Traditions and Festivals
Goan Catholics have retained their Hindu caste system and customs regarding marriage. First * The Soirik or the (betrothal) and Mudi (engagement) ceremony. Indian traditions that still persist include adorning the bride with the Saddo (red dress or sari), which is to be worn on the first day after the marriage, it is also the name of the ceremony of cutting and sewing the dress
- The Chuddo (ceremony during which bangles are worn by the bride),
- TheRos (anointing) ceremony, conducted one or two days before the wedding, involves the parents, relatives and friends blessings on the bride and groom, who are anointed with coconut milk. bhuim jevonn (ritual meal in honour of the ancestors) or bikariam che jevonn (meal for the poor/beggars), the
- Oupsoon (giving away the bride formally by the father or the guardian of the bride),
- Appoune (invitation to the bride's house).Konsachem fest (harvest festival) that involves blessing of new harvests. Later, it is followed by the traditional Catholic wedding mass and finally the Wedding Reception which wraps up the 4-5 day long wedding
The Attire : The women at a typical Goan Catholic wedding generally wear gowns/dresses while the men (including the bridegroom) are attired in western-style suits. The bride always wears a western-style virgin-white wedding gown. Contemporary Goan Catholics typically have a White wedding. The bridal entourage usually consists of the Maid of Honour, Bridesmaids, Best man, Groomsmen, ringbearer boys and Flower girls. Ballroom dancing and live western-style band music are an integral part of a Goan Catholic wedding reception.
In addition to common Christian festivals like Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter, the community celebrates many other festivals of religious and historical significance. The Zagor (nocturnal vigil in Konkani), mainly celebrated in Siolim, in Bardez taluka of Goa is a festival highlighted by dance, drama and music. The Feast of Saint Francis Xavier is of the major festival of the Goan Catholics celebrated on the 3rd December annually, to honour the saint's death. Moti Fest is another major festival, mainly celebrated in Chinchinim, Goa on 8 September, which celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Other important festivals include Mae de Deus Church at Saligao, Feast of Passion of Christ at Siridao, Feast of Holy Cross at Aldona, Feast of the Holy Spirit Church, at Margao, Procession of Saints at Goa Velha, San Jao fest (Feast of St.John the Baptist), Feast of St. Peter, Bondera at Divar and Sangodd at Cumbharjua. The Goa Carnival is the most grand festival of Goan Catholics in Goa. The Carnival is a four-day festival of colour, songs and music.
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“And all the great traditions of the Past
They saw reflected in the coming time.
And thus forever with reverted look
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Till life became a Legend of the Dead.”
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1809–1882)
“This is certainly not the place for a discourse about what festivals are for. Discussions on this theme were plentiful during that phase of preparation and on the whole were fruitless. My experience is that discussion is fruitless. What sets forth and demonstrates is the sight of events in action, is living through these events and understanding them.”
—Doris Lessing (b. 1919)