Saligao Serenade

by Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas

In the 1950s Saligao had four medical doctors and one self-proclaimed naturopath who called himself a doctor. The five doctors were:

• Dr Vaglo from Sonarbhatt, father of my classmate Madhuri who had a sister named Kasibai.  Kasibai married my companion Shankar Kamat formerly of Dando, Candolim, but who now resides at Sanquelim.
• Then there was Dr Avelino Carvalho from Cotula, the son of Dr Teodomiro Carvalho.
• Dr Florencio de Souza from Nigvaddo, father of my colleague, Fr Armando de Souza.
• Dr Antonio Menino Machado from Vhoddlem Morodd, father-in-law of another schoolmate of mine, Adolph Mendonca.
• Then of course there was “Doctor” Mario from Dakttem Morodd, a self-propagating naturopath, father of our friend Calvert. Read the rest of this entry »

In the old days, church bells ruled everyday life in the village of Saligao as in other parts of Goa. They announced marriages, births and deaths. Labourers woke up to the Angelus bells at dawn to start their daily chores.  At the midday Angelus bell, they stopped their work to have a meal followed by the mandatory siesta.  When the Angelus bell rang, all stood and prayed.  The church bell rang again at sunset for the evening Angelus.  Well before this the domestic animals had been gathered and put into their stalls (gudd, gottó) for the night.  Children stopped play and came home running and the family gathered at the oratory.  Ponteos and candles were lit, and the Angelus was said.  After that, the mothers taught dotorn (catechism) to the children.  Kerosene lamps (dive) were substituted by chimney lamps, followed by Aladdin lamps and in some houses by petromax lamps. Read the rest of this entry »

by Mel D’Souza

When the Portuguese set out on their mission to convert the local population in Goa to Christianity in the sixteenth century, they offered first class citizenship to the converts. My ancestors had the choice of retaining their Hindu religion or becoming Catholic. Although their attachment to Hinduism was strong, they gave in. With all the privileges that were offered by the Portuguese, I suppose it became a case of the spirit being weak, and the flesh willing. Read the rest of this entry »