The project, “The Big Foot”, commenced in the year 1995, when, a sculpture, the longest one, carved in India, entered the “Limca Book of Records”.    Being multi-faceted in aspect, it was difficult to classify this project under any particular heading. Therefore, it divided itself into different portions, covering a multitude of facets, all of which had to do with, the A, B, C,  of the essence of it. The A, B, C, will eventually warrant an explanation in details, which will follow.
          
A company who manifested its need to invest in the benefits of a very happening tourist site, in the National and International journals. The project under varied names, also had the formation of the “Big Foot Trust”, who handled all the Artistic and Cultural aspects.  Today, this project is alike any other multi-national company, differing in one major aspect, only, in that it is the brain-child of a single individual, Maendra J. A. Alvares, an Artist and Sculptor himself, who actually single-handedly carved the Longest Laterite Sculpture for  India, that of Sant Mirabai, today entitled the “Natural Harmony”.
             In the promotion of the A, B, C, of life, the project, popularly known as the Big Foot, also encourages, smaller enterprises to set themselves up at the premises. All these are looked after by the “Big Foot Trust”, as part of its endeavor in the healthy promotion of all aspects of the maintenance, furtherment of the views, of the preservation of the ecology and the traditions and culture.
What follows below is a definition of all the aspects and the mottos, that over time have been adhered to, and most vigorously maintained.

A
The Art and the Artistic

        In all its endeavors, the project has been instrumental in the promotion of the Arts, in Adults as well as in Children. This is to enumerate the different projects, whose excerpts (press releases) are listed herein.
“Children’s’ Workshop”
       The passing years have seen any number of events taking place at the Big Foot. Prominent amongst these are the “Art Workshops” held for the children, annually. These camps are different in their very execution. Every year, these camps try to enhance their difference with a variety of eco-friendly related  projects. Enumerated amongst these activities are things like, creativity related work in clay, plaster of Paris, wood carving and sand sculptures.
        Survival techniques, in the instruction of open-fire cooking, the benefits of certain types of foods, and Fishing are taught. Respect your Environment and Protect it, is another part of the teaching, here.  Children are taught the herbal, and other beneficial uses of the plants and trees around them. The children are also instructed on the caretaking of these plants, and arborics.
       The “Big Foot Trust” initiates  and conducts these activities. It is the trust who organises and funds the functioning of all the levels of the art and culture, related attempts.
     Tea parties for the underprivileged, tree planting drives, cleaning the environment, Plastic free drives, and Wealth out of general and Plastic waste. Birthday parties for the orphans from nearby orphanages, which include their guests and  the giving away of gifts and a tour of the premises.
“Adult Activities”
     Every year, the “Big Foot Trust”, undertakes the responsibility of involving the Aged citizens and other adults in its creative forum. The activities range from  Little skits, and one-act plays during “Carnaval” and the Christmas times, when food stuff and sweets are distributed to the homes for the aged.
         The Trust also organises a Cookery course with a difference, in which ladies of different fields are invited and cookery courses on “Wood Fire” are held. These courses involve the instruction in the basics of food preservation, the benefits of wood-fire cooking, the uses of different ingredients, etc.
Handicrafts and the folk arts:         
          The “Big Foot Trust” also maintains, a number of outlets, Government and private,  for  the promotion  of  local and Folk art. Prominent among these are the Government, “Aprant” and  “Rural Development” emporiums. The “Art Cottage is another private enterprise. It is here that the famous “Magic lamp” is sold.

