A Goan Catholic feast celebrated with an
only vegetarian spread seems unthinkable! However, for centuries now, the
Gaunkars of CalapurComunidade have been celebrating Konsanchem Fest by abstaining
from consuming meat on the day; a custom which continues to be observed even
today. Mariano De Araujo,the Attorney of the Calapur Comunidade, informs that
on the occasion of Konsanchem Fest, which is celebrated on August 24 every year,
it is customary for all the families of the Gaunkars to prepare vegetarian food,
devoid of any meat dish. “However, this custom does not apply to the other
villagers, who are non-Gaunkars,” he adds.
The vegetarian menu is no small affair
and involves a variety of vegetarian dishes. How this custom came into
existence is not known, but it has been handed over from one generation to the
other and the present generation continues to observe it.
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Apart from this unique custom,
Konsanchem Fest continues to be a highly anticipated feast for the 3,000-odd
Gaunkars, who, along with the other villagers, come together like one family
and partake in the festivities in a traditional way.
The day begins with a procession carrying
the statue of Our Lady at 6.45 am from the Santa Cruz Church. This year, the
procession will make its way to the fields to the beats of a lively brass band
by Alvito Araujo and team. On reaching
the fields, the first corn will be cut by Hugo Gonsalves, the current President
of Calapur Comunidade, and then blessed by Fr Alexander Pereira, Parish Priest
of Holy Cross Church, Santa Cruz. This crop has been cultivated by Manuel Joao
De Araujo who is a Gaunkar of Calapur Comunidade and also the tenant of the
field.
From there, the blessed corns will betaken
to the church where a solemn Mass will be held. After the Mass, a get-together of
merriment and snacks will take place. In the evening, a variety of
entertainment programmes will be conducted, including games like tie-breaker,
coconut-breaking contest, tug-of-war, etc, organised by the Santa Cruz Parish
Youth. Different types of plants and fruit and vegetable saplings will also be
on sale courtesy Department of Agriculture – Ella Farm, Old Goa.
