Monsoon Edition 2010
The Voice of the Goan Diaspora Worldwide
GLOBAL GOENKAR Newsletter of the World Alliance Of Goan Associations Editor & Creatives: Kenelm Santana Lopes
This season Goa celebrates >>> São João ‐ 24th June St.Peter & St. Paul (Sangodd) ‐ 29th June Naga Panchami ‐ 13th August Assumption/Independence Day—15th August World Goa Day ‐ 20th August Novidade/ Konsachem Fest ‐ 24th August Raksha Bandhan ‐ 24th August Bonderam ‐ 4th Saturday of August Ramzan Id/ Eid‐ul‐Fitar ‐ 10th September Ganesh Chaturthi ‐ 11th September Fama de Menino Jesus ‐ 2nd Monday of October
On 20th August 2010 the Global Goenkar founded by Kenelm Santana Lopes and Rene Barreto will make it’s first appearance. While we love bringing Goa to you through it, we hope to enlist Diaspora Goans from all over the world in this exercise. Firstly we would like to form a team to work on the Global Goenkar. This first edition is only a sampling of the plans we have. If you have experience in layout, graphics, web design or any other skill that may be of use, do volunteer. Thanks to the internet, your geographical co‐ordinate is not a concern. Secondly you will notice that this ’E‐Mag’ is organ‐ ized into various sections. If you feel you have some‐ thing to contribute to any particular page send us your work. We will be happy to include it. Thirdly, do make time to send encouragement and feedback, the only subscription fee that you may wish to pay to enjoy this newsletter every season. E‐Mail: goanint@yahoo.co.uk, globalgoenkar@gmail.com The Global Goenkar is being established on behalf of the W.A.G.A. for news and views from the Global Goan Associations all over the world
Our success depends on YOUR cooperation ...
As a little boy growing up in Goa, I used to stare in awe every time a black and yellow taxi laden with huge suitcases passed by my house. We knew someone has returned ‘home’ from a foreign land. It meant many things for me if the person was an acquaintance. Gifts, chocolates, etc. and definitely a picnic where this visi‐ tor would look with moist eyes upon seemingly com‐ monplace things like an old Church, a paddy field and even village folk. It seemed strange to me then but not today. Today I live away from Goa and I am one of them. I am a diaspora Goan. Distance has made the heart grow fonder! This is the story of almost all diaspora Goans who miss Goa per‐ haps with almost the same heartburn as a child away from home misses his mother. To create our little patch of Goa away from home, we have created our Goan associations. We strive to recreate our festivals, our ‘dances’, the food and the ambience of ‘joie de vivre’ whenever the sons of the same soil get together. Each association has it’s own strengths and special areas of excellence. 10 years ago, thanks to Rene Barreto, we created World Goa Day which he describes on page 3. The purpose was to bring everyone together under one umbrella. Looking back we see a phenomenal success story with communication flowing across the world and Goan organizations learning from their peers. This online magazine, the Global Goenkar is an exten‐ sion of those efforts. We felt a need to have a newslet‐ ter where we would share information and content about Goa, views of Goans worldwide and updates on activities of the diaspora. Through this medium, vari‐ ous associations and individuals could exchange their experiences and thus work closer together. No doubt , this will let us see Goans far more united and not living in isolation (As many incorrectly perceive us to) We start with an 8 page edition with various sections. However considering the response that we have re‐ ceived we should plan for many more sections! The creatives used, the details of the festivals cele‐ brated and the photo collage aim to give you a nostal‐ gic feel of Goa this season. This edition is themed around the monsoon.
We would urge the presidents of all associations to share the Global Goenkar with their member data‐ base and feel free to print and circulate copies dur‐ ing their World Goa day celebrations.
Introducing the Global Goenkar... Kenelm Santana Lopes Editor, Global Goenkar, Monsoon Edition 2010
I thank Rene for his faith in me. Under his tutelage, together with young people all over the world, we hope to start a revival of the spirit and pride of being Goan ! After decades of tiatrists and singers crying out ‘Utt Goenkara’ !, it appears that some of us fi‐ nally heard them! Viva Goa !
