Purple Fest 2024: Global Celebration Of Inclusivity Begins In Goa

The International Purple Festival 2024 started in Goa on 8 January. It will be organized in Goa from 8 to 13 January 2024. The festival showcases its vibrant celebration of inclusivity and empowerment.

Organiser of the International Purple Festival 2024:

• Mainly, three departments play a role in organizing this festival. These are as follows:
  • Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Goa
  • Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Goa
  • Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
• More than 8,000 delegates are expected to attend the International Purple Festival – Goa 2024.
• The festival promises to be a celebration of diversity, inclusivity and empowerment on a global scale.

Chief Guest of International Purple Festival 2024:

• This special inauguration ceremony saw the presence of prominent personalities. In which Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was the chief guest. While Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale was the guest of honour. Apart from these, many other dignitaries also participated in the event.

Objective of International Purple Celebration:

• The objective of this festival is to showcase the talents of persons with disabilities through attractive performances in music, dance and entertainment.
• An extraordinary moment of the inauguration ceremony was the presentation of Purple named 'Dhumal'. In this, performances will be given by disabled people from different areas of Goa as well as respected composers of the Indian music industry. Thus, events are primarily a symbol of inclusivity and unity.

Launch of various initiatives of Goa Government:

• Various initiatives of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities as well as the Government of Goa, are also to be launched in this International Purple Festival.
• According to Goa Persons with Disabilities Commissioner Guruprasad Pawaskar, assessment camps will be organized during the free assistance festival.
• Ahead of the festival, an awareness campaign about disabled people was conducted across Goa.
• Orientation programs were conducted for 1,200 drivers and conductors of Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC).
• Around 800 volunteers have been trained for this festival and training programs have been organized by the Divyangjan.
• 30 wheelchair-accessible e-rickshaws will be launched during the festival.

About Goa:

• Capital: Panaji
• Governor: P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
• Chief Minister: Pramod Sawant