Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 24: Goa’s iconic art form, tiatr, is on the path to gaining UNESCO recognition as an intangible cultural heritage. The Directorate of Art and Culture has formed a dedicated task force to prepare and submit the nomination dossier, chaired by Art and Culture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar and including Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) president Anthony Rosario Fernandes (Roseferns) along with cultural experts.

The task force will collaborate with historians and UNESCO representatives to document tiatr’s evolution, tracing its colonial-era origins, themes of social reform and faith, and its impact on the Goan diaspora. Fernandes said that once recognized, tiatr could gain global visibility, potentially being showcased in other countries in local languages, and open avenues for financial support from the Government of India and UNESCO.

A global documentation drive is planned, with visits to countries where Goan communities perform tiatr to collect materials, scripts, and oral histories by February 2026, essential for the UNESCO nomination. Carlos Fernandes, TAG member secretary, noted that nearly 50% of the dossier work is already completed, emphasizing the importance of the recognition for Goa and India’s cultural identity.

For founding TAG president Tomazinho Cardozo, the initiative represents the culmination of decades of dedication by countless tiatrists. He highlighted the need for thorough research into tiatr’s origins, societal influence, scripts, themes, and artistic nuances, stressing that UNESCO will scrutinize every detail to ensure a strong and compelling application.