Joseph Lewis D’Silva
Days before the feast, dona de casa (lady of the house), invites relatives and friends. Feast celebrations requires careful planning. She rises early, dips her hand in the dishpan and with joyful efforts, prepares sanna and vodde (steamed rice muffins and flour fritters) to make the meal as delightful as that of Hotel de Jakin. Her main aim is to make her feast friends happy with her lovingly prepared food.
Dia da Festa (feast day), is a joyous occasion for Goans; a time for meeting invited friends and relatives. Although, feasts involve considerable experience and lots of expenses; the happiness they bring is worth every rupee.
On the feast day, the Igreja (Church) is decorated with flowers, and strings of beaded bulbs like a bride on her wedding day.
In the early morning hours, the Alvorada (Dawn) --- a five piece brass band --- welcomes the first streaks of light of the feast day with tunes of good old days, which pleases the mind, soothes the ears, and swells the heart with joy.
Flower girls, rise early for the first Mass, powder their faces, smooth their gowns, eye it critically in the mirror and then like ships they go sailing down the streets towards the Church. After the Mass, they stand outside the Church and pin the paper roses on the lapel on the festive folks approaching for the subsequent services. In return, people drop some coins into their flower baskets. The Church embraces the faithful like a dove welcoming its flock.
The feast crowd consists of batkars (landlords) and mundakars (tenants); alongside Bombay uncles and Dubai aunties and others, giving the procession a touch of fashion parade.
The colourful procissao (procession) flows out of the Church with the Cross and the lighted candles, carried with pride and pomp by Opmus-clad confrade (brotherhood members in capes). The Church bells peals joyfully like a tipsy fiddler on a roof. The choirmaster controls the choir of ten voices, a five-piece brass band and the rhythmic dhol-kasas (a pair of drums). The procession, rich in colourful vestidos de festa (festive dresses) gives the procession a touch of a fashion parade to any observer.
The Roman God of love runs around in the feast fair. Many give witness to the fact that Cupid drives many mobile bachelors and nubile spinsters to catch and match. Besides this fact, there is evidence of love signs expressed in the words of Konkani song: festa dis feriant Mis, Happy Feast munnon cheddhe chedduank ditat kiss. (On feast day, Mass is heard in the festive fair, and boys wish girls, Happy Feast with a kiss).
Goans have a fabulous feast-meal. It starts with cerveja (beer) or hot drinks, followed by feast dinner which consists of caldo de galinha (chicken soup); assado de leitao (roast piglet); arros refugado (spiced rice) and the much loved sorpatel --- (a dish of pork with its liver, heart and blood).
Under the starry sky, the feast day concludes with a lively dance bash. Here young hearts, dance with smiling lips and sparkling eyes. They waltz clasping waist with eloquent hands; they dance the snake dance by contorting their body into various shapes with meaningless or meaningful communication with fellow dancers; swaying hips to the tune of soft lilting music. Those who do not run to shake their legs on the dance floor, go and sit to watch Tiatro (Konkani drama) equally rich in entertainment.
Such are the feasts which are not just religious observances, but heartfelt celebrations of Goan identity --- a blend of devotion, culture, music, food and community. As generations pass, the spirit of the Goan feast continues to live on echoing the laughter, prayers and our rich heritage.