St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim, organised a warm and informative awareness programme on “Matoli Magic – Sacred Flora of Ganesh Chaturthi” on 10 September 2026 at 10:30 a.m. in the college Seminar Hall.

The programme was organised by the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) Cell, Nature’s Club, Department of Botany and Department of Library, as part of the activities of the Outreach and Extension Cell. The main aim was to reach out to the nearby community and create awareness about the 21 plants or patri traditionally associated with Ganesh Chaturthi, and the rich knowledge connected with them.

The Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Higher Secondary students, accompanied by their teacher, were invited to attend the session. The programme was beautifully conducted by the B.Sc. students of St. Joseph Vaz College, who took the audience on an interesting journey through the world of the Matoli.

The session began with a simple explanation of what a Matoli is and why it is an important part of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Goa. The students explained that a Matoli, decorated with fruits, flowers, leaves, seeds and other parts of plants, is not merely a festive decoration. It reflects our gratitude towards nature, abundance, good health and our close connection with the natural world.

The B.Sc. students then introduced the participants to different plants used during the festival. For each plant, they shared its botanical name, common or local name, significance and the interesting mythological story associated with it. Plants such as Hibiscus, Garden Balsam, Taro, Coconut, Vishnu Kranta, Durva Grass, Indian Jujube, Banana, Arjuna, Mango, Jasmine, Betel Leaf, Star Fruit and Bel Leaf were among those discussed.

The stories behind the plants made the session especially interesting. The students explained, for example, the traditional story connected with Durva Grass and Lord Ganesha, and the symbolism of the coconut, where breaking the hard outer shell represents letting go of ego and revealing inner purity.

The programme also brought out the beautiful connection between traditional knowledge and sustainability. The participants learnt how plants used in everyday traditions can teach us about respecting nature, avoiding waste and making sustainable choices. The discussion on Taro, for instance, highlighted how different parts of a plant can be useful, while the banana leaf was presented as an example of a traditional and eco-friendly practice.

The session was well organised and warmly received by the students and teacher. It was a wonderful learning experience for everyone present. The Higher Secondary students gained new knowledge about plants and traditions that are familiar to them during Ganesh Chaturthi, while the B.Sc. students had the opportunity to share their knowledge and connect with younger
learners.

The programme beautifully reflected the spirit of the College’s Outreach and Extension Cell taking learning beyond the classroom and sharing knowledge with the community. It also showed how our festivals can become meaningful opportunities to learn about our traditional wisdom, appreciate biodiversity and develop greater respect for nature.

The programme concluded with a simple but meaningful message: when we understand the plants behind our traditions, we learn to value both our heritage and our natural environment. Through this initiative, St. Joseph Vaz College made a small but meaningful effort towards keeping traditional knowledge alive and sharing it with the next generation.