World Konkani Day After the Goa curtain‐raiser: July 18, 2010: ‐ the successful Goa curtain‐raiser. July 19:Eric Baab along with Baab Vivek Mordekar and Baab Prashant Kamat toured the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra to identify and recruit Kon‐
THE FIRST WORLD KONKANI CULTURAL CONVENTION – Step‐by‐step, towards the Convention… Mandd Sobhann, Kalaangann, Makale, Shaktinagar, Mangalore‐575 016. Ph: 0824‐2230489 / 2232239 http://www.kalaangann.com/ kani troupes there. ‘Chaitanya Mahila Vikas Mandal’, Banda, Sawantwadi has been recruited to perform ‘Dashavatari’ – a traditional form of drama and Shri Edwin Francis D’Souza and team of Ajgaon has been invited to present a play. July 21:A meeting of prominent Konkani leaders of Mumbai under the leadership of Shri Albert D’Souza, Patron of the Convention, was convened at St. Xa‐ vier’s Engg. College Conference Hall, Mahim. Shri Ronald Mendonca, Chairman, Kalaangann; Rev. Fr. Ramesh Francis Naik, Chief Patron, Kalaangann; Shri John D’Silva and Shri Pius Vas, both Directors, Kalaangann and Shri Lawrence Coelho, Editor, ‘Divo’ were a few among those present. At this meeting, the Mumbai curtain‐raiser was discussed and Aug. 29, 11 a.m. was fixed as the date and time of the Mumbai curtain‐raiser and Rang Sharda, Bandra was finalized as the venue. A meeting of leaders of all Konkani organizations of Mumbai was fixed for Aug. 14 at the same place. July 23 and 24: Baab Stany Alvares and Baab Rony Arun, two leading activists of Mandd Sobhann, vis‐ ited Goa to meet the Chief Minister and submit an application for financial assistance and also to meet the Chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa, to request for involvement in the Film Festival. Spe‐ cial thanks to Baab Vishal Pai and Tomazinho Baab for their help and guidance. July 26: Eric Baab was a Special Guest at the ‘Navayat Mehfil’ at M.A. Rehmaan Maam’s son’s wedding pendal. The ‘Mehfil’ which began at 9.30 p.m., reluctantly ended at 2.30 a.m., where more
Konkani Convention
than 1000 people gathered. Eric Baab extended a volvement of Bangalore was discussed in de‐ cordial invitation to the Navayati Konkani Muslim tail. The Federation was offered the leadership community to present a one‐hour ‘Navayat Mehfil’ of one day of the Festival at the Convention as at the World Convention. This invitation was gladly ‘Bangalore‐Day’. The Federation, in return, accepted. promised every participation. In particular, the July 27:Eric Baab sat with Shri Narayan Baab Federation would motivate and organize at Kharvi, the President of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya least 2 youth teams to participate in the ‘Yuva Academy, to shortlist the teams from Uttara Kan‐ Mahamell’, participate in the various competi‐ nada. Baab Naveen accompanied Eric Baab on this tions, recommend worthy individuals and or‐ ganizations for the various awards and also tour. Aug. 4:Thanks to the initiative of Dr. Ashok Pai and help out in the effort of resource mobilization. Dr. Rajani Pai, world‐famous psychiatrists, a meet‐ The Chairman of the Federation voluntarily ing of Konkanis of all communities was organized came forward to hand over a cheque of Rs. at 5 p.m. at their Conference Hall. Konkanis of 25,000/‐ as his personal contribution. This Shimoga were briefed incidentally, is the first about the World Conven‐ Agostachi Vis Tarik actual contribution tion and an official invita‐ received, though there tion was extended to all A smitai vhorunk visrunk nam are many other prom‐ Konkanis to participate in G oem soddun pordesan vhetana ises. We thank Shri the same. ‘Vagdevi Konkani O stom, dokxinn sonvsar bhonvtana Valerian Fernandes for Mahila Yaksharanga’, a fully S onskrutaen amchi fatt soddlina this kind gesture. female troupe, was invited T iatr, mandde, deknni dulpodam Aug. 13: Eric Baab will to present their Yak‐ A mchem daiz samballun dovorlam be in Mumbai, recruit‐ shagana at the World Con‐ C hali-riti utsov-festam ing 9 teams from that vention. Navayati Muslims, H ansun khelltat pordeshi Goenkaram region. Christians, GSBs, Daivajna I xttagottichim banddun doram Aug. 14:A meeting of Brahmins, Saraswats were leaders of all Konkani organizations of Mum‐ represented at the meet‐ V eg-veglea sobhavache Goenkar I tihas-ache poromparen ghusla bai has been convened ing. The Konkanis of Shi‐ moga were so enthused, S onstha, klub ekvott samballta. to distribute invitations that they offered to form a T arik vis, Agost, voros 1992 and to finalise details of committee to mobilize A mkam ek vhodd anondachi ther Mumbai curtain‐ financial support from Shi‐ raiser, at St. Xavier’s R ajbhas Konknni amchi moga. Engg. College Hall, Ma‐ India-che 8ve ghottnen bhitor kaddli Aug. 5 and 6: Eric Baab him. K huxalkaen World Goa Day palltat ami went round Bangalore to Aug. 16: The Hydera‐ finalize the Konkani Lino B. Dourado bad ‘Vovllig’ pro‐ troupes. 5 teams have been (Utodd’dekar) gramme‐ Eric Baab will selected for performance. address the Konkanis of They are : Hyderabad / Secundera‐ 1. ‘Rasika Arts’ (drama) – Shri P.R. Nayak bad, belonging to various denominations, brief 2. Swar Saptak(Konkani ghazals)– Shri M.S. Kamath them about the Convention and seek their involvement and participation. The meeting is 3. Shri Puttur Narasimha Nayak (Konkani songs) scheduled at All Saints High School, Gun Foun‐ 4. ‘Canara Union’ (Natak) – Saraswats dry (Near Abids), Hyderabad at 5.30 p.m. 5. Shri Bhadragiri Achyuthadasji (Harikatha) On the evening of 6, Eric Baab had a meeting with As the great event approaches, the need for the leaders of the Federation of Konkani Catholic your involvement, both physical and financial, Associations, under the Chairmanship of Shri Vale‐ is felt all the more. Hope you will not let us rian Fernandes, the present Chairperson. The in‐ down.
