History of Donvaddo---III
We shall now shift our focus on the life in the ward during the
Portuguese regime. The chapel of St. Anne was built in 1843 and Donvaddkars
fulfilled their religious obligation there by attending Mass on Sundays. There
was, however, a difficulty getting to the Chapel. The road or way through the
fields ended near the present culvert across the nullah. One had to cross the
nullah a little to the right of the culvert and wind ones way through private
property. It was then that Mr. Pedro Damiao Carneiro came to the rescue of
Donvaddkars. He was instrumental in constructing the culvert and the road beyond
till the door of the chapel( Incidentally Mr. Carneiro served as the treasurer
of St. Annes chapel for 16 years from 1879 to 1895). To commemorate this golden
moment in the annals of Donvaddo a soul stirring song was composed on the
occasion in the local language. We reproduce below the song, courtesy the late
Mr. Jose Carneiro and his sister-in-law Mrs. Regina Carneiro:
"Ek chefe mukhar soron
Kamer-xetant reuniao kelo.
Modlean marog dakhoun dilo
Sogllenche motint gelo.
Khottlantle haddun re renderu
Salak marli re bunheadu
Donvaddcheo bailo re vochunu
Khorem-kuddvi ghetleo re zhomunu
Dulpod: Salganvantu zoddim zattai vatte pasun
Donvaddkar vencer zale sankov bhandun."
CROSSES: There are two majestic crosses in Donvaddo which
deserves mention. " Vazancho Khuris" is situated next to the "Vazanchi
Baim".During Lent both the young and the old used to gather around the Cross and
sing the Stabat Mater. The feast of the Cross was celebrated in the second
week of May, with recitation of the rosary, the singing of the litany and ended
with distribution of boiled grams( chonne) and feni.
The feast of the Carneirancho Khurishowever was not
celebrated. It is not clear whether the cross is a clan cross like the Vazancho
Khuris or a cross put up by an individual or family.
We also have the Holy Cross Chapel, situated in the north in
front of a stream. It is a familiar sight to see even today the people of the
ward gather around it in May to celebrate the feast, the celebrations ending
with the usual Chonne and drink. In 1992 the statue of Our Lady of Valankanni
was donated by Mr. Aleixo Fernandes and was installed here and blessed by the
Fr. Nazario Godinho, the Parish Priest of Saligao. People from the neighbourhood
including hindus, gather there every Saturday to recite the rosary and the
novena of Our Lady.
There is another cross on the top of the hill. The purpose of
building this cross is unknown, but it was/is a sign of penance because with
stones on their heads, the villagers of Saligao proceeded from cross to cross,
this one included, to ask God Almighty to shower His blessings in the form of
rain whenever there was an unusually long dry summer spell..to be
continued.
By Mr. Orland Vaz, Mrs. Emmie Sequeira, Mr. Franklin D Souza
and Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas.
