As the rains finally made headway, the revellers during Sao Joao rejoiced, jumped in water and danced as the famous lyrics by legendary musician C Alvares reverberated everywhere in Goa. The villagers at Baga Creek celebrated the festivity as the colourful Sangod moved upstream along the Baga river.
Organised by Dha Zhan (Ten members) Sangod during Sao Joao at Baga that predates even the Sao Joao festival at Siolim is yet another Goan tradition that is religiously followed by these villagers of Arpora. The organiser famously known as Polly de Baga enlightened about how they have kept the tradition going.
He says, “In the past, we would bring two canoes from Calangute by pushing over the sandy beaches as it would be too risky along the creek due to stormy conditions. The bamboos were brought from the nearby hill to tie the canoes and the work of decoration was complete a day before the festival,” says Polly, who now organises the festival with his daughter, Jeolla. The villagers took a dip in the fresh water well known as Sinarachi Baiyn in the afternoon and after invoking blessing for the success of the festival at the Vhodlea Ghoratlo Khuris (Cross), the colourful Sangod began with the band by Putus and group playing the lively festival songs. Queen of Political Songs, Olga, Anil Pednekar, comedians Sally, Netlo, Avina and Jose-Evon performed. The performance by Aston de Benaulim, Denzilia Menezes, Celfra and the trio comprising of Leyn, Vilot and Otty made the evening a truly musical one.
A stone’s throw away from late musician-novelist Bonaventure D’ Pietro residence in Anjuna, the elder village folks were already in their groves singing and tuning their folk instruments, Ghumot and Mhadelem at the Holy Cross Chapel which is more than 150 year old. Village elder in his late sixties, Eugenio Cardozo recollected, “The festivity would begin at the Holy Cross Chapel with the beats of instruments and singing and the procession would proceed to nearby stream very close to the St Michael Church, Anjuna. With the music and singing continuing many people would enjoy the fun by jumping in the stream and everyone would feast on monsoon fruits such as mangoes, jackfruits, bananas and pineapples carried in a Dhali (Tray) given as Vhojem to newly married couple was distributed.” Serving Sannas was a must during the festival, he acknowledges.
After that the procession would return back and gather in front of one prominent Vaz family home, next to Holy Cross Chapel where the music would continue and finally the festival would culminate with jumping in the nearby well, Eugenio added. In the past, revellers would go to Grand Chivar near Our Lady of Piety Chapel where they would jump in the village Talli (pool) and later gather near Moy Vhal (stream), the name derived due to presence of many Moy trees.
The people of Baga and Anjuna have kept the age old practices inherited from their ancestors alive with enthusiasm and dedication.
