TAG to urge Goa Board to include tiatr in school books

The newly formed Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) as a part of its ambitious plan to re-invigorate the essence of the tiatr for Goa and Goans, is set to request the Goa board and the textbook committee to include the tiatr in the school curriculum either as a lesson or as a part of dramatics which is currently being taught as an optional subject in many schools in the state.

According to the President of TAG, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, tiatr plays a very important and relevant part in Goan society and is known to have had a major role in mobilising the public at the time of the opinion poll which played the most historic chapter to ensure that Goa remained as a separate state and did not get merged into Maharashtra. Songs and duets from tiatr are also known to strike an emotional chord with people in the state.

Mr Cardozo stressed that besides being a part of Goan culture, tiatr deals with social issues such as drugs and casinos and emphasized that anything that goes against the interest of Goans is brought to the fore by artistes from tiatr and said that students in modern Goa should be made aware about this fact.

Among the other things, to push the cause of tiatr far and wide in Goa and outside, Mr Cardozo lined out a series of activities that the TAG plans to undertake which include organising of seminars and lectures in schools and colleges on the different aspects of tiatr in Goa.

TAG also wants to document the history and experiences of the old tiatr artistes by interviewing them and recording their experiences on films. Tag will endeavour to document the history of tiatr by publishing books on it past legacy.

Preservation of tiatr literature is also high on the TAG agenda and it has resolved to publish scripts, one act plays and lyrics with the musical scores wherever possible.

A museum is being planned in the state of Goa which will house tiatr material in the form of manuscripts, handwritten lyrics, printed books, old records, CDs, DVDs which may be scattered around the state with government authorities as well as private individuals and collectors and will be exhibited at this museum. this collection of material is expected to begin this year in 2009 and go on uptill the museum is set up.

Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) which was set up by the government officially in February 2009 is expecting a funding of Rs 60 lakh towards its various activities. On the anvil is also a plan to encourage tiatr production by youth, technical workshops and seminars to upgrade the quality of tiatrs, promoting the art form as a means of communication outside the state and setting up a website for the academy.

TAG also wants to encourage and revive the use of wind instruments in tiatr and will host a festival of award winning dramas. Artistes of yesteryears will be remembered and honoured through various activities and persons documenting their works will b e provided incentives. A directory of tiatr artistes is also expected very soon. TAG in the meanwhile is also awaiting a premises in Panjim which has already been identified a provision for which is already made by the government which is reportedly to the tune of Rs 1.5 crore.

Goa's "Purumentachem Fest" at Margao today

One of the major Church feasts in Goa associated with the stocking of provisions for the monsoon season is the feast of the Holy Spirit at the Holy Spirit Church Margao, which is also fondly known all over the state as the "Purumentachem Fest" of Goa.

While there may be many such feasts close to the monsoon season, it is believed that this feast at Margao essentially derived the reputation of being the original  "Purumentachem fest" owing to its closest proximity with the monsoon season in Goa.

"Purumentachem Fest" a konkani term, could easily be translated into "Feast of Provisions " is a time for people to stock provisions for the monsoons. Although the feast has nothing to do with provisions, the timing of the feast induces a large gravitational pull over the crowds who flock to the fair at this feast to net a good bargain against all kinds of vendors displaying their goods, wares, stocks and harvests. Therefore many items and provisions that do not find their way at other feast fairs in Goa can be spotted at this fair. This peculiarity of certain items being sold only at this May month feast at Margao enticed people visiting the fairs to buy stocks in larger quantities by keeping in mind the upcoming Monsoons. That factor is probably the reason why this feast has derived the strongest bond with the term " Purumentachem Fest"

Salted Fish at the fair in Margao is considered to be the best bargain and people from far and wide within Goa and outside make a special trip to Margao for the feast to help themselves to stock up various varieties of salted fish. Kite fish ( solvve) is a distinct favourite among salt fish shoppers at this market as they are considered the most ideal for a good fish pickle (parra) and would help to pull off with the best meal on a rainy day. Dried prawns are almost a must and can help in making some delicious curry. Also the Bombay ducks in salted form known as the "Sukhe Bombil" have always been considered as a quick appetizer if roasted against the fire. Therefore this feast helps to keep the dying traditions of making nostalgic pickles such as "parra", 'balchao" and "molho" distinctly alive in Goa.

Besides the salted fish there is also a sale of traditional harvests of distinct Goan onions and other vegetables which can be stocked for the season. There is the usual fair of the wooden furniture where the traditional carpenters from South Goa display their wares be it beds,sofa sets, tables, benches, stools, showcases , cupboards etc etc. The furniture is known to give the sellers a ready easy market to display and sell their goods while also sourcing new customers for their future supplies.

