MIRACULOUS CROSS OF CANDOLIM MANDD.

 

Second of February is marked as a feast day of Our Lady of Agonizante which is commonly known as “Condoi Saibinnichem Fest” celebrated on 2^nd February in Candolim, at Pintos Vaddo, Asilo Chapel.  It is called Asilo Chapel because it is attached to the Asilo or Old Age House for males only existing since the Portuguese rule in Goa.  Both Asilo and Chapel are  under the control  of Provedoria, a government arm. 

The Chapel of Condoi Saibinn.

 

 

 

                                             Entrance of the Azilo for Old Aged males

Pintos Vaddo in Candolim is a world renowned place especially for intellectuals and  historians because this Vaddo gave birth to the Pintos Revolt against Portuguese even before the French Revolution and secondly because this Vaddo gave birth to the world renowned Hypnotist,  Abade Faria.  Opposite to the Asilo Chapel, about a century back the much known in Goa, the Candolim  “ Mandd” came into being.  This Mandd is known for its miraculous Cross called “ Manddailo Khuris” as shown in the picture below.  Hundreds of people of all the religions flock there with flowers in their hands to pray and ask favours from God thru Manddailo Khuris. Though this Mandd  was formed not by any individual person yet it was promoted and developed more by two individual persons, one of them was my father and the other by Jose Rodrigues (Kavllo) though others have also supported in their own ways  to develop this Mandd.

                                                            Manddailo Khuris

In the initial stages some elders from this Vaddo mainly the “Kaxttikar” manual workers were coming at that particular spot and sitting on the ground and  discussing their affairs including their personal and family affairs.  Gradually these meetings became regular feature which used to end with a small prayer.  Then these people started playing “Ghumott” music there, hence Ghumott music became a part of any function organized at the Mandd.  During those days “Bamonn Bhattkarshai” was suffering from pride complex and to show their brute power the next door Bhattkar stopped the activities of this Mandd.  Hurt by this rude action of the Bhattkar, the Mandd people cursed the Bhattkar saying “Tumguer Sath-Chouda-Ekvis”  Ceddvanch zaunk”.  Incidentally, this cursed came into reality when the Bhattkar’s wife gave birth to all the seven girls only.  Then the Bhattkar realized his folly and openly offered his apology to the Mandd.  Then only they got a boy.  Traditionally as per its history, this  Mandd is very punishing for the wrong doers.   

The first Tiatro at Mandd was organized in 1946, 2^nd February to be precise,  to mark the feast of Condoi  Saibinn. The proposal and initiative for this first ever Tiatro was given by my father who encouraged one Santan Fernandes known as Genddo Santan to stage his Tiatro because he was an established Tiatrist of that time at local level.

Then on the advice of my father the profit made from this Tiatro a fund was  established as Death Benefit, that is to purchase the Coffin for the dead members coming from Pintos-Araddy Vaddo only.  During those days many people could not afford a decent burial for their dead due to abject poverty because of which their burial was done thru the coffin borrowed from the Fabrica – a rented Coffin from the Fabrica.   Currently the death benefit amount is Rs. 20,000/-

My father during those days was the rare man among all  the members of Mandd and he was the most intelligent as well having a very good vernacular educational background and fluency in spoken Portuguese language and hence he was a big asset for the Mandd then. The intelligence of those people of the Mandd can be gauged from the contents and clauses of the Rules and Regulations of the Mandd which looked as if they are framed by the great legal luminaries.  They were born genii. I salute them.   Because  of these Rules there is a system still existing at the Mandd and every member is bound to act within the boundary of these Rules to avoid disciplinary action and castigation, even dismissal.  In the earlier stages due to their backwardness educationally and socially, some of the members were acting like uncivilized and uncultured men and to control such members the intelligent members drafted these rigid Rules.    Some of the Rules state that “No to use foul and vulgar language at the Mandd, No to raise one’s voice,  no to show physical aggressiveness while discussing any topic, no to raise the topic of one’s Caste, no to talk on personal matters of the invividuals and etc”.

