MAJORDA: A unique and colourful tradition came alive in Majorda on Monday evening, September 7, as beautifully decorated traditional boats were brought to the Mother of God Church, Majorda, ahead of Tuesday’s feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
While the religious celebrations of the feast, observed annually on September 8, are similar to those held in churches across Goa, Majorda has preserved a distinctive local tradition involving boats decorated with palm leaves and filled with flowers as an offering to Mother Mary.
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The tradition, locally associated with the earlier ‘Monte Saibinnchem Fest’, has been passed down through generations. According to local accounts, it is linked to an old vow made by seafarers from the village who sought the intercession of Mother Mary during a storm at sea. After surviving, they vowed to offer flowers to her in a boat.
In earlier years, two boats were prepared — one by the people of Majorda and another by Calata. In recent years, parishioners from Dongorim de Majorda have also joined the tradition by preparing their own decorated boat.
The boats are brought to the church and displayed before the celebrations, creating a colourful devotional spectacle for parishioners and visitors. The flowers carried in the boats, traditionally part of the offering, are now presented at the beginning of the feast Mass.
What was once seen as a friendly tradition between different village communities has evolved into a celebration of faith, cooperation and cultural heritage, with people of different generations coming together to construct and decorate the boats.
The distinctive custom reflects the deep devotion of Majorda’s people and their efforts to preserve a unique religious and cultural tradition surrounding the feast of Mother Mary.
