GOA MESSENGER, 1-15 February 2005 Vol. VI Issue - 6 --------------
Umbrellas, Vangores, Bunds Cuncolim - That Village Of Twelve —Armstrong Vaz Twelve seems to be a favourable number with Cuncol kars. They have twelve umbrellas representing the twelve Vangores of Cuncolim, and then they have the twelve bunds of Cuncolim and the twelve Van gores comprising of the original inhabitants-Gaonkars of Cuncolim. Here are some interesting related facts. The Shantadurga Temple The Gaonkars of Cuncolim secretly transferred the deity of Shri Shantadurga to Fatorpa in the face of forceful conversion by the Portuguese in Cuncolim. The present temple is housed at Fatorpa .The temple lies amidst the greenery of the surrounding hills and is known for a big annual zatra (fair) which falls in the month of Paus .(December-January) from Pancha mi to Dosam which in fact, sets the tone of all the zatras in Goa. Hindus and Catholics alike worship the deity, which represents the truly secular character and communal harmony Of Goa.The Fatorpa temple is also know for the Shigmo Sontreo (Umbrellas) festival. During which, on panchami day (usually in March), the devotees commemorate the day of transfer of the deity to Cuncolim from its present location Fatorpa. The colourful procession wends its way through the same old route by which the deity was brought to Fatorpa. The deity of Shantadurga is brought in a procession from Fatorpa to Cuncolim, each year, on Panchami day in the month of Phalguna, the day on which the festival of Sontreos is held. The deity is ceremoniously taken to the original place where it was enshrined, to the accompaniment of traditional folk music and twelve silk umbrellas. The procession passes through the vaddos of Molanguinim, Biunsa, Voddy, Tolliebhatt, Markutt and Demani and from Molangini to Fatorpa The twelve umbrellas represent the twelve vangores of Cuncolim. There is only one red umbrella. The procession banned by the Portuguese at the request of Patriarch Don Antonio Sebastiao Valentewas re-established after the Portuguese Republic was set up in 1910. The Twelve Vangores Mhal: Gaonkars of Dessai and Porob ward. Shetkaar: Coutin hos of Socrecotto Naik: Tavares, Almeida, Torcato of Murida and Baga, Dessai and Naik. Mangro: Souza’s of Biunsa and Dessai. Sobro: Martins of Dandora, Baga, Velim and Dessai. Tombddo: Dessais. Porob: Fernandes of Cuncolim and sokoillo-vaddo of Velim. Sidakali: Coutinho, Pereira and Paes of Milleavaddo, Saldanha, Viera, Mas-carenhas, Souza, and Mir -anda’s of Dandora. Lokakalli: Lourenco, Rebello, Gama, Tavares, Faria, Vaz, Fernandes. Bandekar: Aguiar, Almeida of Adibandh, Noronha, Dessai, Dias of Murida, Noronha of Maddicotto, and the component of third vangores of Assolna, residents of Gadwavaddo and Bandavaddo, Almeida, Sousa, Gracias, Martins, Melo and Saldanha. Rounno: Dias and Dessai Benklo: Dessai, Moraes and Coutinho and residents of Benkleavaddo. The ward of Veroda, has a separate church-St. Anthony’s Church (Verodkars, however earlier formed part of the Cuncolim parish till the elevation of the San Antonio Capela to a church in the early 1980s. The elevation of status from Chapel to Church was largely due to businessman Avertano Furtado of Holiday Inn Resort (Cavelos sim).Veroda also has six vangores or family groups. Fotto: includes Jacques, Moraes, Brito and Noronha. Naik, Nayak, Naique, Zolmi and Porobo. These family groups consist are the original Gaonkars of Cuncolim and Veroda. Each year the feast of Our Lady of Health is celebrated by one of the twelve vangores of Cuncolim. The twelve vangores of Cuncolim irrespective of their present religious beliefs; continue to have a hand in the administrative affairs of the Temple at Shantadurga, Fatorpa. Twelve Bhands of Cun colim: In Cuncolim, Goa has an interesting irrigation system - Bara Bhand (twelve bunds) that are named Zogla bandh, Uskinibandh, Molle -bandh, Vedebandh, Sallebandh ,Folleabandh and Dothra bandh (on the Northern and Eastern sides). Chireabhandh, Oddabandh, Fontibandh, Dugalebandh, Pairabandh and Novobandh on Southern and Western side.The village has perhaps more rivulets than any other in Goa. Unfortunately due to deposits of silt and sand for over a century, they are not deep enough to irrigate a large portion of the village for the second crop. Small dams that are built annually in the month of October with mud, twigs and coconut stem hold or collect water in the streams that encircle the villages of Cuncolim & Veroda. The water collected is used for the production of Vangana(Khazana/saline) crop. The water reservoir "No vo Bandh" supplies water to the neighbouring villages of Assolna, Ambelim and Velim. The bandh is situated between two hills. The Portuguese rebuilt it around 1880 when the old one had collapsed. At that time the surrounding areas were flooded and cattle and goats, washed away. Although rebuilt about hundred years ago, it is still called Novo Bandh-new bund. Initially the local Panchayat maintained the reservoir. Each year an auction for opening and closing the tank known as "Vagzuem Tanki" was conducted. Unfortunately the Novo Bhand is not being maintained for the last eight years and several cracks have developed due to neglect. The lake adjoining the Novo Bandh is also a sad was -te. Once Cuncolim MLA Manu Fernandes had prop posed to develop the lake on the lines of the Mayem Lake. Unfortunately the proposal remained only on paper had a couple of visits by tourism officials! The now contaminated and almost dry Naya Bandh Lake can be viewed as one drives past the new Cuncolim Police Station on National Highway No. 17. The ‘Genesis of Goa’ is a series of articles that hope to throw light on the cultural history of Goa since 10000 B.C. It relates to periods – ancient, medieval and modern, whilst attempting to understand what influences from the past make Goa the land it is today. How did this unique cultural amalgam come to be???? This is information every Goan ought to know. To subscribe to Goa Messenger email:[EMAIL PROTECTED] - Forwarded by AlmeidaG(ji), www.goa-world.com Upcoming Events in Kuwait: India Day 1 April Kuwait Entertainment City AVC Red & Black Nite 7 April Faker Eldin Palace Konkani Drama "Noora" 8 April Hawalli AC Hall May Ball 2005 12 May Safir Palace Hotel __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
