The Christmas Nostalgia...

It's 23rd December. As I shutdown for the day in the Emirates with few cheers and a goodbye to fellow colleagues, my mind goes back to the Christmas mood that has enlightened my mind - of the last time I was in Goa.

With a warm welcome and open arms, I stood there welcomed by throngs of villagers strolling from afar. They rush hurriedly exclaiming with joy, on meeting their betrothed son who has not seen them for ages since he last left the countryside. Singing the traditional carols, they come in a big procession with candles lit and Christmas caps to bring in the festive cheer and spirit of the season. Its also common for families to share some of their home-made sweets with the carol singers who go from house to house in the vaddo to keep the spirits alive in the neighbourhood.

I also recall, on the 24th, Christmas Eve - this is the day one must not miss out on - the All Goa Carol Singing competition. This is but one event held on a grand scale in Parra that brings all the bands, choirs and musicians from all over Goa to showcase their talent, get visibility apart from competing for the best Carol performance. The streets are packed with some people going frenzy, sitting on top of compounds to watch the grand show which is also broad-casted live on YouTube.

As I recalled some of these quaint moments, I felt quite nostalgic as there is a significant difference between celebrating Christmas in your homecountry vs overseas. With the exception of attending the midnight masses and seeing shopping malls decorated, it is normal working day that just goes past like no-other. What makes Christmas in your hometown different is that, it is not just a holiday - it is but a great festival that brings together the whole community and neighbourhood for once.

Such is the spirit of the Christmas festivities that characterise the jubilant atmosphere of my home state of Goa. There is no street left untouched as all vaddos, neighbourhoods lay decorated to commeorate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Comments

The Balloon Seller...

In the heart of the Al Yarmouk church neighbourhood, there is a man selling inflatable balloons on the side walk. With a broad smile on his face - he is a true beacon of hope, always spreading joy to all the passersby as they make their way for the weekly Sunday service. Surviving on meagre income from the sale of balloons, he often greets us as we make our way for the service. He never fails to enquire as to our health as he greets us though we never purchase any of his balloons. Days and months have gone by as we have kept meeting him every Sunday evening before mass. One day, as we entered the church gate - I was as usual on the lookout out for him. The spot was completely empty - a blank pavement with passersby coming to and fro from the church. At that moment, I was in a state of thoughtfulness. I wondered where this individual could be or where he may have gone. Weeks and months passed, and we could still not see him. We then decided to keep him in our prayers - hopi...

The Pulao in the Making

It was a Sunday afternoon of another weekend in Goa. Coming home from the long ardous journey, I spent a few minutes sifting through the pages of the local daily. All of a sudden, I was taken aback by the sumptuous aroma of a Goan dish that filled the entire household as my mum set off to prepare it as part of a huge spread for the feast day. I have no words to describe my love and fascination towards this dish that I now proudly consider on such days as T.G.I.P.D - Thank God It's Pulao Days. With its strong aroma - a culmination of the spices of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves - 'pulao' is but one of the dishes that has grown to occupy a prominence in many Goan households on feast days. Driven by the aroma it brings in, everytime my mum has prepared it, I also drew a liking towards this delicacy. After a lot of convincing with my grandmother, I was finally granted my spot in the vast expansive kitchen. As it is customary in most households, men are not accustomed to be in the...

Musandam Changed Me.

How many of you have ever been on an adventure that completely changed the your view towards life? One moment, you’re having fun, and the next, you’re questioning everything. That’s exactly what happened to me two years ago on a trip to Musandam. It was one of those great moments – calm waters, blue skies and excitement of trying something new. One of the activities was the banana boat ride. Now, if you haven’t tried it before, it’s exactly what it sounds like—a banana-shaped boat tied to a speedboat that drags you across the water at high speed… until it flips, sending everyone crashing into the sea. I was excited. I had never done something this adventurous before. The ride started, and within minutes, we were flying across the waves.The boat sailed for a span of 15 to 20 minutes in high speed, when all of sudden – Swooooooooshhhhhh! The rope tied to the banana boat was left lose. I clung to my life jacket as if it were the only thing keeping me alive, my fingers...

The Perceptionist.....

Search This Blog