The feast of Manddailo Khuris is celebrated by the administrators of this Mandd by staging a Tiatro there. Since a long time now it is a regular event at Candolim Mandd which starts at 10.30 PM approximately but preceded by playing of traditional Gumott music.  This Ghumott music consisting of three traditional instruments namely “Ghumott, Madyem & Kanxaem”, starts  from two centres, one in Araddy next to my house and the other in Pintos Vaddo only, about 1000 metres away from the Mandd location, approximately 3 hours before the start of the Tiatro.  This music is called “Sunvari” coming from two different directions as said above and converge at the particular location about 100 metres from the Mandd. 

After reciting prayers there and playing the Gumott music with gusto for about 30 minutes, the entire Sunvari walks up to the Mandd by playing its music and with the rousing welcome by the people attending the Tiatro, finally enters the Tiatro Stage to the total excitement and pleasure of the people gathered there.  They then play their traditional music for about 30 minutes on the Stage and after a short prayer for the success of the event, the first part ends and the second part that is Tiatro then begins.  

From the time of the first ever Tiatro in 1946, the Stage preparation for the Mandd Tiatro was organized by Jose Rodrigues and Lights thru Petromax was provided by my father, rented for this purpose from the neighboring village till electricity came.
 

It is said, “my enemy is within me” and this was what had exactly happened in 1964.  Some people wanted to destroy and liquidate the Mandd out of jealousy for the smooth running of the Mandd affairs under my father and Jose Rodrigues and their likeminded members. In 1963 following the Chinese incursion and grabbing of a vast tract of land by China, Morarjee Desai the Finance Minister of India introduced the Gold Control by which the pure gold was taken by the government as a means to boost the foreign exchange. 

One of the major advantages for the members of the Mandd provided by the elders was the facility of Loans by mortgaging their gold.  Thru this loan many of the members fulfilled their personal financial obligations.  Since this was the case, the Box containing Mandd money and the mortgaged gold kept at  the residence of one reliable member, annually brought to the Mandd for the annual general body meeting and if necessary to take inventory openly. This Wooden Box had three Keys with three different members and only they could open it.  In order to create a disaster of the Mandd and also to create problem for the Mandd leadership for keeping the gold against the prevailing law, some members informed Police to confiscate the gold and arrest the leaders.  When the Police Inspector in a civilian dress came to Candolim Tinto before proceeding to the Mandd, he met both my elder brothers who happened to be the good friends of that Police Inspector.  When that Police Inspector  confided in my brothers the purpose of his visit, my brothers impressed upon him to stop proceeding further and brought him to my place for the Lunch.  In this way, the tragic incident thru the mighty power of miraculous Manddailo Khuris was averted and Mandd existence was saved. Immediately those who were found guilty  of this foul play were shown the exit door of the Mandd.

A.     Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIATRO "PAI" AT CANDOLIM MANDD.

Manddailo Khuris filled with flowers by the devotees

 

This year on February 2^nd, Tiatro “Pai” of comedian Agostinho was staged and it was very well accepted by the audience for its rich story, entertaining comedy and very good display of their talents by the every artiste. As usual Pradeep, Willy and Dola played their roles well, so also by Jr. Nelson, Philip Almeida and others.  Comedy part was nicely handled by the director Agostinho himself who was ably supported by Selvy and comedy queen Jannet.

 

 Traditional Gumott Music seen playing on the Stage

 

 

Seen above is felicitation programme 

 

 

Seen above is Edmundo Fernandes singing his solo 

 

 

 The local girl seen singing her solo

 

 

 Eugeno Cardoso & his beautiful wife singing their duet

 

In the Side Show songs, Marcus Vaz, Francis de Tuem, Jr. Nelson, Benny de Aldona rendered their solos well while Jannet and her husband rendered a nice duet.

