuram Majalikar and Sahil Surlakar, kasale is by Anish Naik, Vatsalya Chodanker and Sourav Naik, sound recordist, mixing and mastering by Shivatva Studios and DOP by Parshu Photofilms, VATS Production, Dipesh H Naik, drone shots are by Parshu Photofilms and post production by Parshu Photofilms & VATS Production.
Masadev Navadurga Ghumat Aarti Mandal, Madkai has released the song, ‘Jai Deva Ganapati’, which depicts the traditional lamp dance. The song, composed by Suraj, is a naman or invocation song which is sung before the start of any folk form in Goa. Kareshwar Ghumat Aarti Mandal, Lamgao, Bicholim, also released a new song ‘Gajanana Hey Morya’.
“This year, there is more music that is being released for Ganesh Chaturthi. In fact, I think this year, it's the highest number of releases ever in Chaturthi in Goa. Social media is really driving these local musicians and local artists. These youngsters are taking it very seriously. They are doing it like a proper project with videography, recording, production, implementing professionalism. They go and do a reiki of the locations where they are going to use the technology. There are drones with robotic features wherein they control everything with gestures. I have been spellbound looking at the seriousness in these youngsters. Goa is so beautiful and has such diverse natural beauty. It makes for beautiful visuals and these youngsters are using this medium for storytelling with visuals,” says Suraj.
“Ganesh wants to give a message that nothing is static here. You have to go one day. Even he goes after one and a half day, with a smile on his face. We have to live life with happiness that he brings,” concludes Suraj.