CORJUEM: Long before weather forecasts and irrigation systems became commonplace, the people of Corjuem turned to faith whenever the monsoon failed them. In times of drought and delayed rains, villagers gathered for a unique prayer ritual that blended devotion, sacrifice and community spirit, seeking divine intervention for much-needed rainfall.
Among those who vividly remember the tradition is Tecla D’Souza, a resident of Corjuem, who participated in the ritual as a child more than four decades ago.
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“This tradition has been part of our lives for as long as I can remember. Whenever there was no rain, villagers would gather and undertake a prayer procession seeking the intercession of St. Anthony for good rainfall,” she said.
The ritual involved devotees carrying stones on their heads while walking in procession to a cross situated on a hilltop. Along the route, participants recited the Rosary and sang devotional hymns. Upon reaching the destination, they offered prayers, recited the Litany and placed stones and flowers at the feet of St. Anthony.
According to Tecla, the tradition observed in Premire Vaddo is believed to be more than 60 years old.
“The elders taught us how to pray and seek St. Anthony’s blessings. As children, we followed them and learned the customs from them,” she recalled.
The procession often attracted large numbers of villagers and was usually accompanied by a priest, who blessed the faithful at the conclusion of the prayers.
Tecla explained that carrying stones symbolised sacrifice and endurance.
“The idea was that by carrying the weight of the stone, we would experience hardship and offer it as a sacrifice. We never went empty-handed and believed God would hear our prayers offered with sincerity,” she said.
She also remembered how rain frequently followed the prayer gatherings.
“We would pray earnestly for rain, and many times heavy showers came afterwards. The rains allowed us to begin our farming activities,” she added.
One of the traditional songs sung during the procession remains etched in her memory:
“Ye re ye re pausa, tula dita paisa,
Paus zala khota, pause ailo mota.
San Anthon fulla ghal,
Paus ghal amchea shetan,
San Anthon bhurakan,
Paus ghal voilea shetan.”
Historian Sanjeev Sardesai described the two-and-a-half-kilometre procession from Mae De Deus Chapel to Corjuem Fort as an important part of the island village’s cultural history.
“This was possibly an act of penance undertaken by the farming community during periods of drought. While St. Medard is traditionally regarded as the saint associated with rain, the people here pray to St. Anthony, who is considered the saint of lost and found, asking for the return of the missing rain clouds,” Sardesai said.
He noted that the custom survives in only a handful of places across Goa and represents an important form of intangible cultural heritage.
“It is a tradition that transcends communities and brings people together in a collective prayer for rain and prosperity,” he added.
Fr. Jeronimo Afonso, chaplain of Mae De Deus Chapel, said the age-old ritual begins with a procession from the chapel to Corjuem Fort.
“Five years ago, when there was no rain, we organised similar prayers and were blessed with good rainfall. With the same faith, we have undertaken the procession again this year, and through the intercession of St. Anthony, we believe God will bless us with good rains,” he said.
He expressed hope that adequate rainfall would enable farmers to begin cultivation and help meet the water needs of the region.
Though no longer observed on the same scale as in earlier decades, the tradition continues to stand as a powerful reminder of the faith, resilience and community spirit that sustained generations of villagers in Corjuem. In an era of changing lifestyles and modern solutions, the rain prayer procession remains a living link to the village’s past and its enduring belief in the power of collective prayer.
