FESTIVALS OF GOA HALDI-KUKUM GOA'S Hindu women, decked up for the evening, are seen all over the village and city every mid-January, in small groups, visiting their neighbours for the traditional Haldi-Kukum. Being celebrated solely by the married women in Goa and Maharashtra, Haldi-Kukum can hardly be called a festival because not all the members of the family are involved in the traditional, annual ritual. Social Significance In ancient Goa, married Hindu women were expected to devote their time entirely to their household, rearing children and serving their spouses. They were neither allowed to talk to any male other than the husband nor allowed to remain present in a room where men of the household would gather for discussions. The women thus, with their husbands in mind, needed excuses to socialise with their counterparts. Haldi-Kukum springs up from this social need. However, the socialising incorporates the good wishes by one married women to another, praying for the well being of the husband and the household. And so, the woman would even believe that her husband's life span increases every time she receives Haldi-Kukum. The "Festival" is celebrated between "Sankrant", which falls in the Poush month of the lunar calendar and "Rath Saptam", which is the 7th day of the Magh month of the same calendar. Sankrant always comes on January 14 of every year. 
Description The Haldi-Kukum Thali consists of : - Haldi
and Kukum, which depicts the holy state of matrimony for a
Hindu, Goan woman. Tilgul, tilache ladoo and channa form the basic refreshments offered to the visitors during Haldi-Kukum. These humble refreshments are such that the majority of the households living on minimum wages and with a number of mouths to feed, could easily afford. 
The "Festival" The Lady of the house invites other married women. She applies the Haldi-Kukum on their foreheads and gives away a vain or token. The children of the house help in distributing tilgul and channa while the mother is busy offering the Vain. Tradition maintained Down the ages, the convivial tradition has retained its original flavour and vigour in many joint families. Women, in recent times, have moved out from the traditional home and are often employed. So we do not, many a times, witness nuclear families observing the "festival". Similarly, the cuisine, has changed from the modest tilgul and channa to more elaborate buffets comprising of patties, sweets, soft drinks and the like. The cuisine, however, is still vegetarian. 
Haldi-Kukum still remains a very significant event in a married women's life and has a pre-determined list of vain in the first six years of her married life, depicting the various items considered auspicious for a married woman. 1st year -
Chidki Wati (a small earthen pot placed in one-half of a
coconut) FEASTS & ZATRAS FATORPA ZATRA: The Shree Shantadurga Kuncolikarin zatra was celebrated at Fatorpa by the Hindu as well as the Catholic Gauncars. The latter, who descendants of Dessais, displayed banners in Cuncolim welcoming the devotees of Shantadurga Kuncolikarin. Chairman of the Cuncolim Chieftains Committee, Dr Verrisimo Coutinho claims that the belief that the Shantadurga and Our Lady of Health are sisters has helped maintain communal amity here. There are plans to establish a Cuncolim Kshatriya Samaj. ASSAGAO-ANJUNA FEASTS: The parish of Assagao celebrated the feast of Bom Parto and Anjuna celebrated the feast of Advogad Sabinn on January 7 with traditional festivity. For once, the famous "khozne", which wake up every one with their loud blast, were not heard this year in both the villages. Both the neighbouring villages had a tiatr for the evening's entertainment. DESTERRO FEAST: The annual feast of Our Lady of Desterro was celebrated at the Desterro ward of Vasco da Gama. The 'president' of the feast this year was Kuwait-based Tony Alphonso along with his family. Alphonso also helped to comanise a variety entertainment programme every evening after the novena. Fr Donato Rodrigues, Professor of Rachol Seminary, was the main celebrant at high mass. There was a tiatr "Suseg" by Comedian Agostinho at 6.30 p.m. at the Natraj Hall. CANACONA FEAST: The parishioners of Canacona celebrated the feast of St Thereza of Avilla on January 14. This year the feast was celebrated by the Kuwaitkars from Canacona. FEAST OF BLESSED JOSEPH VAZ: Sancoale celebrated the feast of Blessed Joseph Vaz on January 16. Fr Thomas Aquino Sequeira, Rector of the Rachol Seminary, was the principal celebrant at the high mass. CONSUA'S FEBRI FEAST: The Febri feast at the Consua parish was celebrated on January 21. KAVLEM ZATRA: The 'palki' (traditional palanquin procession) was held at the Shri Shantadurga Devasthan at Kavlem in Ponda, on the occasion of the zatra, from 6 pm to 10 pm on January 25. MAINA FEAST: St Rita's parish in Maina celebrated a 3-day festival at the church grounds from January 26 to 28, with a variety of entertaining programmes. SANTA CRUZ: The feast of Our Lady of Rosary was celebrated by the Santa Cruz parish on January 28. DON BOSCO: The feast of St John Bosco was celebrated by the staff and students of Don Bosco High School in Panjim on January 31. |