Please check out my music video celebrating World Goa Day 2010. I'm very happy & proud to be asked by Rene Barreto to compose a song for World Goa Day 2010. It was fun and also a challenge to write and sing lyrics in Konkani! My grandparents left Goa a long time ago and both my parents & all my siblings were born in Tanzania, East Africa, so I was brought up in English. Composing this song, "Goa" has offered me the opportunity to explore & to learn more about this beautiful language ‐‐ Konkani. I've had the pleasure of performing songs in Konkani on several occasions in Canada. I performed as a soloist in Konkani for the International Goan Convention at Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto in 1988, Viva Goa, 1998, Toronto, Toronto Hilton Concert, 1998,
and at my concert at the Al Green Theatre, Toronto on May 8, 2010. I also had the privilege of performing on July 1, 2010 for the Canada Day celebrations in downtown Montreal, Phillips Square, representing the QGA. I will be recording a Konkani song on my next album which will be available in the near future. Please feel free to forward the video for World Goa Day 2010 to your friends. The video is filmed in High Definition, therefore you have to choose 720p on the right lower screen of Youtube. (Move from 320p to 720p hd) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y‐7QQ9DSFFE Jacinta's webiste. http://www.jacintaluis.com/ Jacinta Luis, Canada Vocalist, pianist and entertainer
World Goa Day Celebrating a decade of bringing Goans together As we prepare to celebrate a new milestone ‐ our Many Goans say " I was born a Goan and will die a tenth anniversary of WORLD GOA DAY on the 20th Goan". A true Goan in life as well as in death ! Rene Barreto August, 2010, I once again share my thoughts on Let WORLD GOA DAY be a beacon of light and inspi‐ Founder‐World Goa Day what World Goa Day is all about and how we may ration for future generations of Goans. Let us make World Alliance of Goan Assoc. celebrate this day as a true Goan‐Niz Goenkar our motto: "Proud To Be a Goan" and let us try to United Kingdom The first World Goa Day was held on 20 August 2000 help make it a reality. We have to work together with an objective to unite Goans all over the world to preserve our cultural Heritage and do so to‐ I am glad to know that the World Alliance of Goan in a day of common celebration. This year gether. Let us be a part of a ‘Change’ ‐ a change for Associations intends to bring an online magazine. marks the a better Goan My greetings and good wishes for the success of this praiseworthy venture. The World Alliance of Goan Associations has come about as a result 10th Anni‐ World. Eduardo Faleiro, Commissioner for NRI Affairs versary of of the Global Goan Associations participating in the WORLD GOA C o n g r a t u l a ‐ these cele‐ DAY celebrations. We thought that this was a natural progression tions are due We are celebrating this year the 10th anniversary of brations. We towards forming the ALLIANCE of THE GLOBAL GOAN ASSO- to all Goan the World Goa Day. To come so far is a great achieve‐ have come a i n d i v i d u a l s ment of Rene Barreto and his collaborators; they are CIATIONS. long way and Goan to be congratulated. I had a small part in its organiza‐ since 20th of The World Alliance of Goan Associations (WAGA) is not a conven- Associations tion in composing the theme song: Proud to be a Goan. The celebration has caught up in more coun‐ A u g u s t , tional organization, but an expression of a willingness to work to- in Goa and tries, which is encouraging. I appeal for world wide 2000. To‐ gether for the betterment of Goans living outside and in our mother- their respec‐ Goan unity and for more volunteers to work for the day , we land Goa. It exists in the shared work and spirit of cooperation tive adopted global Goan community. have about whereby all partners (Associations) can find mutual support. It is a country for Basilio Magno, Spain 60 Goan collaborative approach that is created by commitment and by the their success On behalf of the Goan Overseas Association ‐Toronto, organizations in getting the I would like to Congratulate the World Alliance of activity itself. all over the day recog‐ Goan Associations on its upcoming launch of an online world that SONG: Come celebrate WORLD GOA DAY nized and magazine on August 20th. The launch of this magazine are partici‐ http://youngperry.blogspot.com/ c e l e b r a t e d . will help strengthen our communication with Goans pating in this Goan Basilio around the world. We should all take full advantage Goanworld : http://worldgoan.blogspot.com/ unique and Magno from of this launch by submitting articles for inclusion in s i g n i f i c a n t WORLD GOA DAY 20.8.2010 WORLD KONKANI DAY Spain wrote this and future editions. The World Alliance of Goan Associations now has a stronger voice with the launch Global event. the theme of this magazine. The date for World Goa Day celebrations is officially song, "Proud to be a Goan," especially at my re‐ Congratulations and keep up the good work, the 20th of August but for practical reasons , the quest for the very First World Goa Day on August Oscar Furtado, President, G.O.A. Toronto, Canada occasion is celebrated by individual Goans and 20, 2000. The lyrics and music perfectly express Goan Organizations on or around this date to suit love for and solidarity with our motherland, Our