* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2008 Toronto International Goan Convention Theme: Goan Identity And Networking Today. http://2008goanconvention.com/index.php
Mario Miranda Festival, July 24-26, 2008 Old GMC Building http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-July/077732.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'Touxeanchem fest' with a difference 27 Jul 2008, 0237 hrs IST,TNN PANAJI: Boosted by the initiation of a restoration project estimated to cost Rs 4.80 crore, the 'Touxeanchem Fest' at the 310-odd years old St Anne Church at Talaulim on Sunday, July 27, will be more significant than in the recent past to the faithful, parishioners and others alike. The faithful returned every year to be traumatised by the increasing decay of the national monument, but just two months ago, the Indian National Trust of Art and Culture (INTACH) which is executing the project, finally started the work. The feast of St Joaquim and St Anne, the grand parents of Jesus Christ falls on July 26, but is celebrated on the last Sunday of the month, in Talaulim. Other parishes celebrate this day as 'Grandparents Day', but in Talaulim one finds not just grandparents but youth too. For, celebrations in this village have a different significance to it. Catholics from different parts of the state flock to this church, unique in the whole of Asia for its hollow walls, and one of the best examples of Indian baroque. The feast in Talaulim has a peculiar tradition to it. It is known as the 'touseanchem fest' in Goa for a simple reason that this being the season for cucumbers ('touxim' in Konkani) people offer this vegetable at the feet of St Anne making a supplication. Newly wed couples go to Talaulim, offer a cucumber and petition St Anne saying, 'Senhora, tomai pepino, dai me menino,' (Lady, take this cucumber and give me a child). There is nothing much to it, except that pepino (cucumber) and menino (son/child) rhyme. But it is not just childless couples who go to Talaulim, bachelors and spinsters also do so. Bachelors take along a spoon and say, 'Senhora, tomai colher, dai me mulher' (Lady, take this spoon and give me a wife) and spinsters with some lentils beseech the saint saying, 'Senhora, tomai urido, dai me marido' (Lady, take this urid dal and give me a husband). As in the previous there is no connection between the offering and the wish, other than that the words rhymes. "It is a tradition that has been followed for long and is significant to the things presented," Maria Lourdes Bravo da Costa, a Panaji-based writer on cultural subjects said. A 'colher' or spoon relates more to women and 'menino' to the males. The church was founded in 1577, but was rebuilt by its Vicar, Msgr Francisco de Rego (1681-1689) and his successor, Fr Antonio Francisco da Cunha completed it in 1695. Tradition has it that while the edifice was under construction, an old lady appeared in a vision to a senior villager, Bartholomeu Marchon. She told him that the church was her home and she wanted to live in it. Another old lady also saw the same vision. Till then, the church had not been dedicated to any patron saint. And so, the church was dedicated to St Anne. Though the Portuguese in 1932, and later the government of Goa, Daman and Diu in 1963, declared it as a national monument, the majestic church was destined to fall into neglect and exposure to the severity of natural elements. A see-saw battle between State Archives and Archaeology and ASI, largely because of its take over, affected a restoration effort. Thankfully, all that is past and now the restoration project seeks to restore it to its pristine glory. Three important aspects that need immediate attention are stabilsing of its 100-feet bell tower, renovation of the roof and prevention of water logging around its foundation. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Touxeanchem_fest_with_a_differenc e/articleshow/3286246.cms ~(^^)~ Avelino --------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** http://www.GOANET.org **** --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tri Continental Film Festival 2008 July 25 - 30, 2008 Goa, India http://www.moviesgoa.org/page/tri_continental/ http://www.moviesgoa.org/tricon/schedule_2008.pdf ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
