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Come September September is a month considered quite prosperous in Goa because it brings home the fruits of the cultivator's toil. The lush green paddy-fields, watered by the pouring heavens, turn golden with corn as the monsoon subsides. The barns overflow with new rice, the staple food of the land. The skies clear of the mournful grey and betray rich blue against which snow-white clouds sweep joyfully in fascinating shapes. Everything suddenly turns immensely cheerful as colourful birds, bees, butterflies and nature itself emerge from the monsoon-long hibernation. Fisherfolk, who had been merely mending nets and stifling yawns, unable to move outdoors because of all the wetness around, begin beaming with joy because they can now sail out on the welcoming waters of the azure sea. The sea no longer growls angrily as it did throughout the rainy season. The waters move further away, displaying quite a bit of the shimmering white sands which had been hidden under the watery blanket. The fisherfolk pushing down the net-ladden boats into the sea is a glorious scene on any Goan beach. There's so much excitement on the shore because it's the time of the year when fish is plenty on Goa's coasts and fishing boats and trawlers return with a handsome catch particularly kingfish, mackerels, pomfrets and sardines. September is month considered auspicious. On 13-14 people celebrated Ganesh Chovoth (Chaturthi), which is the most colourful, culture-borne festival in the Goan calendar, with fireworks, bhajans, artis and exhuberant fugddi (dance) in front of the image of Lord Ganesh, a work of art by Goa's famed idol-makers. And in all the plenty, even after the rains had subsided, it poured and this time it poured ministers--so many of them added to CM Luizinho Faleiro's Congress government despite pious utterances that it would not rain ministers this time at least. But being Goans we take everything--good, badly and ugly--in our stride and don't seem to grudge politicians indulging in greed. But there's something more ominous happening down South in Sancoale, where the Meta Strips Ltd factory is being opposed by the locals because they are quite convinced that it is a polluting industry and hence would not like to have it in their neighbourhood. While the anti-Meta Strips stir is gaining momentum, one Herman Correia, allegedly of unsound mind, assaulted and injured five priests at the Navelim church. Many thought that the assault was a fall-out of the stir but now everyone seems to be saying that it's not right. Oi, ga Saiba! Ministers have multiplied but so have our problems but all the ministers in Faleiro's Cabinet are unable to solve any of our problems. Joel
D'Souza |