The Grinding stones such as the flat grinding stone as well as the traditional "Rogddo" are also in full flow at the feast and while one may think that the electric mixers have taken over the Goan homes, the enthusiasm of these grinding stone traders to market their goods, belies that theory. There seems to be still a distinct lobby in Goa which is wedded to the apparent difference in taste, rendered with the use of the grinding stones and "rogddos' in their day to day requirements for cooking various curries, masalas and sweets in Goa.

Earthen pots are still ruling the roost in rural as well as urban Goa and the testimony to the fact is the regular return of these breed of traders who faithfully ensure that they occupy a portion of the market square at this Margao feast to show off their traditional wares  which need no introductions.The "Kunnem",the "burkulo" the "gurgulet" and the gardening vases get automatic buyers at this festival owing to their traditional attachment and the utility that  these earthen wares still command from the "niz goenkar" (true goan) more out of emotional attachment and traditional love than the practical compulsion to use them.

Then there are the other wares such as copper and aluminium vessels, garden tools such as pick axes, choppers, hammers etc. There is also a distinct readymade clothesline on display although most of the clothes at such fairs are of poor quality there is always the enthusiasm of the fair which unquestionably propels the visitors to  make frantic buys. Bedsheets and tablecloths besides other cushion materials are also on display and command sizeable crowds in the evenings.

Finally, one cannot miss the "kaddio-boddio", "laddoos"  "revddios" and the random open stalls of "festache chonne" ( Grams of the feast) which can be easily spotted all over the fair with the avid "festakar"  ( feast shopper) ensuring that he/she has atleast one pottli of the "kaddio-boddio" and one or two "poll" of the "festache chonne".  Without these sweets finding their way into Goan homes, people often consider their visit to the fair as an incomplete one and therefore the traders of these eatables are traditionally known to make brisk business by urging the people to buy some sweets in memory of the feast of the Holy Spirit.

Goa University to team up with Instituto camoes

Goa university's Portuguese department and Instituto Camoes are together slated to organise  a series of activities to commemorate the 35th anniversary of April 25th 1974's Carnation Revolution also known in Portuguese as the"Revolucao dos Cravos".

It may be recalled that the military coup of that date which had its leanings towards the Left, began on April 25, 1974 in Lisbon, Portugal and heralded the change of regime in Portugal from a dictatorship to a democracy after a two year transitional period.

As a part of the activities, on April 24th, a talk will be held on the topic " Portugal throbbing with a new heart' by a former senior lecturer of St Xavier's college and author of many books, Mr Vasco Pinho.

Silvia Braganca, a Goan born artist and teacher at the ENAV( Escola Nacional das Ates Visuais) maputo Mocambique and researcher of Art education, will speak on " 25th of April 1974- Portugal and the overseas people's freedom". There will also be a documentary ' As Duas Faces da Guerra ( the two faces of the war) a film on colonial war in Africa produced by Diana Andringa and Flora Gomes which will be screened at 7 in the evening.

On the 25th of April a talk will be held on ' I missed the revolution of Cravos of April 25 1974 by a whisker... But I can depose on its trial and repercussions' by a well known lawyer Mr Fernando colaco, who will speak about his experiences before the outbreak of happenings in Lisbon.

This is expected to be followed by the "Carnation revolution in Goa and East Timor" by department of Sociology, professor at the Goa University Dr Alito Sequeira who will speak on social changes which took place after the revolution.

A documentary ' Nos e os Outros- uma Sociedade Plural' ( We and the Others- a Pluralistic society) will be screened at 7 pm and on April 26 some films produced in Portugal in the last 30 years will be screened.

Os Lisboetas 9 20040 by Sergio Trefaut , a documentary about the emigration wave which changed Portugal in the last years will also be screened at 11 am. "Portugal SA" ( 20040 by Ruy Guerra,  a political thriller exposing the dark side of the politicians and their ties with the corporate world will be screened at 3 pm

A Sombra dos Abutres ( 1998), the maiden venture of Leonel Vieira has a plot set in Tras-os-montes, the North eastern region of Portugal, in 1961, when Portugal was under a dictatorship and was controlled by PIDE ( a police force serving the regime and which oppressed all those who were against it) will be screened at 5 pm. "O cinema Portugues  depois do 25 de Abril de 1974" by Serge Abramovic will also be screened.

Sea bathing soothes people in Goa every summer

Come March-April every year, Goans head for the beaches. The summer seems to be a wake up call for Goans reminding them that there exists a beach which is calling. For the rest of the year, Goans are lost in their busy schedules and do not even think about the beach too often like the rest of the world does. But if its summer, it has to be Goa's beaches.

