Happy Feast ‘ Mãe de Deus’ Saligao Well, we arrived there around 11.30 (some delay due to Hot Mixing of the Betim-Verem Road).. We thought we will be right in time for the half ‘Olem Mis’ (High Mass), Festachem Pursao (if any), Festachem Muzg (Brass Band if any) etc etc. But to our bad luck, it seems we missed it all. Sorry. All the church doors were closed. We used one from the inside to gain access. An older gentleman (khas-fis neson) looks like a church member, was waiting for us to go out so that he can close the door. We asked, is this the main feast of this church? He said ‘ Oi oddlem govad fest’ I said, it does not look like one and that Saligaokars are celebrating it grand in UK and Dubai every year. He replied ‘ Oi, te soglem kortat pun Igorjek mat Kainch dinant’ (I know this is not true as I read somewhere that recently the church was renovated mainly with the help of NRI/NRS). He also says the feat is celebrated by the church and not by the ‘pirjent’ feast presidents etc. I really, found it very strange, there was no Muzg (may be there was before 11.30), no big Feri or Fair (as can be seen in the pics and video), and not many people. Looks like ‘Soirim-dairim’ are not invited for this feast. To me it was like any other small chapel feast. No wonder, I see no where on the English dailies about the feast and it’s programe today or before. When I read a post on goanet about the feast (seems incomplete or without attachment) saying it is celebrated on 3rd May, it was not clear where it is celebrated whether Goa, Dubai or UK? To make sure today was the feast, I googled ‘Saligao feast’ and ‘Saligao feast Mae de Deus’ I got more results celebrating the fest in UK and Dubai than in Goa. Anyway, this is not the only church in Goa where the feast of its Patron Saint is celebrated on such a low pitch Finally, sorry for the delay in uploading these pics as I over slept ‘matxe copachem subez zalem’ OK, Check these pics A view from the Market – through the fields http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3497516480/sizes/l/ A close-up http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3497514976/sizes/l/ The Church – Front http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3497530464/sizes/l/ the Church – side view with twin bells http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3496712743/sizes/l/ The Church – Inside with traditional ‘Armusao’ and Main altars http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3496710339/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3497524880/sizes/l/ The Church: Main Altar ‘ Mae de Deus’ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3496711639/sizes/l/ The Pulpit (where Traditional Xermao was preached here in every churches , now abandoned) http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3496709135/sizes/l/ Festachi Feri – Khajen or Kaddio-Boddio http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3496704965/sizes/l/ or http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3496706639/sizes/l/ AMFT or the final destination - the place where most Saligao-kars will go leaving behind their ‘girestkai’ etc. (Note: Non-Saligao-kars, including JoeGoaUk will also go to their respective AMFT places.) http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3496701277/sizes/l/ Finally, a developemnt (facing the Church), This is to the right http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3497531854/sizes/l/ Thanks for your time. Video coming soon [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 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ This message comes via the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net?hl=en Please post regularly to keep the e-village active! -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
