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Last evening in
Old Goa
Cecil Pinto
Last
evening (3rd
December) I went
with Beatrice, Desmond & Fabian for our annual pilgrimage: to stand in a
long snaking line and take the 'umanv' of St. Francis Xavier. As we
shuffled along, with little Fabian getting restless in my arms, I saw
the long queue ahead of me and knew for sure things would always be fine
in Goa.
The queue in fact was a microism (or whatever the correct term is) of
Goa itself. Colourful, multi cultural, multi religious, peaceful,
reverential.
There were the obvious Agshemkar females in their zogxogit festa-best,
and the occasional suited booted Catholic male constantly wiping
his sweaty forehead. The older Hindu women from Bicholim: their
kapodds contrasting with the gold inlaid, and slightly stiff,
sarees of the younger women. The recent male Gulfee with
thick gold ornaments and a young wife in tow, and the seasoned Gulfee
in open sandals, a portly wife and three grown up children, a digital
camera and a camcorder. The noisy Indian tourists attired in
Govinda style. One was even speaking on his mobile while in line.
But once the line entered the interiors of the church everyone was
silent. The obligatory white foreigner couple seemed quite amused by
this riot of culture. And the lungi clad Keralite carpenter and
his brood of six children. The Government servant, long sleeves rolled
up, with his wife and two kids. The Sashtikar who had imbibed a
bit too little. The cute little boy with a dribble revealing that he had
just eaten a chouriso pao. The recently married couple trying not to be
too obvious with their big heart shaped balloon purchased in the fairi.
The new Catholic bride with bright red dress and bangles up to
her elbow. The elderly woman with arthiritis who had a rosary in
her hands and was deep in prayer...
I could go on, and on... But Ben Antao, with his mastery of words, would
probably describe it much better. But you know what I mean.
What is important is that this is how it is here in Goa.
Colourful people of all cultures, religions, states and countries
visit, stay, live and work here. As long as there is a shared icon of
faith, St. Francis Xavier, there is hope. All the conniving machinery of
the rabble rousers will come to naught as long as we stand in line -
with reverence to a higher power.
Cecil Pinto
December 4, 2002
Ben Antao: The Basilica of Bom Jesus
The Life and Times of St. Francisco Xavier - a
favourite target of Rt. Wing Hindus
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