Church of St. Diogo
(Photograph by Tony Fernandes - 2005)
(Photograph by Tony Fernandes - 2005)
Parish of the villages
of Guirim and Sangolda, Bardez, Goa.
ASH WEDNESDAY - DUST THOU ART
In sharp contrast to the general gaiety and exuberance during 3 days preceding Ash Wednesday, with the Goan Carnival of music, song, folklore and parades of floats passing through the streets of the major towns of Mapusa, Panjim and Margao, the Lenten season begins today on a sober note.
After the partying into the wee hours in the morning has ended some are still probably asleep. But the faithful line up for ashes to be placed on their forehead, and to many of the devoted, a period of regular fasting and abstinence, prayers and repentance begins. It is a period of what is known in Portuguese as 'Quaresma', adapted and used in the local language of the land which is Konkani.
The year 1961 was the last year when the traditional re-enactment of the encounter between Bounsule/Rane and Portuguese soldiers was carried out in the town of Mapusa in Bardez.
In the old days the 3-day carnival was followed by a more pious and subdued 40-day period of Lent than today.
The ashes are obtained from burning palm leaves of the previous year. As the faithful kneel or stand before the priest, he makes a sign of the cross with the ashes on their forehead saying: 'Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return'.
The Ash Wednesday Service is held only in churches and not in chapels. In the old days most of the folks walked to church about 3 kilometres away. As children we walked, and then as teenagers we bicycled to church. After the service was over, we would go to the sacristy and request the sacristan for some ashes for distribution to the old folks in the village who had not been able to walk the long distance to the village church. The sacristan would then oblige by tearing a piece of old newspaper from a pile and wrap the ashes in it. I would carry this tiny packet in my shirt pocket and give it to the old lady who lived alone near my house; she would then raise her feeble hand to bless me and say a prayer.
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