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HISTORY OF MOLLEBHAT…II ( continued) Mollebhatt borders with Sangolda and there is a tradition that there was a long standing dispute between the Mollebhattkars and Sangoddkars regarding the delimitation of the boundary between the two villages. According to a legend, a unique method of settling the dispute was adopted by mutual agreement. A buffalo was let loose from the top of the hill to seeks its way home—according to one version, to Guirim, according to another, to Parra. The track of the animal was taken as the line of demarcation which accounted for the designation of the boundary, between Saligao and Sangolda as "Reddeachi Xim’ ". (Earlier in my posting I have given another version which prevailed in Sangolda regarding the demarcation of this boundary). The legend is evidently an aetiological myth. One of the small wards in which the first inhabitants lived in Saligao was Marod in Mollebhatt. The dwellers were called Madd’de in ancient times. After the Gaud Saraswat Brahmins made inroads in Saligao around 11th century of the year of Christ, they subjugated the’ mahars ‘( madd’de)who were then asked to move from this ward and other wards to Mhar-vaddo on the outskirts of Saligao near the Calangute boarder in the proximity of the famous Mater Dei Institution. To-day this ward is known as Bairro Alto. A part of the place " Marodd" in Mollebhatt has been converted into a Saligao Communidade Playground which was inaugurated by Dr. Wilfred de Souza, Hon. Dy. Chief Minister, on 23rd April, 1990 in the presence of Mr. Rufino Moniz, President of Saligao Comunidade. According to ‘ Indice Real de Saligao, Book I No. 125 of 4th April, 1883," Predio Marodd" once belonged to a certain Caetano Rosario Francisco de Borges Cordeiro. At the extreme end of the ground there stands a hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vetal and every Monday devotees gather to sing bhajans and kirtans. Annually a zatra is also held with the hindu community taking part in the, nataks .( plays)held on the playground. It is here that the ward boys learnt to play foot-ball and even held inter-ward foot-ball tournaments in bygone days. Even the Sagoddkars held their foot-ball tournaments on this foot-ball ground a couple of occasions. We also witnessed some cricket games on this play field though there was another ground in Mollebhatt, of which we will speak in the course of this article. Sports during Christmas and foot-ball tie-breakers bring lot of spectators to this ground. In the proximity of this playground Joao Michael Mascarenhas,( nicknamed Moskon), a contractor from the area and his family owned two ’caminhoes, a car and a ‘ghano’, a rare commodity at that time. Let us speak about this ghano and products of sugar-canes Saligao had large sugarcane plantations. Sugarcane juice was extracted by passing the canes between two heavy, tightly pressing metal cylinders and gathered in a vessel below. This device was called ‘ghano in local language From sugarcane juice ’Dempichem godd’ ( jaggery) was manufactured by the locals. But the best known product , however, was " belios" which was a finger long tapering piece made by passing the boiled juice treated with some binding agents into wooden blocks with rectangular shaped holes. It was a delicacy at that time and marketed and sold at Reis Magos( Verem)fair on 6th January during the feast of three kings Mr. Joao Michael Mascarenhas being a contractor undertook the construction of the ceiling and extension of the St. Anne’s chapel etc( Read the Minute Book of St. Anne’s Chapel of March 20th, 1902, in the Archive of the Chapel and also Souvenir of St. Anne, Saligao(1843-1963) pages 20 and 21).This restored Chapel was blessed by the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Goa, Rt. Rev. Monsenhor Joaquim Joao de Abreu, hailing from Abreu-vaddo, Saligao, on 2nd February 1910, feast of the Presentation of the Lord. At that time it was called the Feast of the Purification of Our Lady St. Anne’s Chapel caters to the spiritual needs of people of the wards of Mudd’d-vaddi, Tabra-vaddo-Molle-bhatt and Don-vaddo. . The hindu community of this locality have a great devotion to Mother of God( Mae de Deus) and Saint Anne. They enthusiastically contribute their mite for the ‘salves’(festivities) in May and July ( No band and fire-works now at St. Anne though they continue at the novenas of Mae de Deus; however in this in years to come all this will disappear too) and come for` darshan’ on feast days at St. Anne’s Chapel and Mae de Deus. Hindus and Catholics have always lived in harmony in the wards pertaining to St. Anne’s Chapel and this bond is to be strengthened even more. The solution to the various problems faced by the Villagers of Saligao can only be solved by the Catholic-Hindu unity as the saying goes" United we stand divided we fall""………..to be continued. Compiled by Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas and others( see above No.1). |
