MARGAO: The first-ever Fevicol MakeInGoa festival concluded successfully in Margao on Sunday, January 26. Organised by Raia based, Design Intervention India, this first-of-its-kind festival which was held at Green Amaze Centre in Margao saw Goa-based product designers and creators rub shoulders with retailers, food stalls and a science fun show creating a festive atmosphere for the many visitors who thronged the venue on Republic Day. The special product and art gallery at the venue was a big favourite with the visitors as it housed among other things, several innovative products. The first was a battery-powered, para-glider designed and created by the Nuvem based Ryan Pinto, a computer engineer. Pinto said, “This is perhaps India’s first, battery-powered, non-fuel dependent para-glider. I have begun selling it commercially now.” The glider is fitted with a four-kilowatt battery which provides one hour of flying time. Pinto further said that he regularly flew over the Betalbatim and Benaulim beach stretches in his battery-powered para-glider. Likewise, there was some very aesthetic furniture using steel, designed and manufactured in Goa by Honest Structures design company, Ulavan’s drones for agriculture applications, innovative fragrances by Susegad Fragrances and a robotic wheelchair for the masses from Robowheels. Significantly, the product design stalls saw the participation of at least eight, Incubatees from Forum for Innovation Incubation Research and Entrepreneurship(FIIRE) and five from Centre for Incubation and Business Acceleration(CIBA). The ‘FabLabshow’ which was an entertaining show which explained simple, scientific principles like the centre of gravity for instance organised and executed by the Design Intervention team regaled the audiences, both young and old. A lot of excitement was also generated at the robot contest for schools and open categories. Teams had to create small, four-wheeled robots which were remote controlled and had to travel over a patch of grass without spilling an open bottle of water. Multiple teams from the Margao based Manovikas school dominated this contest, with the ‘Curiosity’ team comprising of Sarang Mohan and Rishit Pai winning a rolling trophy in the school category, while the LegoGoa team comprising Venkatesh Dempo, Vedant Abhyankar and Saipranav won the open category rolling trophy. The retail product stalls had indigenous perfumes, organic detergents, creatively crafted sea-shells, coconut shell products, bags made from recycled paper and much else keeping the visitors glued to them, while local food entrepreneurs kept people’s hunger pangs at bay with a host of Goan fast food delicacies. The one-day event was inaugurated by the chief guest Goa Public Service Commission Jose chairman Manuel Noronha. Noronha who addressed the audience said, “There is a need for young people to constantly re-skill themselves in the face of rapid technological changes. I am confident that this ‘MakeInGoa’ event will become even bigger next year and eventually provide jobs and employment for many.” Also speaking on the occasion, Deepak Pathania, industrial product designer and organiser of the event said, “We are overwhelmed by the response to this first edition of the Fevicol MakeInGoa festival. This is a new concept and hence there has been much learning. We will improve and make it a bigger and better festival the next time.” Prize distribution of students parliament contest