I am from a small village called Ucassaim which is very close to Bastora. Both are sleepy villages and life is very very slow. Everybody knows everybody here. So some gossip like "Damu's uncle's son's wife is working at my neighbour's son-in-law's shop" is not so uncommon. The closest town is Mapuca, Goa. Goans and non-Goans will surely have heard about this place. Don't be surprised that I had to mention "Goans" explicitly here because many of my Goan friends have never given a thought to know anything beyond Mapuca. Its like entering some other world! He he.
My point here being that Bastora was a very prominent place in north Goa. Before 1960 (I think!) NH-17 (National Highway) from Mapuca - Porvorim - Panjim did not exist. Porvorim which is bustling now, was completely barren prior to NH-17. In the olden days, the national highway was Mapuca - Socorro - Bastora - Ucassaim - Pomburpa - Ekoshim - Britona - Betim - Panjim and these were important villages. Now I know why my grandfather bought a house besides that road in Ucassaim. This road looks like a winding village road today but it still wears the splendor of old glory.
We all know that when the Portuguese were forced to leave Goa in 1961, by the strong Indian armed forces, they resorted to bombing the bridges on the national highway to slow them down. One of the bridges was near Hotel Green Park, Mapuca where the road takes a turn over a bridge towards Bastora/Sucorro.
Bastora housed the first private printing press "Tipografia Rangel" in North Goa, established in 1886 by Vincente João Janin Rangel. It functioned for 108 years and was the first to print musical notations. The first private printing press was set up in Margao in 1859. Did you know?
There is a family in Bastora which runs a business of making iron safes since many generations. They were the suppliers of safes in Portuguese offices all over Goa (though many were imported too). Even today they make custom safes and locks if an order is placed. I remember an instance when we had an ancient Portuguese safe in the Communidade of Sangolda and it was so good that nobody could open it. It had, I think, around 7 locks and all the keys were lost. We had called this guy from Bastora to open it. It was so exciting!
A small temple on the top of a hill called "Pajir" is built around a small cave-like rock formation. The legend says that Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman had taken rest here during their "Van vaas". My grandfather used to take part in the "nataks" or drama during festivals here.
Another famous legend according to folklore is that Milagres Saibinn or the Lady of Miracles or Goddess Mirabai of Mapusa is one of 8 siblings; 7 sisters and 1 brother. Mirabai was converted into a catholic by the Portuguese and built the Milagres Church at the site. It is said that the old idol of Goddess Mirabai still exists inside the church. Both Hindus and Catholics celebrate the Milagres feast. One of the sisters is Goddess Lairai from Shirgao. The tradition is that Lairai gifts a "causo" of oil to Milagres during the feast and Milagres gifts a basket of "mogrim" (marigold) to Lairai during Shirgao zatra (feast). The brother's name is Lord Khetoba (Khetko) who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. His temple is located in Chopdem. The rest of the sisters are Mahamaya of Mayem, Kelbai of Mulgao, Morjai of Morjim, Ajadipa of Anjadiva Island and Shitalai.
St. Xavier's college, Mapusa which is an extension of St. Xavier's College, Mumbai was first established at Bastora in 1963 and shifted to Mapusa in 1968. The old campus is still there and at a stone's throw distance from Holy Cross High School where I did my schooling.
A village with such prominence in the past has now slowly gone off steam. A movie which follows a similar tale is "Cars". Watch it to know exactly how I feel. :-)
My point here being that Bastora was a very prominent place in north Goa. Before 1960 (I think!) NH-17 (National Highway) from Mapuca - Porvorim - Panjim did not exist. Porvorim which is bustling now, was completely barren prior to NH-17. In the olden days, the national highway was Mapuca - Socorro - Bastora - Ucassaim - Pomburpa - Ekoshim - Britona - Betim - Panjim and these were important villages. Now I know why my grandfather bought a house besides that road in Ucassaim. This road looks like a winding village road today but it still wears the splendor of old glory.
We all know that when the Portuguese were forced to leave Goa in 1961, by the strong Indian armed forces, they resorted to bombing the bridges on the national highway to slow them down. One of the bridges was near Hotel Green Park, Mapuca where the road takes a turn over a bridge towards Bastora/Sucorro.
Bastora housed the first private printing press "Tipografia Rangel" in North Goa, established in 1886 by Vincente João Janin Rangel. It functioned for 108 years and was the first to print musical notations. The first private printing press was set up in Margao in 1859. Did you know?
