Destruction of mand destroyed Dhalo ustav in Quepem

By John Fernandes

Comes the month of October or for that matter once the harvest season is over in villages of Quepem and Sanguem talukas particularly dominated by the Christian Gawda Tribe , during night time one would hear the sweet sound of Dhalo Songs being played by the Christian Tribal women folk on their traditional Mand

Now this has been a past History as since last 15 years due to the rampant criticism made by the religious priest on the “Mand” which was one of the center place for performing different cultural folk dances/activities of the Gawda Tribe, resulted in destruction of the Mand, which intern resulted in wiping out the different folk dances, folk songs, such as Dhalo, which was one of the important cultural festival of the Christian Gawda Tribal women. This also resulted in wiping out the identity of the Christian Gawdas.

In village Ambaulim/Deao of Quepem taluka which are part of Ambaulim Church is consist of 10 small wards inhabitated mostly by Christian Gawdas. In some wards the population of Christian Gawda is 100% while in remaining wards the Gawda Population is 95%. Each wards was having its Mand which was the center place for performing all the cultural activities/dances such as Dhalo, Intruz etc.

Once the harvest season is over preferably in the month of October the Gawda women folk of each ward used to play Dhalo on their traditional Mand particularly during night time. In ward Copelabhat once the harvest of Nagagal peddy field is done the women folk of that ward use to play dhalo on their Mand. The Dhalo festival was performed by the Gawda Tribal women to glorify/pray the almighty or the nature for the harvest.

The Dhalos festival on the Mand was performed in odd days. On the first day of Dhalo that is on the day of commencement the wife of the ward Budwant (head of the village) use to light the Lamp which was kept in the middle of the Mand and lighted every night till the Dhalo Festival is over , followed by busting of crackers. The tribal women then use to gather on the Mand to play Dhalo. They used to stand in two different line holding each one hands and then sing different traditional songs in sweet voice on the rithm of their leg. If one minutely verifys the song each song is having a past history and conveys a message to the villager. In the Dhalo Songs there is even reference of different trees/shrubs having medicinal importance.

The different folk dances which were performed by the Tribal women during Dhalo Festival include Dhalo, Fugdi, Palom, Moraile etc. The village youth who use to gather to see the Dhalo use play “Kolimandani” in one corner of the mand.

The Dhalo Festival use to go that either 3 days, 5 days, 7 days or 9 days. On the last day of the Dhalo large number of villagers including male member from that ward use to gather on the mand to participate in the closing ceremony which was referred as “Mand Nivovop”. Every member who comes on the mand used to bring paddy from their house. The paddy brought by the villagers were collected and then sold to the shopkeeper from the ward and in return sweets and puff rice (chirmuleo) were purchased which were distributed among all those present. In this way the Dhalo festival of Gawda Tribals comes to an end.

However since last 15 years due to the rampant criticism made by the religious priest to the Mand calling it as a devil place and the cultural activities performed over their by the Tribals that to without studying its concept or without studying its importance for preserving the cultural importance of the Tribals resulted in destruction of the Mand along with it, it destroyed the reach cultural heritage such as Dhalo and the typical identity of the Christian Gawdas particularly from Quepem and Sanguem Talukas.

Ponsalimol Rock Carvings under mining threat

This photo Essay is made possible due to pictures received from Rivona team of - Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP). It is depicting mining threat to the historical site that has ancient rock carvings on the banks of Kushavati River.
The site is preyed by mining companies; on the one side is existing mine in operation bearing T.C. Number 14/1952 of Badruddin Mavani but operated by Radha Timblo covering 100 hectares of land that is involved in dumping of mining overburden on the Kushavati river banks under the direct approval of its all the illegalities by the Mines Minister who is also the current Chief Minister of Goa.
The second mines that is threatening is presently not in operation but has pit of its own. It was in operation till 10 years ago. It belongs to Damodar Mangaljis bearing T.C. No. 84/1953 covering 82 hectares. The company has put in place its boundary with new coloured poles that signifies the preparation of the company to re-start the mining here in near future.

This site in Ponsalimol is recognised by Goa Government's Archeology department but remains largely neglected. There is not even proper shelter for its staff to protect from monsoon rains.
The site that comes within Rivona Panchayat jurisdiction and in Colamb village that has 23 mining leases is frequented by large number of history, culture, archeology enthusiasts.

The site has concentration of rock carvings right on the banks of Kushavati River.
The interpretations are still being being arrived at and no settled views on the same. Debates are still going on the meaning of these carvings.
Common sense view looks senses these carvings as those of wild animals, birds, humans in various posses, fishing implements and many more.
The dense location of the carvings are visible...

