News Clips from Goa
 

Pensao: A tradition wrapped in myth http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Pensao-A-tradition-wrapped-in-myth TNN 2 November 2009, On Monday, as Catholics observe All Soul's Day and make their annual visit to cemeteries, many will be regretting having forgotten to offer a mass for the eternal repose of their ancestor's souls. That is something most Goan Catholics unfailingly do every year. Many even offer masses for the repose of souls of people who have never been associated with the family. For in the hoary corridors of Goan church history, there existed the practice of bequeathing property to a person with the condition that the inheritor would offer masses for the soul of the dower. "In the past people, including priests, used to will properties with the condition that masses would be said for their souls. Later on it was made a condition that such a legacy should be registered at the bishop's house," says church historian Fr Nascimento Mascarenhas. Usually the "pensao" (there is no proper English translation for this word except that it can be called a perpetual condition) is on a property. All over the state, there are various properties known as "pensavnchem bhat". Few are willing to buy these and, claim persons who know about the issue, that fruit from trees in a property that has a pensao are not plucked but left to rot. Those who do buy such properties, make a beeline to the church to offer masses for the souls connected with the property they have bought. Sources say that some such people make it a point to give the masses not just when they first buy a property, but every year after that too. "The people who enjoy such properties don't prosper. We as lawyers often ask for a certificate that states the property is without any pensao," a lawyer on condition of anonymity told TOI. There are records of such bequests, at least as far as church properties are concerned, and these can be found in the church archives in Goa and also in the rare book section of the Central Library in Panaji. Though it is not seen as a curse, people do believe that excluding their ancestors from prayers can bring harm to the family. "It is just a belief of the people," asserts a senior priest from Goa. Professor at Rachol seminary Fr Victor Ferrao agrees with this. Says he, "There are certain obligations that our ancestors may have assumed but not fulfilled. If those are not fulfilled then people believe there is some punishment." Another priest described this as "a kind of contract between people", where something was given with the condition that the receiver would pray for the salvation of the person's soul. To those who believe in pensao, there is a simple method of warding off any untoward evil that could come their way. Offer masses for the soul of the person concerned-the previous owners of the property or even unknown persons connected with the property-to dispel any harm that could occur to the present owners or to the property. The practice exists in Goa and elsewhere too. "The fruits of the mass are many. When we offer mass we believe there are multiple effects. We pray for Jesus' salvation for those who are dead," says Ferrao. There could, however, be a simple explanation to the offering of masses. "The present generation is enjoying the land of their ancestors and offering masses for their souls is one way of remembering the latter. It is also an act of gratitude," said Fr Cosme Costa, of the missionaries of St Francis Xavier. It is believed that the mass offered for the soul of the person brings relief to the dead. What it certainly does is bring solace to the person offering the mass. "In one way it is a psychological release," says a senior priest. Goa's best known case of "pensao" is that of Canon Francisco da Cunha Souto-Maior whose will forbade the sale of land he bequeathed at Caranzalem. The will had a stipulation that the land would not be sold "in any manner as long as the sun and the world exist". When the land was sold to a builder, after the church obtained "exemptions" from the Vatican over the stipulations in the will, and the construction project faced some difficulties, it was said that the spirit of the canon was at work. On Monday and throughout the month of November, Catholics will remember the souls of their forefathers. They will do so and pray for the release of souls in purgatory and their speedy journey into heaven.

Goa’s financial situation is improving: Kamat The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat on Friday said that though the state suffered a fall of around 20 per cent in its revenue collection in the first half of the current financial year, Goa’s financial situation is improving since October. Interacting with the pressmen, Friday evening, the Chief Minister said that when the finance department took stock of the state’s financial status from April to September 2009, it learnt that the state had received many benefits, last year, such as selling of a vessel constructed at the Goa Shipyard and so on, which brought lump sum revenue for the state. [NT]

Goa has country’s lowest infant mortality rate Goa has the country’s lowest infant mortality rate (IMR), at 10 deaths per thousand live births. Kerala’s IMR is 12, while Manipur’s is 14. The average IMR for the country as a whole has gone down marginally, from 55 per thousand live births to 53, over the last one year, say the latest figures released by the Registrar General of India (RGI). [H]

