Why Goa needs to be on your to-do list before 2016 ends

~Perhaps it’s time for a brand-new Goa experience? The Serendipity Arts Festival this December promises exactly that. ~

Goa is synonymous with its shimmering stretch of uninterrupted golden-sand beaches, but the tiny state is much more than just its beaches. A kaleidoscopic blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures, sweetened with seafood and spirituality, there’s nowhere in India quite like it. All these combined, make Goa a dream destination for everyone who craves a tropical escape. Most of us have had some of our life’s most memorable experiences in the tourist paradise – but the Pearl of the Orient has a lot more to offer this December with the maiden edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival.

No Goa trip is complete without clicking pictures with the sun and sand in the background. In the age of selfies, the Serendipity Arts Festival brings a Selfie Project for enthusiasts. Collate the relationship between technology and art and stand the chance to be part of this crowd sourced work with images of over 1,50,000 individual images.

After clicking your self-portrait, head to the Mandovi River, to experience a one of a kind cruise concert. The 1.8 km stretch along the river will play host to a musical fete, curated for the Serendipity Arts Festival by celebrated singer Shubha Mudgal.

Goa has always been a stronghold of musical theatre. The state’s indigenous tiatr dramas have long been considered a mirror of culture. The Serendipity Arts Festival brings to you its own version of the dramatic arts. This December, witness Talātum, an extraordinary project that blends the modern and the traditional through a new oral and visual language – all while retelling Shakespeare’s Tempest. The spectacular show, set in a circus tent is directed by renowned theatre-person Abhilash Pillai and is sure to give you a contemporary take on the old classic.

Goa has always been a haven for food lovers and most of us have our fondest Goa memories set against the backdrop of a beachside shack. However, this year, try something a little different and indulge in an array of Portugese, Christian, Goan and Saraswat preparations under one roof. Curated by celebrity chef Manu Chandra for the Serendipity Arts Festival, the Recreation of Goan Culinary Art Heritage project brings to fore the state’s hidden culinary delights.

Goa has always been our December go-to destination. But this year, let’s go beyond the sun, sand and shacks that the state has to offer. Immerse yourself in the art, culture and traditions of the state with the Serendipity Arts Festival. Experience the best of Goa, curated by experts and have the best Goa experience of your life.

About Serendipity Arts Festival

Serendipity Arts Festival will serve as an inclusive and collaborative platform for the promotion of arts and culture from the subcontinent on an international level. It aims to be a catalyst across the arts, to create an immersive experience shaped by the creative needs, aspirations and potential of contemporary India. The Festival hopes to cultivate and elevate the budding artistic community, promote a culture of patronage and create value for the arts. It aims to be the premier showcase for interdisciplinary events and projects that start conversations across art forms while being a springboard for young Indians to explore the arts.