 
B
We belive in the Amlighly

         In the past, when the hill, atop where “Ancestral Goa” is situated,  used to be cultivated in the terraced form, so as to maintain the premises in the family holdings, the farmers used to speak of a very strange footprint. the songs about this footprint, were sung during harvest times. Unfortunately, most of the old timers died and with their passing carried with them the essence of the mystery behind the legend.
      Many years, later,  when it was discovered that one of the earlier farmers still lived, and Maendra had just begun carving the sculpture of Mira,  the foot print was discussed and after a much debated issue, the clue was located and with it the strange print atop a rock face which, on account of the shifting topsoil, had subtly shifted.
          Maendra, pieced together the story, that, in the telling, over the years, had been embellished a lot. The essence of it remained, though and what was discovered was the fact that the print had engendered a lot of interest and its mystique has today become legendary, therefore “The Legend of the Big Foot” seemed a very apt, synonym for one man’s sacrifice.
         The Believers in the prowess of the miraculous powers,  leave behind a token of their acceptance and belief in the foot’s strange benefits. This goes towards the funding of a deserving student  or anyone needing small funds for whatever genuine medical reasons may occur.                   
      The “Big Foot Trust” is primarily involved in the  functions of this place. It is the trust that employs people to look into the running of the premise and the allocation of the funds, garnered there.
       It is in the proof of extensive responses that we have received in writing and in the presence of the believers, that we have accepted that the beliefs of the past, the ancients and the pure of mind and soul, are in fact, true.

C
Culture is the evolution of the humanity towards its goal of improvement sincerity in its achievement of its aims

    Born out of a sincere need towards the preservation of the heritage and vintage past, “Ancestral Goa” is a determined stand towards the positive outpouring of devotion and adherence to its aims. It is here that you actually see the evolution of the architectural styles and the metamorphosis from the rural to the urban, developments.
      “Ancestral Goa”, actually details, the life of the state of Goa, as it existed in the times of the occupation up until the early 20th century. This pictorial and life size history lesson is filled with structures and models of traders, simple householders and the various occupations that had their place of pride in the hierarchy of things.
        This project is landscaped upon the terraced hillside, in the form of an entire village complete with all its forms of expression and validation of motives. It is here that we get to see the wonderful heritage that our future generations are going to miss. the evolutionary detailing lies not only in the architecture but also the use of building material and the use of utensils made of different types of clay, later copper and then, aluminium
         “Ancestral Goa” tries to portray the eco- friendly aspects of the daily lives of people in earlier times. In fact, the entire place is overshadowed by huge trees and shrubs, giving it the appearance of a vast parkland.
          Culture, in relation to this project, does not only mean its traditional dress codes, food and habitat, it also means the manner in which these people co existed with their environment, in so much adherence, that it felt like a Religion.  Culture, here, also means that this project also survived the test of times in strict adherence to its plastic and waste-material free, propagation. Fresh and clean fertilizer, from animal waste is used instead of the  artificial fertilisers.
          A part of this project is the “Spice and Vegetable garden” which has samples of local and exotic plants and trees. the highlight in this area, is the local herb garden, with a mural detailing the uses and advantages of these plants. In ties of the past, these plants were a relevant part of the cultural make up, where common ailments, and even the simple illnesses were cured.
           Live animals, and the rural “Bird Sanctuary”, detailing around 35 varieties of birds are also a very important part of Goa’s inherent cultural build-up.  All of the birds frequenting the site have already been spotted by bird watches and the various visiting Nature Clubs.
          

D
In lighter vein

       Dance and Music have always been an essential part of the goan cultural scene. It was through this insight that the “Big Foot Dance Floor”, Goa’s first designer dance floor was born. Landscaped to resemble a seascape, this dance floor in the shape of a giant footstep, with toes acting as dais and band stands has stood testimony to innumerable weddings, political rallies and other important and official functions.
          Ample parking space, and a tarred raod lead you to this floor atop the hillside which acts also, as a lookout over the outlying villages and the gently meandering river Zuari.

It is very difficult to express in a brief summary the imagination , creativity toil, labour and above all the Foresight, that has gone into the creation and execution of this place. Begun as an excercise to educate the future generations and maintain for posterity the essence of their pasts, “Ancestral Goa” at the Big Foot has evolved upon itself to proportions of unimaginable magnitudes.  It is likened to a number of similar sites worldwide, on the same, or larger scopes. The only difference, here, being the fact that these sites are funded, to a very large extent, by certain government agencies. There are also trusts set up by the government to help the maintainance of these sites. In this case, it is a Single Individual who is looking after, maintaining, and even working the site.