FALL OF THE GREENTRESSES AT ALTINHO Elvidio Miranda The overarching branches of a tree at the 77-steps stairway at the base of which is the Portuguese consulate resembling tresses of a maiden fell on 19th March blocking the staircase that depicts the way of the cross at Altinho, of fine Portuguese era architecture. It is an occurrence that providence prevented these two branches from having fallen on those frequenting this spiritually significant and symbolic stairway that is a remembrance of Jesus carrying the cross to Mount Calvary before his crucifixion. Many faithful perform this ritual during the Holy Lent season. One call to the Goa Fire Services and 10 minutes later they arrived to chop off the branches and restore passage to those who use this symbolically spiritual stairway which forms the Way of the Cross. However,early morning on my walk up, the chirping of the birds atop the branches caught my imagination and made what might have been a tragedy if the branches had fallen on someone, into a memorable experience, in a beautiful natural setting, an irony of sorts.
