By going through the recent post by Jose Loureco ( Saibinn -A short story) reminded me of my time. (See Saibinn Pics below)
In salcette, giving boiled grams is not a tradition. Those days, we gave home made products like bolinhas, pinagre or biskut. yet some households gave nothing. Now, a days Saibinn has become a big occasion or rather a competetion. With Pulav, fogettio etc. Saying Rosary or teors is made compulsory by the Church in some places during which time many people seen yawning or dozing or seen as if they are in the different world. At our time, our saibinn used to come every 3 months or even every 2.5 months. We, as kids, used to blame the Pe. Vigar who increased the frequency so as to make more money that was collected in the money box at the foot of the Saibinn. see pic Popular ‘Saibinn’ hymns were Adeus Adeus Mae Sorginchea Neketra Kedinch ami visronk na Korunk tujim Gayona == Mae tum Kakutin Bhorlele Ranni Sorgar Sounsarache… Sodankal amchea mogal lastele Sandunaka Mae mogache S Pau Mae, yo Mae etc == Cominha Mae istave (??)… Chorus: Nousef, nosef.. (I know I am wrong but this is what we said as kids) I think this is in Portugues, I was never able to sing it right but our elders did - some one please give one complete verse and chorus) Konkani Version of the same is.. Mhoje Maim thaim vetolom Ek dis sukha bhagivonta, Ankvar Morieche sangata Sorgar Raj choiloitolom Sorgar, sorgar, Mhoje Maim thaim vetolom (2) Also, following traditional konkani Magnnim (Prayers) - NOMAN SAINBINN BHITOR SORTANA - Familichi Bhett - Bhett Zonn Ekleachi - Saibinn Gharantli Bhair Sortana - Magnem mellunn gheunk bolaiki eka bollikarak (Optional-Prayer over the sick in the household but we read it even if there is no one sick in the house). There were shortages of readers those days and I was in great demand. They used to wait for me till I come back from Margao by the last bus 8pm (normally, Saibinn time is 7pm). Now a days, there is no such shortage, I have seen children as young as 10 read, yet some grown ups do not read it just beacuse it is Konkani. Here are some pics of popular Saibinn http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk13/2352852524/sizes/l/ more http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk13/2364224815/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk13/2090447153/ Another thing was also common.. When one neighbour/house does not talk to the other/house, they would change the traditional Saibinn route. i.e. instead of coming from house No 1 to 2 and then 3 the changed route would be from 1 to 3 then 3 to 2 followed by 2 to 4 And that was typical of village life. under the same situation, there were some instances where is House No. 1 reluctantly had to keep the Saibinn for more 1 day just because House No.2 did not come to take his and such matter was often reported to Pe.Vigar. quote: (Short Story) http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-March/175400.html [email protected] for Goa & NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ For Goan Video Clips http://youtube.com/joeukgoa In Goa, Dial 1 0 8 For Hospital, Police, Fire etc