 

Benny de Aldona sings his solo on miracle of Bible 

 

 

 Seen in this scene are Willy, Philip, Dola and Melita

  

 

 Another scene where Selvy and charmingJannet are seen

 

Besides, some locals also rendered their songs, namely a duet by Eugeno Cardoso with his wife, a solo by Edmund Fernades (ex Kuwait) on the history of Mandd and solos by the two youngsters.   

 

 Jr. Nelson singing his solo on Censorship for Tiatrists

  

 

 A scene where Willy and attractive Dola are seen

 

Two senior Mandd members Edmundo Fernandes and Antonio Silva were felicitated with Shawls put around their shoulders by yet another senior member Cheddo.  Along with them students from Pintos Vaddo receiving highest marks in their studies were also honoured.

 

        Both the artistes Willy and Pradeep brought glory to this Tiatro with their superb roles.


A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.
 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONGRESS COMMITTEES IN THE GULF.

According to the news appearing from here and there, NRI’s may get the voting rights starting from the next general election.  Possibly having its eyes on the next election in 2017, Congress Party from Goa has gone into campaign trail  for the next Goa Legislative Assembly by appointing a committee of Gulf based Goans to represent Congress Party in the Gulf.  Additionally one Kuwait based Goan committee is also formed.

Now the question is: On what basis these committee members were appointed?  Were they appointed with the consent of the people residing there or they were appointed as per the whims and fancies of the Congress leadership in Goa?  To represent Goans in the Gulf, what was their contribution for the cause of Goans there?  The Goans in the Gulf must first ascertain the real credentials of these men to represent them.  Congress has one dirty habit of hoisting its Chamchas on the people without consulting the people properly. As it is according to my information some committee members from Kuwait are appointed without their consent, one of them is already a BJP member.

Congress in India as a whole is gone into hibernation and to bring it back to its earlier level there is no Indira Gandhi’s charisma now.  Sonia Gandhi is not Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi with her immature son Rahul is not capable to revive the hopes of Congress victory in the next election. With Rahul Gandhi at the helm of affairs of Congress Party, Congress will never regain its earlier glory.

In Goa the Congress Party is a devided house and no Congress stalwart in Goa is a true Congressman, they are prostituted Congressmen.  The chief of Congress in Goa Luizinho Faleiro himself was a defector earlier donning the colours of Goa Congress while the Opposition Leader Rane was a MGP product just like Khalap and Ravi Naik and Tomazinho Cardoso, Babush Monsurate and Digambar Kamat are equally guilty of wearing the robes of non-Congress parties.  In view of this they are not sincere to the Congress Party, instead they are sincere only to their personal interests and to fulfill these interests they will jump into any other party that satisfies their wants of political power.  That such a mighty Congress Party is acting like a Cockroach in front of Babush Monsurate while Mauwin Godinho is  making a fool of Congress Party is a matter of shame.

If  the newly Congress committee members in the Gulf and others also are really interested to see the revival of Congress Party in Goa then they must demand from Congress Party in Goa to keep the Old Guards and defeated candidates out of election fray because it is these persons who because of their corrupt practices destroyed Congress chances in the last election.  The genuine Congress supporters are refusing to vote for them anymore and as such their chances for re-election is Zero though they may say anything. Last election BJP won in Goa with less money power but with more personal credibility of their candidates supported by the negative feelings against Congress candidates, example Calangute Constituency.

Since Luizin Faleiro took over the Congress reign from John Fernades things are not moving in right direction though in the beginning it looked he would create wonders but these wonders are yet to materialized.  Unless Faleiro keeps out all the defeated and corrupt candidates and also the Old guards, Congress will never come up. Hence, it is the responsibility of all the Congress supporters to insist upon Congress Party to act sensible by listening to the voice of its supporters.  Congress Party is not the monopoly of High and Low Commands only, even the ordinary Congress supporters deserve hearing otherwise Luizin Faleiro will make a fool of himself.  

Meantime, I am requesting anyone to provide me the email addresses of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Chief of Goa Desk in Delhi.

 A.    Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349