“The Rosary has 59 beads and I have
replaced them with a picture of the crosses crafted in rounded shapes and
mounted on the art gallery frames which depict a Rosary, the month of May is
significant for the crosses and the Rosary recited at the foot of the cross”,
informs Maendra.
A keen observer of crosses in Goa, Maendra
shares that he was highly inspired to have this exhibition because the crosses
capture a moment in time when people faithfully gathered in front of them to
pray or light candles at dusk. “It is an instinct among Goans across religions
to respect and venerate religious places as they pass by them. There are many
crosses in Goa along riverbanks, fields, roads and other important locations,
which are worshipped and prayed at,” he says.
The crosses on display reveal a variety of
architectural styles, patterns and designs from different eras in Goa’s history
and they could be influenced by the then-prevailing school of thought as far as
the construction of religious structures was concerned.
“Some of the crosses in Loutolim itself
date back to 200 years or more,” adds Maendra, who hails from the village. He
noted that each cross built in Goa has a specific reason behind it, whether it
was to commemorate a death or birth or to accompany processional halts during
parish feasts or other important religious occasions.
The award-winning Big Foot Museum founder
also shared his opinion on the maintenance of these crosses. He believes that
the older crosses should be left whitewashed and that decorating them with
bright tiles or granite slabs detracts from their simplicity and humility,
which inspires prayers.
According to Maendra, what he observed
over the years, made him realize that simple, everyday acts of faith had a
time. That was now running out and the usual sight of locals praying at their
nearest cross, a simple Rosary was getting rarer. The exhibition was
inaugurated by Fr Savio Rodrigues, the longest-serving and oldest-living former
Principal of Loyola High School, Margao. Maendra chose Rodrigues because he was
instrumental in many firsts for Maendra, including the museum and book about
crosses in Goa.
He adds, “When I came home from my Europe
tour, armed with a whole array of crosses and an ocean of curiosity, it was Fr
Savio who made the effort to walk my path with his ideas and first the museum
and then I curated my book, ‘In Search’, which speaks of many such Crosses
which came about and now the Rosary beads and cross pictures.”
“Any undertaking of mine is always an
ongoing process, so is this”, Maendra quips, grinning through his beard and
rolling his long hair back informing that he plans to document more crosses of
Goa in future, involving not only usual groups but also catechetical groups.
The photos, descriptions, history and locations of the crosses in and around
their natural locale will be looked into soon by Maendra.
Overall, the Wayside
Crosses exhibition at the Big Foot Museum provides a unique glimpse into the
history and significance of crosses in Goa and is worth a visit for families
with children, tourists or just anyone interested in witnessing and documenting
religious history or architecture in Goa.
Planned initially for only a week, due to
growing footfalls and several keen visitors - Goans and tourists alike - the
exhibition will have an extended run at The Big Foot Museum’s Art Gallery,
Loutolim, till May 24, between 9.30 am and 6 pm.