Media Release
Agassaim, Sep 22: Sadbhav Mahotsav, the annual harvest festival, was celebrated with a profound sense of harmony, brotherhood, and community on the September 20 at St Lawrence High School Hall, Agassaim, Goa. The highlight of the festival was the Interfaith Panel discussion on the theme “sowing harmony – Faiths united through farming.” The panel discussion was moderated by Nevile Alphonso, former director of agriculture, Government of Goa, featuring panellists Santosh Dessai, Maaz Sheikh, and Cleto Fernandes, representing Hindu, Muslim, and Christian faiths. The panel explored questions such as the challenges faced by farmers and how faith helps them cope with such difficulties; how faith encourages them to care for the environment while farming; the challenges faced in balancing faith values with the demands of modern farming practices; how religious practices influence everyday decisions on the farm; and how faith teaches them about community and sharing. The discussion concluded with an open interaction with the audience.
The day began with an interactive session with Dr Shreyas Jadhav, who engaged over a hundred high school students from six schools on the challenges faced by farmers. He encouraged them to seek innovative solutions, explore careers in agricultural sciences, and remain rooted in their communities by supporting the farmers around them. Later, these students participated in an experiential nature walk facilitated by Tallula D’Silva, Ahana, and their team, exploring the landscape of Agassaim. They collected seeds, weeds, and leaves to create mandala art and shared their learnings through group presentations, reflecting on the significance of farming and ecological balance.
In the afternoon, farmers, villagers, and students from Fr Agnel HSS Pilar, Vassant Kukalekar HSS, Old Goa, Fr Agnel College, Pilar, and Goa Agriculture College, Old Goa, took part in a community lunch prepared by the villagers of the seven village panchayats. After lunch, the seminarians of Pilar Seminary presented a skit titled different paths, one goal: Peace and harmony. Nitee Priolkar and Pooja Chodankar from Fr Agnel HSS presented monologues on the theme of fishing and farming, while the students of Fr Agnel College performed a folk dance. Two oldest farmers from each of the seven participating village panchayats were honoured for their lifelong contributions to farming.
This day-long event brought together students, farmers, villagers, and dignitaries to celebrate agriculture, sustainability, and interfaith harmony. Dr Shreyas S Jadhav, Assistant Professor at Goa College of Agriculture, said, “The programme successfully blended education, community building, and cultural expression to promote a vital message of religious harmony in a very practical and inspiring way.”
Santano Rodrigues, chairman of the Curtorim Biodiversity Management Committee remarked, “Sadbhav Mahotsav 2025 was a truly enriching experience, fostering harmony and unity among diverse communities. The celebration of shared values and traditions was heartwarming. My appreciation to the organizers for bringing together seven local panchayats in a remarkable display of communal harmony and cooperation.”
Sadbhav Mahotsav 2025 was organized by Sadbhav - an endeavor of the Society of Pilar for spreading peace and harmony and was hosted by the village panchayat of Sao Lourenco, Agassaim. It also saw the collaboration of Fr Agnel College of Arts & Commerce, Pilar; Tambdi Mati Foundation; Goa College of Agriculture; directorate of agriculture (Govt of Goa); zonal agriculture office (Tiswadi); and the village panchayats of Agassaim, Azossim-Mandur, Batim, Curca-Bambolim-Talaulim, Goa Velha, Neura, and Siridao-Palem, located in the San Andre constituency.