Damodar Mangalji's abandoned mine near the Rock carvings. preparations are going on to get this activated again. Mining industry hardly care for the Rock carvings and Historical Heritage. All that it cares for is profits, that too profits at all costs - human, heritage, culture, mountains, water, agriculture, bio diversity, settlements, wildlife and number of other priceless and valued things.

This - above - is a shelter for the official protectors of this valuable historical site!
This is a government of Goa's board directing towards the Rock Carvings. Visit this site in Colamb, Rivona Panchayat jurisdictions before it is blocked and destroyed for mining of Iron ore or Manganese from the ground.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Barxem Shigmo Pictures

Quepem Taluka's Barxem village like many other villages in Goa organised their traditional Shigmo Festival. Above picture depicts the dance and music performance at one of the houses in Barxem village on March 20, 2008.

Men with their colourful headgear and flowers tied to it is called Turo is worn by number of men for nearly four days when they tour their village as well as neighbouring villages.

Traditional Suari is performed at a field in Velip wadda before visiting the houses of Budvonts and then for grand night ceremonial performance at traditional Mand.

(Text and pictures by Sebastian Rodrigues with creative assistance from John Fernanades and Shanu Velip)

Ambaulim Intruzz Videos

Click on the above screen to view video.

Traditional festival Intruzz Videos are uploaded for you. For Photos and text click here. Festival was orgained on Sunday February 03 2008 in Quepem Taluka's Ambaulim village. This video was possible thanks to creative assistance from Devidas Gaonkar and Larsen Pereira.

Do post your comments and reflections.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Ambaulim Intruzz: Interface between Adivasi faith and Christian Faith

After a gap of around 13 year the Itruz Culture of Ambaulim-Quepem in Goa have been revived by the villagers. Around 13 years back Ambaulim's traditional Itruz was very popular as thousand of people used to participate in it. However some of religious leader criticize it terming it is as anti religious, which ultimately led to its halt. In Ambaulim there are 10 wards which are dominated by the Adivasis who are following Christian faith . Except one ward all 9 wards are attached to each other having their respective traditional MAND ( a sacred place). One the previous Sunday of Carnival/Itruz the feast of the village deity “Our Lady of Lourdes” is celebrated by the villagers and which is followed by the Sunday of Itruz/Carnival.After the celebration of village feast, that is the previous Sunday of Itruz or in the middle of the week male members of each ward used to gather at the traditional Mand every day during night time till the end of the Itruz and on the bit of different musical instrument such as Dholl, Taxe, Kasali( large Copper cymble) etc used celebrate their Itruz. This was with an aim to praise the almighty for the harvest. The starting song which is called “Choren” is in glorifying Jesus Christ. One needs to ponder deeply as to whom adivasis here were glorifying before Portuguese brought Christianity few centuries ago and carried on conversions.

On the second day of itruz that is on Monday some of the villagers used to spent the whole night on the Mand, dancing on the bit of Kasali( large Copper cymble ) and song different traditional itruz songs on the bit of percussion instrument , Madalem( a musical instrument) etc. On the next day that is on Tuesday that is on the last day of Itruz/carnival early in the morning the villager of that ward used to go with all their musical instrument to visit all the houses from ward and used to wish them the joy of Itruz on the bit of Musical instrument which is termed as MELL . That after visiting all the houses the “MELL” used to return to the their “MAND” keep all the musical instrument at the mand and used to go to their respective houses.That at around 3.00PM all the villagers again used to gather at the MAND and after singing song in glory of Jesus they used to go to visit the other wards from the village to wish them the joy of Itruz. After wishing all the ward they by 7 to 8 PM used to return to their ward. This beautiful tradition has been came to a halt since last 13 years. But this year 2008 some of the youth from one of the ward came forward and revive the reach traditional culture of their village .

They with all their musical instrument on Sunday February 03 2008 visited to the different wards of Ambaulim, sang different traditional songs on the bit of musical instruments and wished them the joy of Itruz

There is nothing against the religion in the Itruz culture celebrated in the village . Infact it is used to glorify Jesus through songs . Those who criticized our culture which lead to its halt were did it without studying it or without making an attempt to know about it. Villager elder speaking stated that we are forgetting and going away from our rich culture; on the other hand we are imbibing culture which is not ours.


( Photos are of villagers participating in the celebration of traditional Itruz at Ambaulim , Quepem is annexed. In the first three photo villagers are participating in a “MELL” while in the fourth Photo village musician signing song on the bit of tradition instrument like Gumot, Madale, Kassaleo. Photos and text by John Fernandes. Text edited by Sebastian Rodrigues)

For Videos of this festival click here.