Mogall Bhavano and Bhoineano, Greetings from the City of Bangalore on World Goa their own social calendar. beloved Goa. World Goa Day was introduced as a day for Goans The World Goa Day is a social triumph for the Goan day and World Konkani Day. I am glad to see a strong revival towards all things Goan. Goan associations worldwide to focus on and take pride in their communities the world over. It is a phenomenal have always ensured that their events have an abun‐ identity, culture, language, traditions, music, cui‐ event born out of nothing; just few e‐mails blasted dance good food ,music and dancing. Over the last few sine, and more. It is also a day when Goans world‐ on all Goan mailing lists with the message of the years, thanks to people like Rene, there now emerges wide, young and old alike, unite and take pride in virtues of Goan unity and the love of Mother Goa. a deeper sentiment and a higher call to action to give celebrating and working to preserve every aspect of The idea of celebrating WORLD GOA DAY would back to Goa, our home state. What is even more excit‐ their Goan Culture for their children, the non‐Goan have died a natural death had it not been for the ing, is the interest the Diaspora youth are showing in community, and for posterity. Internet collaboration of Goan organizations , Goan culture, history, current issues and our mother It was also a day set aside to commemorate the Goan forums, and Goan Individuals ‐ which helped tongue Konkani itself. Efforts like this global E‐Mag will help bring the whole community on a common a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e i n c l u s i o n to propagate the idea to Goans in every corner of forum. This will greatly catalyze efforts with a wonder‐ of Konkani in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Consti‐ the world. ful pooling of talents and resources. May God bless tution by the Indian Parliament on the 20th of My greatest dream was to see all Goan Associa‐ your efforts and may he hold you close to His heart August 1992, when Konkani was recognized as one tions /organizations come together under one Louella Sequeira, Past President, KGA, Bangalore of the official languages of India. umbrella. I am proud to say I have achieved a partial Let's not forget that a community without a lan‐ success through the support of Goan Leaders of I wish to congratulate Rene Barreto and the dedicated guage of its own becomes a pariah community. The our Goan community in forming the World Alliance team of Goans who have volunteered their valuable time and talent in launching the first online magazine Goans have a very rich language and the only Indian of Goan Associations. for the world wide Goan community on the 10th Anni‐ language written in Roman script which is our spe‐ My failure to communicate with Goans as well as versary of the World Goa Day Celebrations on the 20th cial heritage. We need to sustain the legacy of our many of you are able to , has been a hindrance to of August , 2010. It is a small but important step for‐ Goan language, heritage and culture for our future the progress I was hoping for but I believe that all ward as we forge ahead to keep all Goans connected generations. is not lost. I hope the leaders of the Goan Associa‐ with news, information and help where possible, so that, we become a community that is well connected These celebrations are held to reinvigorate our Goan tions and others will take over Cultural Heritage in us, in our families and in our where I leave and make our dreams a reality . To‐ and cares for one another. I urge all Goans wherever you may be on this planet to share, use your talent friends, as well as to promote Goan Cultural Heri‐ gether for Goa and Goans everywhere for a better and make your contribution by submitting your article tage within the wider Goan community. Designating Goan World. God bless Goa and its people wherever whenever you can. No news is too small. I wish to a day specifically to allow Goans to reflect on our they may be. thank the members of The World Alliance of Goan Goan identity, to consider what being a Goan means Viva WORLD GOA DAY !! Associations (WAGA) for their contribution, energy to us, to take pride in being Goan and to unite with Lets be Proud to be Goan and support in making this project possible. Together we can make a bigger difference for the Goans all over the world in solidarity to celebrate Goan Community. Goa's history, language, music, cultural heritage and WORLD GOA DAY 2010 Tony Colaco, Past President, G.O.A. Sydney, Australia traditions. The World Alliance of Goan Associations
Experiences of the Diaspora
Nostalgia a Decade of Dedicated Service for the Cause of Goans World Over
Maurice Coutinho President Divar Associaion of Toronto Toronto‐Canada Ex Goinkars Own Academy, Pakistan
