WEDDINGS IN GOA

Most weddings in the Goan villages during the ‘fifties and ‘sixties were celebrated with great pomp and fervour. They were mostly held in the month of April and May. Customs and traditions handed down from past generations were strictly adhered to on such an occasion. With meticulous planning months in advance, it used to be a week-long affair. Zothi and mando were order of the day. They were sung frequently and fittingly. These were happy moments not only for the bridegroom or bride’s household, but for the entire village.

A Village Wedding

Season of Lent
Days of fasting and prayer
Were over;
Eastertide was now here;
White-washed houses
Neat and tidy
Gleaming in the April sun
Awaited the vicar’s
Impending visit;
For his annual house blessing
And greeting.

Never failing to inquire
About husband or a son
Who worked far away
“Have you heard from your sons?”
The vicar asked.
“Yes” the lady of the house replied
“The oldest is due to arrive in May”

The entire village was vibrant
Folks excited and exuberant
Time of great expectations
Everyone waiting for the groom to arrive
From a place far away
For his holiday and wedding
In the month of May.

Unconfined to bride’s or groom’s household
It was a great joy for the entire village
In the celebration to share and partake
At the forthcoming marriage.

Customs and traditions
Invitations and rustic protocol
Deadlines met
The stage was finally set.

The long-awaited groom
Had finally arrived.
In front of his modest house
Young lads gave the village elders
A helping hand in matou construction
Of bamboo and palm fronds
Twirled coloured crepe
Streamers and decoration
Under their artistic direction
Carried out according to plan.
Rented chairs laid out all around.

By nightfall
Petromax lit and hung in the matou
Its incandescence brightened the whole village
While in the balcao
Boys and girls sang the mando.

In another village far away
The bride’s household
Filled with equal delight
Looked forward to this wedding
The following Sunday.

It was time for bhuim-jevonn,
Ross and doth
Vojem, dennem and portonnem:
Some traditions to carry forth

Long before dawn
Everyone was up and about
The big day and the white Chevrolet
Had finally arrived.

The groom in a double-breasted suit
Below the family altar stood
For blessing from parents and aunts
Grandparents and relatives;
For nuptials time was running out
In the parish of the groom at sharp ten o’clock.

The photographer
Was eager to capture
Special moments in the future
For folks to treasure.

Later the bridal couple
Best-man and bridesmaid
Took a ride to town
For a studio picture.

The newlyweds’ temporary stay
Was at the neighbours during the afternoon
Eager to make their grand appearance
For the reception at the groom’s
In the evening at five that day.

In the centre of the matou
The bridal couple stood
By the three-tier cake,
The Village Vicar raised the toast,
The nine-piece band
Played the wedding march
And as announced
By the Master of Ceremonies
They danced
To the selected first piece.

Boys and girls
Friends and relatives
With their partners they danced the night away
While the band played numbers
In regular sets of three
Waltzes and Foxtrot
Tango and Cha Cha Cha
Rumba and Samba
Not forgetting the Fiesta.

Soaring high
Were the moods and spirits
Patties and croquet,
Soup and pulav served
With other delicacies of the day.

It was time now
For the bride
To show off her talent
In singing her special song
Joined in by the groom with seconds
Breaking the night’s silence.

The grand finale
Was almost in sight
The bridal couple on chairs
Carried aloft till their lips
Finally met for the evening’s greatest
And most celebrated traditional kiss.

The untiring Emcee at his spoken best
Reluctantly made a final call
The last dance he announced;
The band obliged with an encore
For the delight and thrill of one and all;
It seemed evident now
That a day of a great celebration
Had finally come to a grand conclusion.