Palolem is latest victim of flash mob but with a twist

PANAJI: Goa hardly knew what a 'flash mob' was. But when one hit Palolem recently, locals watched as the dancers tapped their feet rhythmically on the silver sand and swayed on the shore.
The dancers held pieces of garbage to sweep home the message.
"Goa is one of the ten places we are doing flash mobs as part of a national campaign organised by Imagindia Institute," Jodie Underhill, founder of Mountain Cleaners (MC), an NGO based in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, said.
MC volunteers and students from a nearby college danced to Hindi song Mundiya Tu Bachke Rahi at Palolem beach on January 31. "You don't have to be a perfect dancer, it's all about participation and putting fun and energy in it," Underhill said.
MC volunteers taught 25 students from Shree Mallikarjun College of Arts and Commerce, Canacona the dance moves for the flash mob.
As the crowd watched the 50-odd dancers and some clapped in support, the participants put pieces of garbage, bottles, chip packets or plastic into dust bins after the performance ended.
"We hope it will create more awareness about garbage and cleanliness as it is important for Goa," a volunteer said.
Flash mobs have been popular in USA for over a decade, but have been held in Mumbai and Hyderabad late last year. Many consider it as a good way of unwinding and bringing cheer to others, and also driving home a social message.
The MC volunteers also organized clean up campaigns at an isolated stretch of the honeymoon beach, Palolem. "The participants were shocked at the amount of garbage and filled eight big bags of garbage mainly bottles,"a volunteer said. The clean up event was followed by another at nearby Patnem beach.
But it was not all hard work. "We had loads of fun, attracted a good crowd and hopefully created some awareness regarding a cleaner India," another participant said.
James, Janey, Jen, Shananwaz were some of the MC volunteers. Clinton Vaz, south Goa co-ordinator of Chaka Chak Goa conducted a waste management and composting workshop at Palolem with MC volunteers and others.