A decade has passed away and it seems we have Goan has striven but has not been successful to not had enough of Rene Barreto, the coordinator the extent necessary. But Rene Barreto set the of Goans world wide. Such leaders among Goans wheels in motion in 2000 which such enthusiasm that it evoked a response unheard of in the past. There are many Goan groups scattered all over the globe but garnering them and keeping them focused for the cause of Goans was a feat requir‐ ing leaders such as Rene. The mobilization of Goans began in 2000 and I recall receiving an appeal from Rene, when I was in Karachi, requesting that a function be organ‐ ized to show solidarity with the world Goans who were being asked to do the same. I requested the president of Karachi Goans Association, Mr. An‐ gelo Lopes to join with my association Goinkars Own Academy to organize a function worthy of are rare specially those that are passionate for the such a cause and he readily agreed. Within a cause of Goans' unity and are prepared to devote fortnight a function was arranged at the KGA hall their time for it. which was attended by over 300 people. There The craving for Goan unity is in the hearts of all was such a clamor to participate that we ran out Goans but it is an elusive objective and many a of chairs to accommodate them and emergency
Life Away From Goa
It was a late night in the early spring of 2006 when, after almost twenty hours of traveling by air‐ plane, I arrived in America. Kansas, to be specific ‐ The Land of Oz. "Arun, my boy!" said I to my‐ self, "I've a feeling I am not in Goa anymore!". The next few days were a blur ‐ a series of semi‐ lucid moments during which I struggled, and intermittently failed, to appear unlike a bear in hibernation. After I had settled in and gotten through the obligatory week of homesickness, I was finally free to explore this land that would be my home for the foreseeable future. It is a truth universally acknowledged, doubly so by all true Goans, that some of the nicest things about life are good food, good drink, good com‐ pany, and good music ‐ though not necessarily in that order. Not content with merely accepting this to be true, the Goan Diaspora everywhere form vibrant communities wherever they gather. Assuming, of course, that there are enough Goans to form such a community. Which is not the case in Kansas City. While that was somewhat of a disappointment, I gritted my teeth, held my head high, and accepted the hand America had dealt me. America was not done dealing cards, however. Kansas is bang‐smack in the middle of America. Far away from the coast. I can see the light dawning in your eyes. Yes, good fresh seafood is hard to find! Like a true Goan who loves his Xit
Koddi, this was truly painful. "Oh well!" thought I, "I can cook other Goan d i s h e s , surely!". Several calls home for the requisite recipes fueled my optimism. Until America played the deuce of trumps on my ace of
A Young Man’s Experience
Arun Mascarenhas KANSAS‐USA IT Professional‐Infosys
spades. I learnt that most ingredient that are uniquely Goan ‐ Goan Vinegar and Chouricos, to name two ‐ were just not available here. So while I could make a Vindalho, the end result was almost, but not quite entirely, unlike the original dish. And the hits just kept on coming... So with no Goans to keep me company, and passable Goan food to keep me sated, I turned my gaze towards the Americans that I would be working with. One thing that quickly became evident was the difficulty Americans have pro‐ nouncing Indian names. One would think that my first name, Arun, is simple enough. But after listening to various mutilations including, but not limited to, Erin, Aaron, A‐Run and the best of the bunch, Aern – I believe it may not be as simple as I thought. I leave to your imagination what they do with my surname – Mascarenhas. I
arrangements had to be made. The function was a roaring success attended by prominent Goans of Karachi. The tradition of celebrating World Goan Day in August each year continues and the seed sown by Rene continues to flourish and grow. We say Viva World Goa Day, Viva Goans Goan all over, and Viva Rene Barreto.
merely acquiesce to the imploring look in their eyes and let them off the hook. I will just say this... it is not pronounced Macarena! Kansas weather is very... interesting to say the least. From tornadoes to thunderstorms, hail to blistering heat, seventy miles per hour winds, and the snow. The snow. What can I say about snow? It's cold. And wet. And dangerous. Did I mention cold? I'm afraid I cannot be eloquent about the nasty stuff that is snow. I would love to go into hibernation when it snows, snug in some cave, asleep for several months. In the four odd years that I have been in Amer‐ ica, I have adapted and have grown to quite like it here. I do long for all things Goan – the beaches with the salt‐tang in the air, the mellif‐ luous sounds of Konkani, and most of all the food. But life, having no alternative, must go on. And I, willingly or unwillingly, with it.
Goenchim Festam
SomeFestivals inGoa during this season Kenelm Santana Lopes
São João The rain is said to dampen spirits…..but not in Goa. It gives the Goan just another reason to cele‐ brate! The monsoon rains hit Goa soon after the first week of June. The heavy downpour floods the fields and ponds . The water level in the wells of every house rise to almost ground level in a cou‐ ple of weeks. If the rains fail to come in time, it is a practice to carry a statue of St. Anthony in pro‐ cession with everyone carrying a tiny stone on their head as an act of penance. The statue is then immersed for a short while in the well and people pray to the Saint for rain. Many claim it has works infallibly! When the rains do come there is no respite for 2‐ 3 weeks. The whole of Goa is covered in lush green with many plants bearing flowers. As soon as the rains stops inter‐ mittently for a few hours at a time, Goa cele‐ brates the festival of São João.
