Goa, Jan. 10 -- Vivek Menezes

In an incandescent and still-ongoing season of the arts in Goa - it has extended across several different venues, festivals, concerts and exhibitions - the unexpected highlight was Concerto do Natal on 14th December at the Museum of Goa in Pilerne. It took place on a colourful Christmassy evening, beside an extraordinary 18-foot tree made from needlework panels by 25 local women who call themselves Crochet Collective, and delivered an unforgettable series of goosebumps moments as Oscar Castellino and The Timemakers performed holiday classics as well as an entirely new, spellbinding repertoire in both Konkani and Portuguese. I was especially blown away by Jinnen Mhaka Sogle Dile, a stirring new anthem of grat...