Taleigão enjoys special privileges of harvesting the first sheaves of paddy ceremoniously on August 21. Known as Novidade or Festa de Espiga in Portuguese, the Konnsache fest has a 500-yr-old history
History behind the honor
In February 1510, Portuguese Admiral Alfonso de Albuquerque took possession of Tiswadi when the Muslim ruler Sultan Ismail Adil Shah was in Bijapur. When Shah learnt about the conquest on his return in May, he overpowered the Portuguese. With the onset of monsoon, the exit channel from the Mandovi river was blocked. Albuquerque left to get more troops leaving behind the naval fleet which was anchored along the river front opposite Penha-da-Franca. Food provisions ran out and the survival became difficult. Taleigão fishermen supplied the Portuguese with food provisions using the canoes at night by risking their lives from Muslim soldiers and bad weather. After three months, Albuquerque returned with more reinforcements and captured the land on December 10. In acknowledgement, he granted the gauncars of Taleigão three privileges: 1) to harvest paddy three days before the other villages in Tiswadi (i.e. on 21st, while other villages harvest on 24th); 2) to present the first sheaves to the then Portuguese Governor at Cabo; and 3) to march with the Portuguese flag during the festival.
The 4-day celebration
On August 21 , the villagers are awoken by Alvorada de Musica -the brass band that makes its way through the village lanes. The feast President arrives at the St Michael Church under a ceremonial umbrella, accompanied by dhol-caxia and trumpet and firing of cannons. The congregation moves in a procession to the field at Tolliant designated for cutting the sheaves. The parish priest recites a prayer and after blessing, the feast President harvests the paddy sheaves using a sickle. The procession returns to the church for the Eucharistic celebration where the sheaves are offered to Almighty during offertory.
On the following day, the feast president sets out to distribute pounded rice (fov) to gauncars families. On the third day, the feast president proceeds to the church and places fov at the altar of St Michael. After prayers, fov are presented to priests at the parochial house. On August 24, a group consisting of the feast president, representatives of 9 gauncars – Mendonca, Viegas, Martins, Luis, Gomes, Faria, Almeida, Falcão and Abreu and managing committee of Comunidade carry fov and sheaves of paddy stalk to the Se Cathedral for blessing. The golden bell of the church is tolled while the church vicar receives the group. A thanksgiving Mass is offered and fov and sheaves are distributed to the resident priests. The group proceeds to Altinho and offer the sheaves and fov to the Archbishop and then to the Governor. At Raj Bhavan, the Governor welcomes the group at the VIP hall. The group partakes in drinks and buffet at the feast President’s residence.
This year a Triduum was held in the church with rosary and a mass in the evening from Aug 18-20. On August 21 the masses at the church will be at 6.30 am, 8 am and at 10am (high mass). The procession will be at 9 am for cutting of the sheaves at Tolliant.