This festival is in honour of St. John the Bap‐ tist. People wear wreaths called ‘Kopell’ on their head made of exotic vegetation and flow‐ ers in imitation of classical depictions of the saint. It is believed that St John the Baptist leapt with
Karntaka Goan Association & Goans In Bangalore BANGALORE‐INDIA
grandly decorated boats full of youth in colorful attire floating past. A number of music shows are also organized Remo Fernandes who hails from this village has also often participated .It is a real treat to watch the local youth with crowns of leaves and varied fruits on their heads going out in processions car‐ rying Goan liquor along with them and jumping into wells to have fun. Later, they enjoy a lavish feast of meat and seafood marking the end of the festival. The rainy season is a perfect setting for the Sao Joao festival as most of the people enjoy it more when its raining heavily
joy in his mother, Elizabeth’s womb when she was visited by Mother Mary, who had just con‐ ceived Jesus. It is in this background that many jump in wells in Goa to celebrate the feast. Man‐ goes, jackfruit and other fruit are exchanged between homes and eaten with great enthusi‐ asm. While most coastal villages celebrate this festi‐ val, the grandest celebration is perhaps in Sio‐ lim. Here a boat parade is held with a number of
Novidade The Goan Thanksgiving The month of August with the receding mon‐ soons and the paddy bearing the first ears marks the season of the Novidades or Konsa‐ chem fest. In précis, it is a festival marking the offering of the first grains of the paddy crop to God and the celebrations therein. Traditionally the festival starts with a solemn procession from the village church to a chosen paddy field accompanied by the clergy and the confreres often bearing an image of the church patron. The crop is then blessed and some sheaves are harvested by the cleric and placed on the altar where a solemn mass is celebrated. The faithful carry a stalk home which is cooked in a jaggery based sweet called ‘atoll’. While it is celebrated in every village, the Church of Our Lady of Snows in Raia is the first and has a special sickle supposedly presented hundreds of years back by the Pope. Taleigao village was granted the honour of pre‐ senting the first corn to the Governor. The har‐ vested sheaves are first carried to Old Goa to be blessed and then presented at the Adil Shah palace to the Governor of the state. The most
magnificent celebration was held in the village of Merces. Statues of St. Cajetan and St. Barbara are carried to the Church on 15th August and the preceding Sunday resp. from their chapels in the communidades that they represent. On the feast day, the statues of St. Isisdore, patron of farmers and Our Lady of Merces are also displayed. At dawn the brass band roused the village. The Novidade ritual is then carried out with great pomp with separate processions to each of the three constituent communidades. The Saint whose Chapel lies in that communi‐ dade leads the procession of 4 sacred icons and returns last with the freshly harvested crop. Each procession is followed by mass. At the end, St Cajetan is carried back to his Chapel the same day and St. Barabara the next Sunday. Roads were strewn with coloured paper and decorated with banners, flowers and grand bamboo/palm arches. Every house Hindu or Catholic lit dozens of candles in their verandas as the Saints passed with bursting firecrackers and the merry brass band. The rest of the day involves much feasting, dhirios, sports, coconut breaking contests and
merriment. The twin villages of Malar and Divar celebrate the famous festival of Bonderam. This involves a Carnival like pageant including street dancers and tableaux followed by carrying of flags in this procession be‐ lieved to have originated from a boundary marking ceremony to resolve disputes. Such festivals lost significance with the lack of farm‐ ing interest in Goa. There is also a revival attempt by youth and culturally strong Goans as an opportunity to celebrate and give thanks in a way unique to Goa and our very distinct way of life
Goa through the lens
Monsoon Moments
Lovell D’Souza Amateur Photographer HYDERABAD‐INDIA IT Professional –Google http://click.lovelldsouza.com
She Global Balcão I am a Goan but………………. Diaspora concerns I form part of the Goan Diaspora, along with my parents and grandparents before me. We possess an ancestral home, in a quiet corner of the tiny State, a house with a tiled roof and shell window‐ shutters. My name is one that nobody in India seems to be capable of pronouncing except an‐ other Goan. But despite all these proofs of my un‐ doubtedly Goan origin, I became what is known as bilingual only when I began to speak French. The great shame of my life is that I speak only English and French, with a suspicious suspicion of Hindi. The soft, sharp expressiveness that is Konkani is foreign to me, and without it, nothing links me to Goa but yearning. I travel the world, having no roots, because to be a Goan, however incomplete, is to be not completely Indian. Our culture is too different. I am, effectively, shipwrecked. I am not alone in this miserable half‐state. Konkani is being lost, little by little, among our young, and it is no longer possible to ensure its instruction within the family. In this extremity it is to the world’s Goan Associations that we look. We are glad of the regu‐ lar dances, the best places in the world to practice one’s jive, for the sorpotel and the chouriçe pao on a paper plate, for World Goa Day. All this helps one to place oneself, to understand and appreciate the Goan core, if one has one, beneath the inevitable
naturalization, but without the key to the treasury, the real riches of the Goan heritage remains un‐ reachable. In order to round off the education of a young Goan in an association far from Goa, what we need are language lessons in Konkani. Yes, I know that all of Goa can, and will at exhaus‐ tive length, speak English to me if I ask it to. What of it? It is within the family that I want to speak Konkani, to the aunt and great‐uncle and cousins sleeping on mattresses where the dining table ought to be during a family wedding. It is with the home‐Goa that I want the choice to speak Konkani where lack of choice confines me now to English; and not with the tourist‐Goa where nobody cares anyway and the blue drink with the unconvincing paper umbrella tastes of washing‐up liquid. In pleading my case one might consider my fervor a trifle unnecessary, but I know that I want and need the language because I have no part in the other blanket‐characteristics that apparently define the Goan. I do not eat pork; sorpotel leaves me green and clammy. I sit out every dance. My alcoholic tolerance halts immovably at Christmas cake. And every chain‐email about Goa I receive, and every uncle who hands me a plate of fejoida, and every cousin who returns alone to the dance‐floor shak‐ ing his head after offering to dance with me out of
kindness, reinforces this spiritual homelessness. I am awkward in Goa. I can hear the earth calling to her own, and I have not wherewith to answer.
