Raia: In the sleepy village of Rachol in Salcete, the Patriarchal Seminary stands as a bastion of history and tradition. Visitors to the seminary are greeted by Ligorinha J. Gomes, the receptionist whose gentle smile and warm greetings make everyone feel at home. Ligorinha not only extends hospitality but also dedicates her free time to the art of crochet, patiently creating masterpieces with needle and thread throughout the day, to keep her mind sharp and fingers nimble.
Born in Raia, Ligorinha discovered her passion for crochet at the age of 12 while attending the Presentation Convent School. The basics of crochet became an integral part of her skill set during the work experience period at the school. Guided by her ex-colleague, Sunita Cota, Ligorinha learned to decipher written patterns, laying the foundation for her journey in crochet art.
Reflecting on her creative pursuits, Ligorinha, now middle-aged, shares, “I love to read and learn anything new.” While she used to accept crochet orders in the past, crochet for her has now become a personal and therapeutic endeavour, allowing her to unwind during her spare moments. Her beautiful crochet pieces, ranging from tablecloths and doilies to clothing, accessories and babies’ caps and socks, are lavished upon friends and family as gifts, passing on a customised and handmade bit of Goa’s crochet tradition. Although her children may not share the same inclination for crochet, they developed a penchant for the arts- her daughter is a fashion designer, and her son, engaged in the hospitality industry, is also a musician who plays multiple instruments.
Ligorinha employs various types of threads in her crochet creations, including cotton, acrylic, and wool of different ply. Despite limiting her crochet to spare time, she considers it a valuable stress buster, and advocates for youngsters to pick up crochet, as it has a calming effect, helping deal with the stressors and various mental health problems of the modern times.
