CANDOLIM'S FEASTS.

After many years I am present this time in my village Candolim to celebrate the village Church feasts in August, on 13th-14th of Boa Morte Saibinn and on 15th that of Asumpti Saibinn as we used to call then during my younger days. The feast of Assumpt Saibinn was preceded by 14 days Novenas. In between from 13 to 14th August, the feast of Boa Morte is celebrated with much reverence to Boa Morte Saibinn and with top respect and devotion because on 13th August we used to consider as per our tradition as the day when Saibinn Mae died. In fact, in reality, Saibinn Mae never died, we believe that Saibinn Mae was taken alive to Heaven by God. Since, it was considered then as the day of Saibinn Mae’s death, there was obligation on us to mark this day as prayer day. I still remember as a Choir Boy how we used to sing a Hym in our Church on this day as: BOA MORTICHO DISU, ONODVONTH SUKH SONTOSU.
ANJ BODVVE GAIAN KOTIT, NOVUI KORU.

This Hym was lengthy and with accompaniment of Violin by our Church Mistiri, the Hym sounds very beautiful. Unfortunately, now there is no Church Mestiri and nobody knows this Hym either. During our days, we were trained to sing by the Professional Solfist Mestiri while now everything is gone into the hands of Unsolfist Amatuers who do not know the history and tradition of our Church.

This time to my surprise, just at the entrance of the Church, a Tiatro of professional Tiatrists was staged to raise fund for the Church activities. During my days, this type of entertainment was not tolerated since it was considered as the day of the death of Saibinn Mae. Hence, faithful were engaged in prayer in sombre mood and not in merry making at the Church “Adrar”. This change happened because of the change in time which demands collection of money. I feel shortly time will come for the Church Pe. Vigars to organize Ballroom Dance not only at the Adrar but inside the Church itself.

On 15th we celebrated the feast of Assumpt Saibinn preceded by 14 days Novenas. During our days, these Novenas were done in the mornings when we used to bring fresh flowers in small baskets and sing the beautiful Hym “DEVACHE MATE (MAYE), PAVU TUM AMKAM,
“ “ DHIRU DHI AMKAM.

Again, the old system is gone into extinction and Novenas are held now in the evenings giving top priority for money collection which was not existing during our days. During old days money collection in the Church was done only on Sundays and on any other feast day.

On 15th yesterday, another Tiatro “OSLEO CHUKI GOEMKAR KORTAT” by Comedian Ambe was staged at the same place on Church Adrar. It was scheduled to start at 7.30 PM but due to lethargic attitude of the Church, the organizer, it finally started at 8.30 PM, that means, one long hour late and because of this late the audience was put into inconvenience. This is the very bad habit of the Candolim Church authority to ignore the discipline of time schedule. And to make the matter worse, the Church Pe. Vigar unnecessarily lengthened his prayer by talking something not required at that particular late hour. He should know that people are coming by paying money to see the Tiatro and not to listen to his speech. It is okay what he does in the Church by preaching lengthy sermons till faithful are fed up but the same behavior he cannot apply outside the Church Altar. He should know that Tiatro Stage is different from the Church Altar.

The story of the Tiatro was good but comedy part was noisy not in tune with traditional Tiatro. Unnecessarily shouting and screaming demoted the quality of the Tiatro. The scene where Ambe shown undressing himself even by removing his Underwear looked ugly and filthy. The sideshow songs were good including by the young girl guest artiste from Candolim.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.