The healing powers of the beach waters have been part of traditional folklore for Goans who sincerely believe that the waters of the ocean offer the much needed relief in the scorching heat of the summer while inducing the healing touch to a variety of ailments.  

So it is a common sight to watch Goans submerged waist deep in the waters of the beach for hours in the testing heat, with their brown skins gleaming as if they were soaking up a tan. On the contrary, this is a typical Goan practice of a rejuvenating sea bath in the summer.

Some Goans believe that this kind of a soaking bath has its effects only in the summer and not during other seasons in the year. So as the summer picks up itself, Goan families get together  along with neighbouring friends and relatives to spend at least a day or two on the sand, soaking in the ocean before winding back home towards dusk time.

Across the state of Goa it is a familiar sight to see residents near the beach especially around the beaches of Colva, Benaulim, Calangute, Baga, Arambol and Miramar where there is a sudden rush flocking for an energising bath. So from the inner villages, towns, nooks and corners of Goa the doddering Goan oldies, grannies, mothers and toddlers all come for their traditional date with the sea, equipped with towels, lunches and tasty snacks for a bath with all the comforts at hand.

Many Goans swear by the waters of the sea claiming that the body remains fighting fit for the rest of the year with an annual bath. Some others opine that a sea bath is not only refreshing during summer time but also keeps away pains and aches from bones and keeps the skin disease free.

There are other Goans who believe that a sea bath for a couple of days can ward off degenerative ailments like arthritis and keep swelling of joints and bones at bay. In fact bathing in the sea in Goa during the months of March, April and May is a faithful ritual that envelopes all communities and classes.

There is a strong belief that a dip in the summer is more helpful due to the high salinity believed to be in the sea water and the duration of the soak is considered very important. The older generation feels that a person needs a dip in the sea at least thrice a day with no cleansing with fresh water for  a period of 24 hours after bathing to get maximum benefit

In memory of the father of Goan Tiatr

If one goes to the auditorium of the Ravindra Bhavan complex in Margao, there is a large picture of a man named Joao Agostinho Fernandes , the doyen of Konkani tiatr for Goans. The Chief Minister of Goa Mr Digambar kamat has been instrumental in ensuring that by  fullfilling the promise made to the tiatr fraternity in Goa by honouring the late Joao Agostinho Fernandes, he had successfully won the confidence of many tiatr lovers in the state of Goa.

The naming of the auditorium after the founder of Goan Konkani tiatr, was a long standing demand made by the Dalgado Konknni academi (DKA) way back in 2005 among a charter of fourteen demands.

The reverence for Mr Joao Agostinho Fernandes stems from the fact that his contribution to the development of tiatr has been cherished in the hearts and minds of Goans worldwide.

Goan tiatr as many would not be aware, was actually born in the city of Mumbai around 116 years back in the year 1892 ad a young man called Lucazinho Ribeiro hailing from Sokolwaddo Assagao in  Bardez Goa,  could be traced as the earliest innovator of the modern day tiatr. Lucazinho along with Joao Agostinho Fernandes hailing from the city of Margao and others, staged the first tiatr performance on the occasion of Easter on April 17 1892. This first tiatr was titled " Italian Bhurgo" which was based on an Italian Opera called " Italian Boy". Due to his die hard and sincere efforts to produce tiatrs of better standards, Joao Agostinho Fernandes is identified as the Father of tiatr in Goa.

JA Fernandes was a true artiste of high talent and believed in doing things through hard work and perfection. While most dramas of those days were imitations of English and French theatre, JA Fernandes was unhappy with them because they did not reflect the Goan way of life.

His desire for the Goan touch to the tiatr, brought out his creativity and he decided to write original scripts which include Cavelchi Sundori (Cavel is a place in South Mumbai near Dhobitalao and Sundori means beautiful), revolta de Satari ( based on the Revolt of Sattari in Goa), Bhattkara ( Goan landlo

In 1943, on the occasion of completing fifty years of Goan tiatr, Joao Agostinho fernandes demonstrated his selfless humility when he, despite being the tallest tiatr personality himself, paid rich tributes to Lucazinho ribeiro in an article in a Konkani Weekly called "Goa Mail".

It is indeed a pride for all Goans to see this great Goan inscribe his name in the main auditorium of tiatrs hotbed of Salcete in Margao at the Ravindra Bhavan.

Goa sees jump in aspirants for MP job : Lok sabha elections 2009

Lok Sabha elections 2009  seem to be throwing up more challenges to the sitting Members of Parliament in Goa this time around compared to recent election years.

