News Clips from Goa
 

Church calls for a field day http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/goa/Church TNN 25 August 2009, … Homilies delivered at churches across the state dealt with the awkward issue of Goans shying away from agriculture PANAJI: The 7 am mass at St Mathew‘s Church, Azossim, was in progress on Monday when the parish priest posed a rather uncomfortable question to the congregation. How many of you are still carrying on agriculture and getting your fields tilled? I would like you to raise your hands, Fr Miguel Pereira said. Up went around half a dozen hands from among almost 300 people who had gathered, keeping alive the tradition of attending mass on the feast of the first harvest. This is happening in a village of agriculturists. At the time of marriage, in almost 90% of the cases, the groom’s occupation is stated as agriculturist. Today, only 5-6 persons raised their hands out of almost 300 people, the parish priest told TOI later in the evening. Celebrating the feast of the first harvest was more than just the simple act of cutting the corn on Monday. Goa, currently in the midst of a social upheaval, where agriculture is on the decline and lands are being used for real estate projects, saw the church exhorting the faithful not to abandon agriculture. Homilies delivered at churches across the state dealt with the awkward issue of Goans shying away from agriculture and the far-reaching consequences of this, which could even be the demise of Goa itself. Fr Pereira spoke to the laity about the dignity of labour and the need to continue ancestral traditions. If we don’t work in our fields, agriculture will die and our agricultural lands and properties will disappear,” he said. Although there is no formal pronouncement by the church on farming, PRO for the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman Fr Francisco Caldeira said that the church is strongly in favour of agriculture. “The fruits of agriculture are basic to our very sustenance and living,” he said.

One-day Ganesh idols immersed It was bye-bye Ganesha on Monday evening for the one-and-half-day idols placed in various homes, even as sarvajanik mandals across the State are celebrating the festival. Panjim city saw people carrying their idols to some of the traditional Ganesh visarjan (immersion) points at the ferry wharf, Miramar sea front and Patto. Earlier, the bhats (Hindu priests) were kept busy with ‘artis’ and ‘pujas’of the Lord. [H]

Ganesh idols of laterite stones! If Plaster of Paris Ganesh idols are banned and clay idols are only too common, a teacher from Sattari now has a third alternative – laterite stone idols. Navso Parwar, a teacher by profession and a resident of Saleli-Sattari, has sculpted several Ganesh idols from laterite stones. He is popular in Sattari for his art and craft works, including clay moulding and woodcarving. “I thought of doing different sort of work this time, so I carved Ganesh idols from laterite stones,” said Parwar, who also prepared one idol of lord Ganesh from pebbles. “I took seven days to do all these work,” said Parwar, while referring to the six Ganesh idols and one mouse carved by him. [H]

Corlim celebrates konsachem fest The harvest festival, popularly known as konsachem fest, was celebrated in Corlim on Monday with traditional fervour. St Joao Facundo Church Parish Priest Fr Assis Dourado was the main celebrant for the feast, who along with the villagers led a procession to Calvaddo towards konsachi kongi and blessed the first paddy corn. [H]

Success without hardwork is like harvesting without planting: Desai The president of Centro Promoter de Instucao of Canacona, Mr. Vikas V Desai , Said "Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest when you havent planted. Mr. Desai was speaking at the inauguration of the students council of Dnyan Probodhini Mandal's Shree Mallikarjun College of Arts and Commerce, Delem, Canacona, recently. [NT]

CM invites sarpanchas for talks on powers bestowed to p’yat secretaries With the agitation launched by the Sarpanchas and other NGOs gaining momentum across the State, Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat has invited the Sarpanchas for discussions on the government’s Bill Amending the Goa Panchayat Raj Act bestowing powers to the secretaries. [H]

CM releases tigers at Bondla enclosure The Bondla mini zoo yesterday received two new guest – Sandhya and Rana who enthralled the visitors with their appearance and charm. Yes, the pair of Royal Bengal tigers who are originally from Vishakhapatnam Zoo are now part of Bondla zoo. [GT]

Goa gets first Nano The much awaited Nano has finally hit Goan with the keys of the first cars handed over to Ms Nanda Kare and Mr Narciva Khandeparker on Friday morning by the Managing director of Auto industries, Mr Baba Naik in the presence of dealer accounts manager, Tata Motors, Mr Vishal Sharma, Mr D N Naik, Chairman of Auto Industries Mr Santosh Ghodge, general Manager, sales, among others. [NT]

Renewable energy park by May 2010 The Rs 2.25 crore Renewable Energy Education Park will finally become a reality by May 2010. Rechristened as the Rajiv Gandhi Renewable Energy Education Park (RGREEP), the project is expected to give a boost to students as well as tourism in the state. [H]

Ojem is more of a social tradition Printed from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4930952,prtpage-1.cms TNN 25 August 2009, MARGAO: Times may change, but the tradition of ojem, a basket of sweets and fruits, sent to married daughters by their parents” is still practised during Ganesh Chaturthi in Goa. Even as the true meaning behind the custom is not known, Laxmibai Usgaonkar, 73, says. The custom is more social than religious. It has attained the form of a religious tradition because ojem is sent during a festival. In Goa, Chaturthi being the most important festival for Goan Hindu families, the receiving and sending of ojem at this time gains significance. She explains further, The custom primarily came into being because when the idea originated, most marriages were arranged and the custom of dowry was widely prevalent. Apart from the dowry consisting of gold, money and grains, the groom was customarily to be provided with gifts throughout the year. It also served as a means of respect to the son-in-law. Chovtichem ojem (Chaturthi gifts), as it is fondly called, consists of sweets particularly the khajeacho ladu (a rich sweet topped with cashew nuts), fruits consisting of mainly maidolichea kelacho ghad (bunch of Mapusa bananas), matolichem sayita (wax-made fruits and vegetables for the Ganesh canopy) and vaein (a coconut which is worshipped and exchanged by married women). Speaking to TOI as she prepared the ojem to send to her three married daughters, (one in Dubai who also gets her share), Margao housewife Vrunda Kamat said, My parents have been sending it for years. I too will send ojem to my daughters as long as I live. After that it depends on my son and his wife. She displays sweets sent by her mother and says, Sons-inlaw form an integral part of the family and it is essential to gift the daughter’s husband with sweets, as it is to gift a daughter with sweets. Jyoti Mordekar finds a different meaning to the tradition. In earlier times, most Indian married women were confined to the house. It was no better for a daughter-in-law whose duties left her with little time to care for herself or even eat satisfactorily. The daughter-in-law was mostly deprived of sweets and would rarely go to her parents home. Out of love and affection for their daughter, parents would prepare special sweets and send it to their daughters in a basket. As per most Indian rituals, sweets are also considered lucky, says Mordekar. Mordekar feels that the custom needs to be changed or discontinued. None have the time to prepare sweets at home. Prices are rising and the quality has deteriorated. With ailments like diabetes, few people prefer sweets . The custom of ojem should not become an ojem (burden in Konkani) on the parents, says Mordekar.