There is a family in Bastora which runs a business of making iron safes since many generations. They were the suppliers of safes in Portuguese offices all over Goa (though many were imported too). Even today they make custom safes and locks if an order is placed. I remember an instance when we had an ancient Portuguese safe in the Communidade of Sangolda and it was so good that nobody could open it. It had, I think, around 7 locks and all the keys were lost. We had called this guy from Bastora to open it. It was so exciting!
A small temple on the top of a hill called "Pajir" is built around a small cave-like rock formation. The legend says that Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman had taken rest here during their "Van vaas". My grandfather used to take part in the "nataks" or drama during festivals here.
Another famous legend according to folklore is that Milagres Saibinn or the Lady of Miracles or Goddess Mirabai of Mapusa is one of 8 siblings; 7 sisters and 1 brother. Mirabai was converted into a catholic by the Portuguese and built the Milagres Church at the site. It is said that the old idol of Goddess Mirabai still exists inside the church. Both Hindus and Catholics celebrate the Milagres feast. One of the sisters is Goddess Lairai from Shirgao. The tradition is that Lairai gifts a "causo" of oil to Milagres during the feast and Milagres gifts a basket of "mogrim" (marigold) to Lairai during Shirgao zatra (feast). The brother's name is Lord Khetoba (Khetko) who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. His temple is located in Chopdem. The rest of the sisters are Mahamaya of Mayem, Kelbai of Mulgao, Morjai of Morjim, Ajadipa of Anjadiva Island and Shitalai.
St. Xavier's college, Mapusa which is an extension of St. Xavier's College, Mumbai was first established at Bastora in 1963 and shifted to Mapusa in 1968. The old campus is still there and at a stone's throw distance from Holy Cross High School where I did my schooling.
A village with such prominence in the past has now slowly gone off steam. A movie which follows a similar tale is "Cars". Watch it to know exactly how I feel. :-)
Ok, now I have motored through Porvorim countless times and I admit I have never given a thought about its past. But this post will remind me of the history of the region every time I pass by in the future.
ReplyDeleteAnd to be frank, I had no idea that a village as small as Bastora gas so much of history (and we are just talking a centure and a half here)!
woww.. i have no idea from where u got all this info!! amazing!! i feel so proud to be a part of our village.. :)
ReplyDeleteWhere did u get all this info? It's really a gud research!
ReplyDeleteHmm. Do you know that the Milagres feast and the Shirgao zatra/feast can never be on the same day? If that happens there will be 'vinashkari' results!
ReplyDelete@Kiran: Yeah. It must be documented in some old rare books. Need some more research.
ReplyDelete@Amrita Janaki: Internet is the mother of all information and misinformation.
@Anzil: I dont know about vinashkari results but rest of it is true.
Nice post. Kinda reminded me of the post "Har ghar kuch kehta hain" on my blog ;-). Very nostalgic and very informative.I'd heard about the famous legend but I thought Shanta Durga was also one of the siblings. But I wouldn't dare to question your knowledge and research ;-). Good job!
ReplyDeleteA great post indeed!
ReplyDeleteAs Anzil said, I think I've even heard that the two festivals cannot be on the same, and if it does, then there are devastating results.
Some legends say that, last time it happened i.e. in 1838, the Milagres Church was destroyed by fire.
Also, I think there is a slight correction in the above blog, the brother is Lord Khetoba from Vaiguini village, not from Chopdem.
This is from the fact that, on the day of Shirgao Jatra, Oil is taken from Khetoba Temple of Vaiguini to Lairai temple of Shirgao, without which, it is said that the Shirgao jatra cannot be celebrated.
The above facts are based as narrated to me by various people & as found over internet.
Raj: Yes you are right about Lord Khetoba not being from Chopdem. A few months back I actually went to Chopdem to search for the temple, but nobody seemed to know where it is! I gave up and returned home. Now that you say that it is in Vaiguini village, I will try to trace it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe temple at Chopdem is of Lord Vetal.
ReplyDeleteKhetoba temple is on the Shirgao Road (not the Bicholim Road), once you cross the Ribander - Chorao ferry.
The temple is very close to the road, & is recently renovated.
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=15.5676448&lon=73.9094093&z=19&l=0&m=b