Goa's populace is now witnessing 24 candidates in the fray for the Panaji and Mormugao Parliamentary seats. However the exact number of candidates would be known only by the 8th of April 2009, the day fixed for the withdrawal of nominations.

In the year 1999, the number of contestants in North and south Goa was eight candidates each, while seven were in the fray in 2004 in North Goa and nine candidates stood for the coveted seat in South Goa.

The number of candidates in North Goa has traditionally been on the lower side. However the polls in 1984 saw 12 candidates in the North while polls in 1989 and 1991 saw 13 and 15 candidates respectively. In the polls on six occasions till 2004 less than nine candidates had contested the elections in the Panaji parliamentary constituency.

South Goa however has seen marginally higher number of candidates traditionally entering the ring. While the year 1996 saw a whopping 21 candidates contesting the elections here, there have been 12 candidates in the years 1989 and 18 in 1991. On six occasions though their number has been less than nine candidates.

The highest number of candidates both from Panaji and Mormugao constituency has been 33 candidates in the year 1991 with a record 15 candidates contesting in north Goa while  18 candidates fought the elections in the south of Goa. The tally included nine independents each in both the constituencies. However only two of the independents in South Goa could cross the four figure mark

The record for the most number of candidates in either constituency was therefore in the year 1996 when 21 candidates stood for elections in South Goa including  16 independents.

History of Goa Velha's "Santachem Pursanv"

The Santachem Pursanv is one of the two traditional processions still alive in Goa. In olden times Goa used to see many religious processions conducted by the various religious orders existing in Old Goa.However due to various reasons many of the processions did not survive.

The processions included the "Corpus Christi' procession which was held on the first Thursday after Low Sunday,the procession of the Rosary by the Dominican fathers, the procession of the flagellants, and that of the " bones of the Hanges" by the Confraternity of Charity

In passing times of Goa, most of these processions were either banned or simply died out in the last couple of centuries. However the ritual practices of Lenten tableaus which were practiced in olden Goa, are still continued with fervour till this day.

The two processions that still continue till this day are the procession of the "Capas Magna" at the Se Cathedral in Old Goa which is most commonly known in Goa as the "Xeppdeanchem Pursanv" on Good Friday and the procession of the "Santachem Pursanv" held at Goa Velha on the Monday after Passion Sunday ( 5th Sunday of Lent) . Goa is the only other place besides Rome to have these processionsas of date.

The objective of the "Procession of Saints was to inculcate a sense of spirit of prayer and penance into the hearts and minds of the faithful, taking the saints as  role models who actually were simple people belonging to this world and who devoted their lives to Christ and thereby sanctified themselves.

This penitential  procession of the Franciscan third order, had originally 65 images of saints in their original life sizes and vestments which originally used to leave the Pilar convent Church and pass through neighbouring villages and return to the convent with people from different walks of life , the rich and the poor being present for the event.

However in 1835 there was a change of guard as Queen Maria II of Portugal issued a decree abolishing religious orders in Portugal and its colonies due to to which there  was a stop to the procession in an interval when nothing happened  and many images and vestments were destroyed.

Interestingly until 1935, the procession was traditionally held on Monday of the first week of Lent.However with the new church when the procession came to Goa Velha and since then is being held on the Monday following the passion Sunday.

In the years 1889 and 1895, there were new images added . Santa Angela Monica was offered by the villagers living in Bombay. However the original number of 65 was never restored and on todays date only 30 saints are part of the procession. They are, St Francis of Assisi, Pope Innocent III, St. Michael, Cardinal St. Boaventura, St. Clare of Assisi, St Francis of Assisi with St Lucy and St Dona Bona, St Pascal Bailan, St Rose of Viterbo, St Roque, St Isabel, Isabel of Hungary, St Antonio of Lisboa,Cardinal St Peter Pdamiao, St Bernardo, St. Louis IX King of France, St. Filipe, St Ina of Assiz, St Roa of Lima, St Francis of Assissi and St Domnic, Immaculate Franciscan, Ecce Homo, the Divine Nazarene, the martyr of Golgota or the man of sorrows embracing St Francis of Assisi, St John Evangelist, St Mary Magdalen, St Angela Marcia, St Francis of Assisi.

The lead tableau has a cross with two hands crucified, one representing Jesus and the other St Francis of Assisi and they form the arms and symbol of the Franciscan order. the final tableau is one depicting St Francis of Assisi on his knees seeing a vision of Christ being crucified and on the hands, feet and the chest, the wounds of Jesus Christ are visible.