COLUMNIST
By Silviano Barbosa
------------ CAZAR IN GOA -----------
A close look at the old fashioned weddings in Goa
Finally comes the big day. The bride is all nervous. A beautician is hired to fix the bride's hair, dress her up and to make-her look like a princess for a day. Every one is busy and no one is ready, a specially decorated car pulls in to take the bride to the church. The bride starts wailing and mother joins to make it worse as their hearts cry out at the final parting. from her mother's house. The groom and the best man go to church in a separate car. In fact the bride and groom shouldn't see each other for 24 hours before wedding, it's bad luck. At the church, the father gives the bride away and soon the solemnity begins with a beautiful choir. They both go to the alter and the Mass begins, they exchange vows but don't kiss, sign the roster and they are man a wife forever. The church bells ring, the fireworks explode and the celebration begins. Once outside the church they are hugged and kissed by the well-wishers.
Then they go to the groom's house, where they are welcomed by the groom's mother, who holds a dhumpel,(urn containing burning incense) in one hand making circular motions around their heads and with the other hand helps the bride step inside the house with her right foot first for good luck. Then more fireworks signal the grand entry. And at once the mestre begins his violin recital for the commencement of the Ladainha. And after that some snacks and drinks make the rounds and the bride and groom go to the city for the grand wedding photo.
And later that night at the reception in the mattou, the house is crowded with village guests. The guests from the bride's side (potvor) come in specially hired buses singing manddos on their way. "Tambdde rosad tuje pole " The loud speaker in the mattou plays Konkani songs from Alfred Rose, and songs from Amchem Noxib, etc.. The live Band of Johnson and His Jolly Boys belt out sweet romantic music that encourages every young couple to dance. Men approach their dames requesting for a dance. But some dames are discriminating, they say "I am engaged". Poor guy goes back to his chair dejected.
The sound of opened soda bottles and shouts of joy from the children, together with hot drinks such as fennim, Porto, Moscatel, Macieira and Vinho Branco and heavenly smells of basmati arroz, sorpotel and miskutt and the presence of beautiful guests and their joie-de-vivre fill the whole mattou with a celestial ambiance not seen on this earth for a long long time. There is dancing going on forever, interrupted only by the serving of soup, arroz and ixttou (stew). And in the early morn, the Bhattkar or Padre Vigar or a VIP raises the toast to the newly-wedded couple, to be followed by "He's the jolly the fellow Hep, hep burre, Uddon guelemm parveamchem birem... Beddsaum tumcher poddom re".And all guests wish the bride and groom with the Port chalice in hand. And at 5 o'clock the wedding is over, every one is sleepy and tipsy. The potvor perform the xim (border) by pouring wine on the ground and they depart on their buses to their village singing manddos all the way back. And for the young wedded couple, the tiresome honeymoon begins.
The next day the mattou comes down, the house is in order and the wedding shifts to the bride's place. Same scenario, may be little less festive with a simple Ladainha for those who are poor, otherwise it's double celebration. The wedding is now really over, but relatives are still there and will be there till all sorpatel and mass (meat) and attoiloli coddi(dried curry) is over, some two weeks after the wedding.
After all this hoopla, who will know the outcome of this union. Only time will tell. The wedding is over but the marriage in Goa is here to stay forever and ever.
(Silviano Barbosa is a poet and a writer and this article is compiled from the material from his novel, The Sixth Night”.)
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Comments
Merlyn
I enjoyed reading your article "CAZAR IN GOA". You have enclosed all the details about our Goan weddings, very interesting. Looking forward to read your next article. Wishing you Sir Silviano Barbosa, all the success.
From,
Merlyn Almeida.
[Cuncolim/New York]
Franky Furtado
Very nostalgic piece.Reminded me of my own wedding back in Goa.More than me my children enjoyed the read , while me doing the explanation.Radiogoa, please publish more articles like these.thanks
Julio Fernandes
Dear Mr. Barbosa,
Your article: CAZAR IN GOA, is a nostalic but incomplete read!!
The missing nostalgia was, IN EACH PARTY'S HOUSE,BEFORE THEY LEAVE TO GO TO THE CHURCH AND DRESSED IN THEIR THEIR FULL WEDDING CLOTHES, THE BRIDE AND GROOM STAND BENEATH THEIR HOUSE ALTAR (alter)AND RECEIVE BLESSINGS AND LITTLE MONEY FROM THEIR PARENTS, SIBLINGS, RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. SOMETIMES THERE IS JOYFUL CRYING GOES ON.
From Julio Fernandes from Parra, Goa and now from Maryland, USA
Armand Rodrigues
Silviano, a fellow-writer from Canada, takes liberties with the main medium, but certainly livens his narrative with interspersed Konkanim and Portuguese words that would strike a chord with those who understand the lingos. He aptly takes one through the protocol of Goan weddings of yesteryear, which I witnessed in my youth, but avoided when I took the plunge abroad ! Keep it up Silviano !
Armand Rodrigues