Goan Balcao & the Talkative Parrot

 

A typical feature of a Goan house is the balcão (Portuguese) which serves as a sitting space. It comprises of cement or wooden benches on both sides of the main entrance of the house, with additional single seats in front. It is a place to catch up on things happening around, for quiet study or a nap on warm afternoons or playing draughts, carrom, ludo, snakes and ladders and other board games on rainy afternoons. 

The balcão has had the reputation of being the ideal place for idle talk and gossip, but as I recall, it was the best place to listen to the radio broadcast from Radio Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in the 1960’s and to receive better reception. It was considered as one of the powerful radio stations in Asia broadcasting English songs and western music in quality, content and clarity. It also relayed BBC news. Radios were few and neighbours came to listen to news, popular hits and radio shows.

We had two cages on both sides of our ‘balcão’, hanging on the beam across the two pillars that held the roof of the entrance. There was a myna in one cage and a parrot in the other. They could both speak three languages, and had a remarkable memory and extensive vocabulary. The parrot was more adept of the two. These birds provided impromptu entertainment, and showed off their skills in singing several short clips of the tunes of the day that played on the radio to people passing by our  house who stopped for a while to hear some of their colourful and amusing repertoire.

Our Lady of Piety Chapel, Calangute, Bardez, Goa

Our Lady of Piety Chapel, Calangute, Bardez, Goa

St. Cajetan Church, Assagao, Bardez, Goa.

St. Cajetan Church, Assagao, Bardez, Goa.

St. Thomas Church. Aldona, Bardez, Goa

 St. Thomas Church. Aldona, Bardez, Goa

Crescent Moon, Venus and Fireworks

 

Moonwhile’, in Mississauga, a celestial treat for an evening with a Crescent Moon, Planet Venus and  Fireworks.

Marshville Heritage Show at Wainfleet Ontario

 

Tonfernss, Sunfest Arts & Crafts, London, Ontario

 

Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima

 Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, Fatima, Portugal.

In the year 1917, in a mountainous region at the center of Portugal, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, appeared six times to three young children. This year on 13th May,the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, Pope Francis is leading the canonization ceremony for Francisco and Jacinta Marto in Fatima, Portugal, on the hundredth anniversary celebrations of the first apparition of Mary the children experienced, where His Holiness will be joined in prayer by Catholics from all over the world. 

I grew up in Goa, India, during the 1950's and 1960's where the devotion to our Lady of Fatima was popular in all households, in chapels and villages of all churches throughout Goa. Feasts and litanies in honour of Our Lady of Fatima are widely celebrated all over Goa, and popular hymns are also sung everywhere.

In view of this great milestone, our trip to Portugal this year in March was a privileged and significant one, as my wife and myself got a chance to fulfill a lifelong wish to go on a holiday to Portugal along with our 2 daughters and son-in-law, and more importantly for having included in this tour to pay homage to Our Lady of Fatima by visiting the Holy Shrine on the 100th anniversary of the apparitions. We will hold this memory close to our hearts forever and cherish it as long as we live.

In fact, today, I feel that my spirit, belief and devotion in this regard has been rekindled for having lived to witness the centenary. I wish a happy and joyous feast day to all.

The Big Dipper, The Great Bear

 

The Big Dipper - photograph by Tony Fernandes, Caledon, Ontario 

21st September 2015

Gordon Lightfoot - R.I.P. - One of my favourites - Canadian Singer

 

Rest in Peace - Gordon Lightfoot, one of my favourite Canadian singers.  LP purchased in Byculla, Bombay, in 1978. LP manufactured and distributed by the Gramophone Company of India, Dum Dum, India.

Warner Bros. Records Inc.