The Goa Pavilion at the 2025 India International Trade Fair has received the Special Appreciation Award for excellence in display. The 44th edition of the fair wrapped up this week at New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. The award, given in the States and Union Territories Pavilion category, was presented by the India Trade Promotion Organisation’s managing director, Dr Neeraj Kharwal, IAS.
Information officer Kiran Munankar and photographer Chandu Korgaonkar, both from Goa’s Department of Information and Publicity, received the award on the department’s behalf.
The recognition highlights the creative vision and cultural depth showcased by Goa at the fair. The pavilion, inaugurated by the department’s director, Dipak Bandekar, stood out for its innovative design and immersive presentation, offering visitors a vivid sense of the state’s history, art and traditions.
ABOUT THE PAVILLION
This year’s trade fair, organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation, a Government of India enterprise, was held under the theme ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. The Goa government used the platform to promote its programmes and policies, aiming to raise public awareness and engagement.
The Department of Information and Publicity served as the nodal agency for Goa’s participation in the annual trade fair, which drew exhibitors from across India as well as several countries showcasing their development and achievements.
The Goa pavilion, spread across 200 sqm, was designed in line with this year’s theme. It highlighted the state’s culinary traditions, the hospitality for which Goans are known, and recent developmental initiatives, presented through audiovisuals, small hoardings and photographic displays.
The pavilion was conceptualised, designed and managed by Vinayak Decorators, a Goa-based agency appointed to execute the theme set by the India Trade Promotion Organisation.
The pavilion offered a lively display of Goa’s cultural legacy, giving visitors an immersive look at the state’s heritage. Traditional handicrafts and other cultural elements were featured prominently, adding to the showcase of local craftsmanship.
A display wall with a rustic finish evoked the natural, earthy aesthetic of traditional Goan interiors. The installation combined elements of rural design with a more curated presentation, creating a focal point that highlighted the craftsmanship and visual character of Goan heritage.
VOCAL FOR LOCAL
Alongside the cultural exhibits, the pavilion also featured samples of Goa’s well-known cuisine, offering visitors a chance to experience regional flavours and culinary traditions. The combination of traditional crafts and local food created a single space where visitors could explore different aspects of the state’s heritage.
Several government bodies, including the Department of Tourism, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation, the Department of Handicrafts, Textile and Coir, the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board, the Goa State Biodiversity Board, the Goa Waste Management Corporation and the Department of Science, Technology and Waste Management, took part in the pavilion with displays outlining their schemes and products.
Artisans engaged through the Department of Handicrafts, Textile and Coir set up stalls to sell traditional Goan items, including GI-tagged products. The focus remained on promoting locally made, heritage crafts, while the pavilion also created space for direct interaction between producers, buyers and visitors.
Daily performances by Goan folk artists proved to be one of the pavilion’s biggest draws. Musicians and performers showcased a range of traditional art forms, offering visitors a glimpse of the state’s cultural traditions alongside the other activities on site.
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