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August 20 - WORLD GOA DAY
Celebrating the inclusion of Konkani in the 8th schedule of the
Indian Constitution on August 20, 1992
For a list of World Goa Day events see:
http://worldgoaday2009.blogspot.com
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This is the temple, now flattened -
http://www.parrikar.org/images/vetaltemple-navelim.jpg
Vetal-bab inside, au naturel -
http://www.parrikar.org/images/vetal-navelim.jpg
At some point I will document all this on my photo blog.
r
----- Original Message ----
> From: Rajan P. Parrikar <parri...@yahoo.com>
> To: goa...@goanet.org
> Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 11:03:30 PM
> Subject: Job volunteer openings for Goan Hindu urchins
>
> To Goanet -
>
> A few months back, I was on one of my drives through the Goan
> countryside when I passed by a pile of rubble around what was
> clearly a torn down structure. It did not register initially but about
> 30 seconds later I shrieked to my driver, "Babu, let's go back to
> that site!"
>
> We were in Navelim (the one in Bicholim taluka) and the pile of
> rubbish was the beautiful old Vetal temple built in traditional style.
> It was a sad and shocking scene. Clearly it had made way for a
> 'modern' temple. No doubt it will be built with PWD & Tata
> rubbish technology and painted in garish colours. Fortunately
> I had photographed the old building a year earlier. This was to
> me yet another direct experience of Goa's dismantling in real time.
>
> In Advalpal, the small ancient Maruti temple with beautiful kaavi
> artwork lies decrepit. It is on private property and the mine owner
> has been dangling the carrot of 'development' to the temple
> custodian. Such instances of neglect can be indefinitely multiplied.
>
> In Savoi-Verem the lush green fields right by the Anant temple - they
> want to convert it into a parking lot. A GODDAM PARKING LOT!
> Those builders can't keep their hands off even our temples.
>
> The more famous temple complexes - Mangueshi, Ramnathi,
> Kavalem - have their own set of issues. The decay has set in.
> They look more and more commercial and show less of the
> tranquil, spiritual ambience that we took for granted growing
> up. What were once open spaces now support hideous clusters
> of RCC concrete.
>
> All over India, the idea of the Hindu temple has unraveled - the
> once-great ancient temples are today mired in squalid surroundings,
> with hustlers, touts and what-have-you. The Goan Hindu temple
> still retains the old charm and quiet. Soon that will be a thing
> of the past given the trendlines.
>
> The upshot - if the thuggish Goan urchins who go about
> threatening people to uphold Hindu this & that really wanted
> a day-job, there is a mountain of work waiting to be done
> right in our backyard. Have them get in touch with me.
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
> r
