Happy Feast of San Joao Bautista!!!!!!!!!!!

 

As Children we would wait for the feast of San Joao Feast as there were many things that we would do on this day. First of all it was one of the great feasts celebrated by the church so going for the Mass either from the school or from home was mandatory for all children. It was nostalgic because the rains that would pour increase our joy and expectations for the grand celebration during the day. After the Mass it was almost compulsory for all boys who knew swimming to jump into the well which were already overflowing due to heavy rains. There were many wells in our village so young and old would go round to jump and have a good swim. The seniors of the village would have their special booze prepared for the occasion. It was fun to be around the well and hear the name of san Joan being taken as one would jump into the well. 

Second thing that we would wait and long for was the special sweet made by mothers, it is called "Hingolyas" made out of jaggery, gram seed, coconut and many other ingredients. It is a yummy sweet which waters your mouth at the smell when being prepared. Women and girls would be busy in the kitchen preparing and singing some old songs in honor of San Joao. The boys would walk into the kitchen and pick up and would just enjoy the sweet, share with those who could not afford to have them due to lack of money. 

Third thing was to wait for the Son-in-Laws who were specially invited for a dinner. It was their day called "Javai's Diwas". They were specially invited fro their homes by sending a responsible member of the family to bring him home. He was would be dressed up well and throw a little of his weight around on this day. He knew that it was his day and he was respected and honored by the In-laws and the rest. Special food was the menu for the evening was prepared and he would get the heart of chicken and goat, specially cooked or fried in deep oil. The whole village would be filled with aroma of this special dishes. 

The fourth thing that would waited and longed for was the ceremony of Plantain tree decoration. A young sapling of plantain tree was cut and decorated with flowers and hey. The children would gather around the sapling with sticks and one of the elders would set fire to the sapling and children would being to beat the sapling shout slogans like "San Sanjao Gomtye" or sing some songs or hymns from the church. It was a wonderful event and traditions....we would spend good time before eating our sumptuous  dinner prepared for the occasion.

Unfortunately, today these traditions are not followed or slowly pushed to the corner. Young children do not even known certain traditions. Jumping into the well continues. In Goa most of these traditions are continued in a full swing. I am missing them very badly.