Narcotics business thriving in coastal areas Goa, the smallest state of the country, which was once famous for its pristine beaches is now also known for drug peddling even as the government said it is helpless in eliminating the crime completely. While the State has been trying to get tough with gambling (casinos) due to protests from the locals, the business of drugs and prostitution has been thriving in the coastal areas. From the year 2002 till 2008 drugs worth Rs 4.35 crore has been seized from the coastal areas and the residents of the locality say it is just the tip of an iceberg. [H]

Italian tourists prefer Kerala to Goa The honorary consul of Italy in Goa and chairman of the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr A Dal Negro on Saturday said that during the 1980s all major Italian tour operators included Goa in their itineraries. However, today if they offer a beach holiday in India then they prefer Kerala to Goa. “The fact is that in spite of the golden beaches, in spite of historical sites, Goa is no more in the maps of the Italian tourism,” he added, stating that this is a matter of study and introspection, which Goa should carry out because Italy, apart from being one of the first tourist destinations in the world, is also one of the biggest source of tourists for other countries. [NT]

Guests will have to provide ID proof for accommodation As part of government’s efforts to keep an eye on suspicious persons visiting the State in view of security concerns, the North Goa district authorities have made it compulsory for all those offering accommodation facilities to collect photo identity proof of all their guests. The order has been issued by the North Goa District Collector Mihir Vardhan following a communication received from Superintendent of Police, North Goa. [H]

Hotel staff learning Russian to keep tourist inflow high The sudden spurt of Russian tourists has given the Goan tourism industry some reasons to smile about and the inflow of the Russians is expected to continue to come till the end of the season. The industry appeared to be trying hard to cope with the emergent situation that of language barrier and using various means to meet the needs of their newfound guests. [NT]

Modern arms for Goa police stuck in red-tape Procedural delays by the police department and the lackadaisical attitude of the Central government towards the State seem to have delayed Goa Police’s plans to get equipped with sophisticated modern weapons and protective gears. In the aftermath of the 26/11 and the consistent terror threat to the coastal State, the Goa Police had decided to equip themselves with sophisticated weapons like AK series rifles, SLRs, bulletproof jackets and Door Frame Metal Detectors (Multi zone – DFMD). [H]

Fishermen to vacate houses only if properly rehabilitated The Khariwada firshermen have decided not to vacate their houses till the MPT gives them a proper rehabilitation package which includes a permanent fishing jetty. This was decided at meeting organised by the Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (GFBOA), Vasco at a meeting organised at their office at Khariwada on Sunday morning. The meeting was attended by Revenue Minister, Mr Jose Philip D’Souza, GFBOA president, Mr Simon Pereira, vice-president, Mr Jose D’Souza, Mr Rocha Barretto, general secretary, Mr Edwin Carvalho, organizing secretary, Mr Philip Sequeira and other members of the association and fishing community members at large. [NT]

Goa Chitra Museum to open on Nov 2 Goa Chitra, an ethnographical Museum in Benaulim, will open its doors to the public on Monday, November 2, providing a rare opportunity to showcase Goa’s rich ancestry and way of life. The museum will be coming alive with the ribbon being cut by India’s eminent cartoonist Mario the Miranda and the lighting of the traditional lamp by a senior representative of the artisan’s community. [GT]

Leopard sighted in Canacona Residents of Chaudi in Canacona claim to have sighted a leopard on the prowl in their locality and have requested the forest department to capture the animal before it causes further loss of life. [H]

Parrikar releases music CD of ‘jaagor’ film Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar yesterday released the audio CD of Konkani film ‘Jaagor’ under the banner of Shree Dambabalem Ghodem Production by Fatorda MLA Damodar (Damu) Naik. The music for the CD is composed by Sidhanath U Buyao, Lyrics by Damu and Songs sung by Swapnil Bandodkar, Nephie Rod and Avdhoot Gupte. [GT]