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October 28, 2011 | Business | Written by Akshita

Mumbai, Oct 28: Get ready to throw ripe red tomatoes at each other in the verdant green climes of Goa with the waves from the Arabian Sea in the background.

Seen on Discovery Channel and recent Bollywood film ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, Spain’s famous Tomatina festival is being brought to India for the first time in a big way, an organiser said here Friday.

The event, titled ‘Sundown Tomatia Festival Goa-2011′, is expected to attract hordes of tourists from India and abroad Nov 5 at a private seaside resort, Club West End, in north Goa, said Ginu Joseph, director of the Mumbai-based Chrysolite Media Pvt. Ltd.

‘The festival is conceived by actor Rahul Raj Singh, his colleagues at Magnum Opus Films, with the support of Spain Consulate in Mumbai and Goa’s tourism department,’ Joseph told IANS.

The 12-hour event will see more than 30,000 revelers in typical Spanish fashion lunging tomatoes at each other, jumping and dancing. Water jets will spray cool water from different sides, with the choicest of menus to keep the participants in healthy, fighting spirits, he said.

Though the number of truckloads will be finalised on the basis of the number of participants – currently estimated at over 30,000 – Joseph promised ‘there will be enough for all to enjoy the most memorable festival of their life’.

The mega-event will be followed by a two-night musical extravaganza, the Sundown Beach Party at La Calypso resort on Baga Beach.

‘A line-up of over a dozen national and international DJs will keep the crowds on their feet for two nights of beach party with dance and music and good food,’ Joseph said.

According to Joseph, the event will attract celebrities from Mumbai besides Indians and foreigners holidaying in Goa for the Diwali vacations, and the locals.

Asked what would follow next? ‘Probably a bull-fight festival in February!’ said Joseph smilingly.

In September, the Karnataka government had declined to permit the tomatoes festival in Bangalore and Mysore after protests by social activists and citizens.

IANS

PTI | 06:10 PM,Oct 27,2011

Panaji, Oct 27 (PTI) Its time to say goodbye to stinking fish-markets and argumentative lady vendors for Goans, as supermarkets in prominent cities of the state have ventured into the business of selling raw and hygienic fish. Fish, which is central to non-vegetarian food in Goa, conventionally is sold at crowded, stinking markets. Supermarkets pitching in for the fish selling business has come as a respite to consumers, who always wanted a break from the routine of visiting littered markets. “We began in November 2008 when we realised that many people refused to go to fish markets although they relish the marine dish,” Salmon Fresh Foods Private Limited, Director, Vikram Salgaonkar told PTI. Salmon runs a supermarket at Caranzalem, a locality next to Panaji city, which is also a hamlet of traditional fisher-folks. The first thing Salgaonkar did was to get a licence from Ministry of Food Processing, which authorised it to vend the fish, which the company sells along with grocery and other commodities on the shelf. “Initially, the response was less. But now it has picked up. Its a trend now,” he said, claiming that their prices are comparatively cheaper than the regular fish market. The customer can just walk in and go out with a parcel of fish which is properly cleaned and cut to size as per his requirement, he said, adding that Salmon has also introduced a helpline to get raw fish ordered at home.

BY MICHAEL FISHER | NT
PANAJI: Goa is going to have a state-of-the-art wine mall soon where residents and tourists can pick up their choice drink from among over 2000 global and Indian brands.

The mall (name yet to be disclosed), which is going through its designing process, is coming up on one of Goa beach satellite hubs in North Goa. The architectural design mall, ground plus two floors, is built on 200-sq mt plot on the main road after Candolim.
There will be four shops on the ground floor, with the remaining shops spaced out on the two floors, and is aimed at catering to clientele from the state and surrounding areas.
This out of the way trendy place has a stunning refrigerated rack stacked with all types of beers, champagne, wines and ready to drink brew. There will be a special counter section for bar and bistro accessories such as cocktail mixers, and the latest blenders for mixing various types of healthy drinks. Because of its massive wine selection, it will also boast of non-alcohol brews.
Displayed on the walls are best looking murals-style drink menus. A wine and spirit sampling counter for the latest introductions. The Feni, along with other local brews, will be given a special section on the ground floor. The same floor will include the widest range from the entire country.
The mall is being built by a popular wine retailer in Panaji who is negotiating with foreign brands for an exclusive store in the mall, says the proprietors, Mr Rohan and Ranjeet Amonkar. There will be continuous promotions and offers coming from the brands.

Sneha Mahale, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, October 25, 2011

First Published: 19:19 IST(25/10/2011)

Diwali can be a dampener without firecrackers and card parties. But despite the slow economy, many are bringing in the festive season in India’s party capital, Goa, with much fanfare. Casinos and hotel rooms in the state are either completely booked for the Diwali week or are being lapped up fast
despite the exorbitant rates.

“We are completely booked out for Diwali,” says Ravi Kesar, executive director of Casinos Pride, Palms, Pearl, Paradise and Palace in Goa. The casinos are organising a lucky draw for customers buying chips worth R 10,000. “The first prize is a BMW, nine Swift Dzire cars for second prize and the third prize consists of 19 Yamaha bikes. We have all of 100 prizes.”

Casino Royale Goa too reported high occupancy rates. The group has tied up with five star hotels and is offering packages at different rates. While three Diwali nights and four days at the Vivanta by Taj Panaji costs R 37,000, a similar package at Fortuna Select Regina costs R 25,000 while the Goa Marriott Resort stay will set you back by v 37,000. To entice guests to try their hands at roulette or slots, 2,000 chips are being thrown in as part of the package for the first night. Additional 2,000 and 3,000 chips will be given for the second and third night respectively.

If you plan to get a room now, chances are that it may take a while before you find one that matches your budget and requirements. Sam-San Travels, a Mumbai-based travel agency says they have no rooms available at their properties.

Morton Johnston from The Leela says, “We are fully booked over Diwali and we have no rooms.” Tony D’Costa, sales manager, Holiday Inn Resort Goa, concurs. But guests aren’t perturbed. Bandra resident Arjun Shah, who is currently searching for a free room in Goa, says, “All the action this year will be at Goa’s casinos. I don’t mind shelling out a bit more to party there.”