By Elvis Fernandes
Pilar, Sept 22, 2025: Sadbhav Mahotsav (Harmony Festival), an annual harvest festival in Goa, was celebrated focusing harmony, brotherhood, and community.
The September 20 event at St. Lawrence High School Hall in Agassaim brought together students, farmers, villagers, and dignitaries to celebrate agriculture, sustainability, and interfaith harmony. Agassaim is some 15 km southeast of Panaji, capital of Goa.
“The program successfully blended education, community building, and cultural expression to promote a vital message of religious harmony in a very practical and inspiring way,” said Shreyas S. Jadhav, assistant professor at Goa College of Agriculture.
Another participant, Santano Rodrigues, chairman of the Curtorim Biodiversity Management Committee, said the event was “a truly enriching experience, fostering harmony and unity among diverse communities.”
He said he found the celebration of shared values and traditions heartwarming. “My appreciation to the organizers for bringing together seven local panchayats in a remarkable display of communal harmony and cooperation,” he added.
The festival’s highlight was the interfaith panel discussion on the theme “Sowing Harmony – Faiths United Through Farming.”
Moderated by Nevile Alphonso, former director of agriculture, Goa government, the panel representing Hindu, Muslim, and Christian faiths, explored questions such as the challenges faced by farmers and how faith helps them cope with such difficulties.
The panel also addressed how faith encourages farmers to care for the environment while farming; and the challenges faced in balancing faith values with the demands of modern farming practices.
It also explored how religious practices influence everyday decisions on the farm; and how faith teaches farmers about community and sharing.
The day began with an interactive session with Jadhav, who engaged more than a hundred students from six high 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, the students participated in an experiential nature walk, 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 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.
The festival also honored two elderly farmers from each of the seven participating village panchayats for their lifelong contributions to farming.
The 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.
The participating village panchayats were Agassaim, Azossim-Mandur, Batim, Curca-Bambolim-Talaulim, Goa Velha, Neura, and Siridao-Palem, located in the San Andre Constituency.