*A Goan Christian Wedding* By Mr. K. B. Ganapathy.
It was my first exposure to a typical Goan Christian wedding and I was immensely delighted watching the proceedings from the sidelines. The Gomes family had invited me to join in the proceedings and I found everyone who entered the floor of the ceremonial arena wearing a black or blue suit. Being in just a shirt and pants, I presumed that I would look like a well - dressed man in a nudist camp. I kept away from the floor. The wedding was solemnized earlier in the day at a church but in the evening it was celebration time with cake-cutting, champagne, drinks, songs, dance and dinner at Woodbourne, Panjim. This had preceded with necking and kissing each other by the bride and bridegroom while the near and dear ones pecked the cheeks or foreheads with a surge of affection and blessings. There was customary participation by all the invitees in a circular march all along the floor, which was open to the sky. Those couples who went to wish the newly married would step back and lock their hands high up in an arch and in this way all the couples would form a long arched tunnel - like formation. At the end of this ritual, the couple would walk through that passage to emerge at the other end. Like walking through the Thandi Sadak made famous by our Maharajas. And then the procession started with the married couple at the head and others following them in a train of procession. People like me on the wings cheered and waved at them. Then began the romantic music and dance at a slow pace before it got hot under the collar. The wedded - couple led the dance. Soon there was a break for drinks and snacks and the excitement began with fast music. Happy dancers spread all over the huge floor, appropriately lit and aesthetically done up. Of course, the groom and the bride continued to dance, sometimes with their parents, sometimes with their near and dear ones as partners and were cynosure of all eyes. Each time a number was played, a break was given to help the dancers to charge up and energize themselves with a shot of Goan Fenny or their favourite drink. There was an Event Manager who took control of the proceedings rather late but showed himself off rather poorly when he opened his mouth to make announcements. Many wished he was more fluent and articulate in his announcements and pronouncements. However, I should share with my readers two of the jokes he told to enliven the audience or so I thought. One was about a Goan Christian going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and returning with the Holy water and also a bottle of whiskey. At the customs, the officer asked him if he had carried any alcohol with him? He said, "No sir, only Holy water". However, the customs officer got suspicious and asked him to open his box and was surprised to find a whiskey bottle. Questioned, the pilgrim said, he did not know anything about it except that it was Holy water. Annoyed, the customs officer opened the bottle and tasted the contents only to find that it was indeed whiskey. He stared at the pilgrim and asked him what was the matter. The Goan told the customs officer, looking straight into his eyes without batting an eyelid, "Well Sir, this must be the second miracle". Did you get me Steve? Another joke told after the cake was cut, was quite naughty and I thought quite appropriate too. It seems in Goa, in times past, the parents were advised to have three children. One was for the father, the second one was for the mother and the third one for the Church. It means that the third child should be offered to the service of Jesus Christ either as a priest or a nun depending on whether the child was a boy or a girl. It so happened there was a Goan Christian couple who had succeeded in begetting one child for the father and another for the mother and the wife was pregnant for the third time. One day when they went to the Church for their Sunday prayers, with the wife in an advanced stage of pregnancy, they ran into the Church Priest and the wife, in a state of great excitement, told him, "Father, father this one is yours". It is not known if the people around were shocked or surprised thinking it to be scandalous! Be that as it may, there is lot of fun and frolic, music and dance, food and drinks in a Goan Christian wedding, as I had experienced. Every guest is paid personal attention by the hosts, taking care of their drinks, food and other comforts. After the cake was cut, a champagne bottle was opened. It seems, if the cork pops, making a sound as it often does, it is believed that it is going to be a girl for the couple to start with. May be the smart guys who open the champagne bottle read the mind of the couple and accordingly make sure the cork of the champagne bottle pops or does not pop. A Goan Christian wedding is never complete without a toast where lot of sentiments will be expressed so also the hopes and prayers. It also tends to be a little "preachy". For example, "Married life is full of commitment... it is a relationship not only between two individuals but also between two families. Cheers and God bless you both... these are the beautiful words and we hope you (the married couple) keep them in your hearts", etc., etc. Thereafter, the groom thanks his parents, relatives friends and guests. Similarly, the bride. There was total participation of all the invitees in celebrating the wedding as I found and then the dinner. Name any living creature on earth, except human beings, and under the sea, the dinner table was spread with most of them, if not all. A rich fare, which everyone was unable to taste, leave alone eat, even if one was a glutton. -- WELCOME TO EDU'S MUSIC COLLECTION edu [EMAIL PROTECTED]