Shefali Sequeira Student (Youth Contributor) Fac des Sciences et des Techniques, Université de Nantes NANTES‐FRANCE
This may resemble the Lamentations, but in truth, I’m happy to eat fat grains of boiled red rice drown‐ ing generously in vermilion colored coconut curry thick with prawns, and I listen to ‘O malhao, O mal‐ hao’ in the French high speed train. I glory in home baked bebinca, worth more than its weight in coined gold and as jealously hoarded. If I cannot dance, I have inherited the Goan sense of pitch and rhythm, as welcome in solo piano as in a ballroom. And my Konkani‐less soul is warmed and sheltered in the genuine affection of an extended family that has nothing but my best interests at heart when it institutes inquiries as to why I am not married yet and if it can help in any way towards that end. Best of all, I have nothing but Good Hair Days in Goa. And
The Importance of being Earnest My great grandfather was born in Goa but moved to Mumbai in early 1900. Every time I am asked the question “Where are you from?” I have always said “Originally from Goa but born and brought up in Mumbai.” Yet for the first 25 years of my life, Goa to me was just a holiday destination where my ancestors just own some property. As a child, I vis‐ ited my grandfather almost every year. Even today, when I think of those childhood summer vacations, fond memories come gushing back. Memories of building castles in the sands of Calangute beach, playing with marbles with the village kids, after‐ noon tea gossip sessions in the balcao and collect‐
Dean Joseph Mendes Manager, ICICI Bank UK PLC ANTWERP‐BELGIUM
ing freshly laid eggs from the hen coup. And yet, I speak only a few words of Konkani, have never eaten a chouriçe pao and am yet to sing a single folk song. I discovered what I was missing when in the winter of 2007, I married a Goan girl. Suddenly I had be‐ come part of a very Goan family. As I began to par‐ ticipate in the traditions and customs of my wife’s family, I realized that this was indeed the missing
piece. I realized that even without knowing it, I loved port wine and Leitao. This new found sense of home brewed in me a desperate need to know more about the land of birth. This quest continues to this day. One of the best rediscoveries is Goan Food. Coming from a health and calorie conscious family, I have now developed a passionate love for Goan food and have eaten several delicacies that would need no introduction to the more Goan Goan. I have also discovered, the Goan spirit of celebra‐ tion starting with my own traditional Goan wed‐ ding. I now have 2 targets: 1) To introduce, educate and enamor my children to culture so that they know Goa better than I did 2) To have a plenty of chouriçe pao !
Jokes aside, as a young parent looking at handhold‐ ing and nurturing the Goan in my child I find it hard to imagine where to start. Harsh though it may seem, it appears to me that the preservation of ‘Goanness’ amongst Goans based abroad is limited to food, drink , dance and fun. Let us consider a few examples. To my knowledge there is no comprehensive tuto‐ rial available online for learning conversational Konkani, supposedly our mother tongue. Similarly it is essential to document a lot of our customs, prac‐ tices and traditions. The skeptic might point out
that this information is available in rich abundance on the web. True, but it is scattered, written from a historical perspective or plainly inaccurate. A compi‐ lation that would assist while we bring up ’junior’ would better serve to explain sometime mundane things like the significance of our village festivals back home, music, the fine arts, wedding customs, recipes, etc. When a growing child is exposed to this reservoir of knowledge he could definitely relate better to his roots. Most plans like this however die a silent death amidst exclamations of “he should do it/they should do it/government should do it”. Understandably since we are neither very proficient (or well in‐ formed) ourselves nor do we have the spare time from our busy professional lives. What we can do is to mobilize funds and develop a shared resource like a website by experts. That would do the trick. I am sure most young Goan parents would appreciate how this would help their children and sometimes perhaps themselves. Goa is being destroyed environmentally and cultur‐ ally I am not sure how much will still remain of a once magic land. But for the loss of our ‘Goanness’ we would only have ourselves to blame. The importance thing is to realize how big an issue this is and how much our children and us are in need of such instructional tools. We need to sit up and look at this lacuna and attend to it in earnest!
She Soul of the Goan
Through Music It is always a pleasure to travel, especially when you know that there is someone waiting to receive you at the end of your journey. The longest of dis‐ tances, the most tiring journeys, seem less cumber‐ some when you receive that warm welcome at an Airport in a city to which you are a stranger, and which is a stranger to you. I have been blessed with this experience time and again. Be it a place in India itself, or in a foreign land, whenever I have had to travel for concerts or workshops, this sort of a welcome has put me at ease and given a sense of reassurance. Most of such overwhelming welcomes have been showered upon me by the Goan Associations that I have visited. The reason could be that they realize and understand what it feels like, to go to a new place away from home. And probably because of the fact that they are GOANS!!! A welcome I will never forget was the one I re‐ ceived in Macau, in November 2008. Mr. Jack Co‐ laco and Mr. Oscar Noruega of the NACGDD, were there to welcome me and the Trio Orlando from Goa, at the baggage claim area, inside the airport. Mind you, this was after various flights to Hong Kong and then a Boat ride to Macau. They were so wonderful, kind and affectionate, that if possible, they would probably have lifted each one of us in their arms and carried us out of the airport. Kuwait (May 2007), my first visit to the Gulf, was another experience I remember fondly. The Mem‐
bers of the Goan Association were at the airport at about 2 am in the morning to welcome the entire group, with bouquets. Mr. Carmo Santos and all the other members made us feel so much at home, as soon as they started conversing with us in Konkani.
