On the run from Goa, finding a home in Kochi Author: TNN Publication: The Times of India Date: November 5, 2013 URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/On-the-run-from-Goa-finding-a- home-in-Kochi/articleshow/25232884.cms
When the Portuguese attacked the local community in Goa and forced them to convert to Christianity under 'Accept the Lord or face the sword' regime, a small community of Brahmins from the Konkan region decided to move out of their homeland and venture elsewhere. They are the Konkan sonars (goldsmiths) who came as 'thattans' to Kerala and decided to make it their home, touched by the local Maharaja's kindness and welcome. Of the hundreds who reached here, many have left. But about 60-odd families reside now in the state with 35 families making their home in Kochi with the rest scattered in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. "We are all settled around the Sree Gopalakrishna Temple in Amaravathy in Fort Kochi which is the only temple of the Daivajna Brahmins in Kerala. It is said that those who fled from Goa through land went towards Maharashtra, Karnataka and those who could get boats managed to flee through the sea and settled on the Konkan and Malabar coast. A large group who were fortunate to have the 'Pathemari' or large boats reached the middle of Kerala. They called it Goshripuram, later it turned to be called Goshri-Goshi- Kochi and latter Europeans made it Cochin. Now we call it Kochi again. The migration is recorded in history as the 'great run' for it was a run forever from Goa. They took with them not only gold, silver or other valuables but also their Gods," says Remesh Baban Shet, president of the temple devaswom. He says that though they are traditionally goldsmiths, over the last two generations many moved to modern professions and top positions in Kerala and outside. "We brought the 'Naga' pooja concept to most temples and celebrate 'Naga Panchami', something which is not a major festival here. But in our cuisines, there are several similarities like the use of coconut in many of our dishes," Remesh said. What's 'Olan' for Keralites is 'Valval' for Konkanis, except that a few more vegetables are added. 'Bowli' and 'rava ladoo' are popular common sweets, but the wheat 'ladoo' made by the Konkanis is similar to the Gujarati sweet 'mohan thal'. The Gopalakrishna Temple also has an 'aarattu' and 'ulsavam'. "Every Sunday, we organise a lunch for children irrespective of community, caste or creed," says Remesh.
