======================================================================== You can post to GoaNet. Send in your views and comments to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ========================================================================
Quote: In Mississauga alone, there are quite a few significant personalities from the Konkani community. Source: The Mississauga News (Canada) Nov 1, 2002 at: http://www.mississauganews.com/mi/news/story/695054p-824781c.html Title: Multi-faiths define Goa's Konkanis By: Bikram Lamba One of the most versatile, exuberant, and enterprising communities, Konkanis are originally inhabitants from Central Asia, and their history dates back to 2500 BC when they reached India. Now, though small in number, their enterprising spirit makes them visible all over. In Mississauga alone, there are quite a few significant personalities from the Konkani community. The Konkanis are a multi-religious community. They are Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. Their most potent influence has been that of the Portuguese. The Hindu Konkanis mostly worship Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, and the majority of Christians belong to the Roman Catholic faith. The Konkanis are artistic by temperament, and two famous Bollywood names -- Girish Karnad and Shyam Benegal -- immediately spring to mind. Another famous Konkani film personality of yesteryear is Guru Dutt. Still another famous name is Rimo Fernandes -- a pop singer. Lata Mangeshkar, the famed singer is a Konkani, and there is a dedicated temple "the Mangeshi Temple", which is associated with their family name. The Konkanis do not lag behind in sports. The international badminton star Prakash Padukone is a Konkani. The carnivals of the Konkanis are famous, and during their famed Christmas carnival, people from all over the world converge to the silver sands of the Goan beaches to celebrate the Christmas carnival. At one time Goa was the hippie capital of the world. The Konkanis are quite liberal in their attitude. So much so that even their food is free from any inhibitions. Even the Brahamins amongst them eat fish, which is normally a taboo to this sect. The Hindu Konkanis observe their traditional rituals. They call these rituals nitya or naimittika or kamya. The nitya rituals are obligatory, the naimittika rituals are as per the occasion, and the kamya rituals are optional. These rituals govern their birth, marriage, death, and even their business transactions. Every household has a home shrine where the home-deity is worshipped. The deity is treated like a royal guest and is awakened, given a ritual bath, offered fruits and flowers and worshipped. The morning meal is first offered to the deity for its blessings. The Christian Konkanis follow the Catholic rituals and their patron saint is St. Francis of Assisi. The Muslims amongst them celebrate Id and other festivals. In spite of different religious denominations, the Konkanis maintain absolute harmony. These three religious groups have more than 20 castes, sub-castes, and sects -- each speaking a distinct dialect of its own. However, the Konkani language is understood by the community and is widely spoken at home. Outside the home, English and Portuguese are the language. The Goan food is a mixture of meat, (especially pork, except for the Muslims) and all kinds of seafood. Usually, the entire family sits at a long table to partake of the food. A meat or fish dish is a must at every meal. The vegetables are usually cooked without any spices. There is a strong Portuguese influence on the Konkani cooking. Palm vinegar, coconut, garlic, and tamarind are used for meat delicacies. Their most famous dish is vindaloo, which was originally an extra hot and sour pork curry, but now is made from meat and fish as well. Some other famous dishes are: chourico, made from red sausages; sarpotel, made from pickled pig heart; leitao, made from suckling pig; chicken or mutton xacutti, made with a sauce of lemon juice, peanuts, coconuts, and other spices; camarao, spicy prawn pie with rice and semolina crust. Konkanis are fully westernized in their dress and are fun-loving people. =================================== Dont't forget - you saw it on GoaNet! ---------------------------------------------------------- What's On In Goa (WOIG): * Nov 1-17: Swimming classes for children, others. SAG pool, Fatorda * Nov 1: Antonio Costa's painting exhibition opens, F.Oriente 6.30pm * Nov 3: Children's Day by Jan Ugahi, Navelim Perpetual Convent morning. * Nov 4: Book release, on Dr Gama Pinto, Lourdes Convent Saligao ----------------------------------------------------------