In my first encounter with the Goans in Lisbon, in September 2008, i was made to realize that one can have a home away from home. That is how the members of Casa de Goa, the Goan association in Lisbon, made me feel. The entire 2 months that I was there, I was doted upon by everyone in Casa de Goa and their cultural group Ekvat. And every year since, that I have return to Lisbon, the treat‐ ment I receive is full of love and affection. The KGA is yet another association, which has always welcomed me in Bangalore. Right from 2003 till date, every time I have concerts in Banga‐ lore, the KGA members, attend and make me feel as if I never left Goa. There have been moments when I have fallen sick during these trips, times when I have required help in various forms, my fellow Goans have gone out of their way and showered grand hospitality on me. And then I ponder, no matter where we go, no matter how far we are, no matter how long we have been away from home, away from goa, we are Goans and the ‘Goanness’ in us will always live. Viva Goa!! Viva Goenkar!!! Sonia Shirsat , a singer of world renown has trav‐ ersed the globe carrying with her the soul of Goan song through her performances of Portuguese Fado and Goan Mando in her rich velvet voice http://www.soniashirsat.com/
GROUPS ACROSS THE WORLD GOAN with Goans looking very chic in their
ARUSHA INSTITUTE‐Tanzania, East Africa white cottons, linens and casuals for CASA DE GOA ‐Lisbon, Portugal CULTURAL SOCIETY‐GOA DAMAN & DIU ‐MACAU the white themed event. The MC Lloyd EDMONTON GOAN ASSOCIATION‐Edmonton,Canada Sequeira rolled off festivities with the FENNY FEVER ‐ UK games session including ‘stampin the G.N.A.T.‐ Canada tail’..(Get a crepe paper tail and are G.O.A. Kuwait, UAE GLOBAL GOANS ‐ Dubai, UAE required to pull it out with legs; one GOA HERITAGE ACTION GROUP, Goa‐India partner had to protect it and the other GOAN ASSOCIATION CALGARY, Alberta‐Canada tried to remove), balancing the balls(a GOAN ASSOCIATION OF DC, USA GOAN ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA‐USA mushy affair involved couples balanc‐ GOAN ASSOCIATION OF HUDSON, USA ing plastic balls between the nose, GOAN ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY‐USA forehead and lips) and loads of others GOAN COMMUNITY OF OMAN‐Oman with interesting Goa related quiz ques‐ GOAN INSTITUTE KAMPALA ‐UGANDA GOAN INSTITUTE SAN FRANCISCO‐USA tions being thrown to the crowd for GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ‐GERMANY prizes. GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ‐NSW ‐ Sydney, Australia Our president Louella made a speech GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ‐TORONTO ‐ CANADA GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION‐Vancouver,Canada though her effervescence said far more GOAN SHUTTERBUGS than her few lines as she gushed with GOAN VOICE UK happiness at the beaming crowd and GOAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION‐Doha, Quatar the huge contingent of young Goans GOANS IN BANGALORE‐India GOANS in HOUSTON ‐USA who were so enthusiastically attending GOANS in NETHERLANDS and participating for the first time in GOANS INTERNATIONAL KGA history. GOANS Of America ,LA‐USA GOANS of MOZAMBIQUE A few dances were in order of course GOANS of PAKISTAN and the long time KGA members led GOANS of UGANDA the way to the dance floor. It was obvi‐ GOANS WORLDWIDE ous at this stage that the event was a GOENKARANCHO EKVOTT‐ Delhi, India KARACHI GOAN ASSOCIATION ‐ KARACHI runaway success to be celebrated with KARNATAKA GOAN ASSOCIATION ‐ Bangalore, India the mouth watering starters that were KONKANI ROCKS & HERITAGE JAZZ ‐ Panjim, Goa being sent across by the courteous MUMBAI GOA ASSOCIATION‐Mumbai, India QUEBEC GOAN ASSOCIATION ‐ Quebec, Canada Opus staff faster than we could eat SERULA ARTS AND CULTURE ACADEMY them. All pretensions of diet and glut‐ ST XAVIERS SOCIETY ‐ Dar es Salaam, Tanzania tony being a sin were abandoned as THE CANORIENT CHRIST ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN TORONTO‐Canada we sunk our teeth into the chouris YOUNG LONDON GOAN SOCIETY‐ UK
We thank all our contributors. Please ensure that your contributions are sent well ahead of time for future editions. Due to the tremendous response, we might not have the space to include it at the last minute. Any errors/omissions are unintentional. Presidents of Goan Associations/Groups enrolled with us are requested to update information/logos with Mr. Rene Barreto We plan to bring out a Special Edition covering World Goa Day celebrations all over the world. You are requested to send photographs and a detailed write‐up for inclusion from your respective group. We thank you for your support and co‐operation. E‐Mail: goanint@yahoo.co.uk, globalgoenkar@gmail.com Blog : http://globalgoanassociationsalliance.blogspot.com/