Santamchem Pursao (Procession of Saints) We call it ‘Santa Pursao’ where as some call it ‘Santamchem Pursao’ but the Ole-Goemkars say just ‘Pursao’
It's tomorrow (Monday the 30th March) at Goa-Velha Church, near Pilar at around 5pm. Santamcehm Pursao always takes place on the 5th Monday of the lent. Earlier, it was said there were 60 life size saints now reduced to only 30. Infact, the number was just 28 but one or two recently added and one of the two is St. Andre (Andrew) the patron saint of Goa-Velha Church. Rome is the only other place in the world where such procession takes place. I remember as a kid, on this day we used to buy up to half a dozen fans made up of Bamboo weaving. There was no electricity that time and bamboo fans were used specially during summer April/May day and nights (Some used old book's hard covers instead) Another product, another fan but this one is scented fan made up of fine roots of type of plant/herbs grown in the field. These fans are still available on this day but not on all day as the product are sold very quickly. These scented fans are kept in the cupboard/trunks under the clothes. This is also to keep away the cockroaches and other pest that usually attack garments. This now replaced by ‘Camphor Tablets’ Check this out, video clips of 2006 & 2007 Goa Velha. Santamcehm Pursao http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf9VqYNq9Lg another 2007 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJKJCPiI3ag [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
