Goa is to be actually seen in the monsoons, when it throws up every shade of green till its tiptoe. Since the continental visitors arrive here during the Goan winter, a bit of green is still around. What they miss, however, is a rare, colourful dimension of Goa which happens during the hot, humid, sultry moth of May. At this time the place looks rich brown by virtue of the laterite in the soil, except for Goa's golden beaches. But as the summers draws to a close, nature bursts into yet another ruddy, exhuberant colour all over the countryside. It is when the Mayflowers are in full bloom.These are perhaps the only flowers which lend their own colour to the countryside.

Johni's neighbour is a wholesale dealer of mangoes. So the guy goes over all over Bardes collecting the fruit from the trees he rents during the mango season. The mango farmer comes across a wide variety of mishapen or odd-looking mangoes from those which he plucks. Here is the picture of one raw mango which looks like a green bird, with a perfect beak. Of course, the two leaves atop the mango is Johni's addition.

Virtually thousands of farmers from various parts of the country had gathered for a two-day convention at the Kala Academy in Panjim. They discussed the various problems they have been facing in their fields. From the tone of the various addresses it was quite apparent that they were not for globalisation, which they feel would pauperise the farmer further. They did not seem to be pleased with the performance of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

After all the talking and discussing done, Goa provided them with a rich of a cultural programme. The farmers were thrilled to watch the popular dekhnni performance of "Hanv Saiba Poltoddi Vetam", the Ghoddemoddnim,the Lamp Dance, etc. They cheered and clapped lustily at the end of each item performed by a local cultural troupe. The dance with girls dancing with the brass lamps on their head and all their intricate moves and graceful steps, drew a thunderous applause.

Few Goans take the Met bulletins seriously since they have generally failed to forecast Goa's major storms like the one in 1994. However, everyone heaved a sigh of relief when it became evident that the cyclone, which lay centred about 350 kms southwest of Goa, spared Goa and Maharashtra. It moved parallel to the Goa coast towards Gujarat. The weather was dull but virtually dry yesterday except for a few drizzles in the evening and a few heavy showers early this morning. The south-west monsoon has already advanced over Kerala on May 24. The rains traditionally reaches Goa within a week after touching Kerala. However, though the cylcone threat has blown over, the monsoon is yet to arrive. Goa has experienced a only some scattered heavy showers so far.

Siolim is a Goa village where I constantly find something or other, which is not found elsewhere and in the other villages. The vast, beautiful village has a green hedge of hillocks, a beach lacing its west and a rivulet besides quite a lot of creative folk. These folk have left behind several rare traditions. One such tradition is found at Gaunsavaddo (remember Fr Salvador Gomes Goutinho and now Fr Bismark), known for the first church in the village. All that is left there is the chapel of Mae de Deus (Mother of God). In the vaddo, the statue of Our Lady is not taken in each household as is done in the rest of the village and in other villages. There is a statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the chapel compound. On the first day of May, they select a marriageable maiden. She is dressed like a bride and she has the privilege to crown the statue of Our Lady by climbing a ladder. This year's chosen maiden was Maria, and she even had two chubby bridesmaids.

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Name this funnny character drawn by Clive D'Souza. Clive has taken a sudden liking for the computer. Many of you too must be interested in computer graphics and might have even creater a better character than this guy with rings for ears. If you have developed anything, please send it to
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