The small village of Siridao with just three wards is usually very quiet and peaceful. Surrounded by the villages of Bambolim and Curca and the beach kissing the Zuari River, this village has a great history. But this year, the village is abuzz with most of the people back for the biggest festival, the feast of Our Lady of Annunciation traditionally known as Pejechem Fest. The feast will be celebrated today, April 16 at Our lady of Annunciation Chapel, Siridão which comes under the Our Lady of Rosary Church, Siridão.
Fr Freddy Braganza is the parish priest for three years in the parish of Siridao and will be the main celebrant for the feast. “Masses will be celebrated at 6 am, 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10.30 am and 5 pm. As per the tradition, eight confraria members will be celebrating the feast this year. The theme for the festival is, ‘Hea fuddem bhavarth naslolo zaum naka’. Post Covid, this year many villagers are come from abroad as they couldn’t travel in the previous years,” says Fr Freddy.
The festival will be celebrated by the eight confraria members that include Urban D’Souza, Xavier Marques, Piogunho D’Souza, Menino Afonso, Jose Afonso, Menino Horta, Milagres Marques and Daniel Cardozo. The Eucharistic celebration, will conclude with a procession. After the Mass, devotees can head to the stall that will be serving pez, which traditionally gives the name to the feast as ‘Pejechem Fest’. The pez or boiled rice gruel is served by Dempo family, and is cooked in seven big pots (Moddkeo) and there is no limit to the servings.
Speaking about the main occupations in the village, Francis informs, “The wards of Firgurem Bhatt and Moddlo Waddo were mostly into fishery while Jesus Nazareth was into toddy tapping. There were many farmers too who would grow sweet potatoes, chillies, onions, watermelons etc. Since the fields have not be well maintained and the banns not repaired in time, the water has entered into the fields and ruined them. Now the same fields are become mangroves. Earlier, there was a lot of sale of dry fish but now fishermen venture into the sea with a short break during monsoon. People prefer fresh fish and there has been a decrease in the production of dry fish.”
What is Siridao also famous for? “The Chapel of Jesus Nazareth, which was built on the hillock of Jesus Nazareth Waddo, Siridao has similarities with the synagogue shaped chapel, Chapel of Our Lady of Candelaria in Naroa, Divar. These are the only two chapels which have similar architecture which is dome shaped. Another interesting fact about Siridao is that it has the largest number of adao fruit trees in Goa. The entire cover of Siridao and Navashe has the most trees and probably are the fruits that make their way to the Panjim market,” says historian Sanjeev Sardessai. Adão or Adam’s fruit is known throughout the world by the name caqui, is mostly found in the Indonesia and Vietnam.
Moddlo Waddo resident, Damu Lotlekar is happy to see his old friends back home for the feast. “The church is going to be full for sure as there is more crowd in the village this year. We also have a lot of friends and family from the villages of Salcete coming for the feast in Siridao. There is a tiatr on Sunday evening by Comedian Sally and on Monday, the entire village will meet at the Manddar, a place where the village tiatr will be performed. People from all over Goa comes especially to partake in the feast for a bowl full of pez. There are mud containers in which pez is served and many take it home as a memento of attending the feast in that particular year,” says Damu.
Vincy Afonso from Firguem Bhatt remembers the canoes coming from far and wide, just a few days before the feast during his childhood. “The canoes would come from the villages of Cansaulim, Chicalim, Vasco and other places and they would live in the village for 2-3 days. The festivities were also grand then, it felt like a village feast. Now the crowd has diminished and people come right on time for the Mass and then go back home. There is hardly many fanfare without much villagers. Most of the forefathers of the village left Siridao to work in London and France. Now there are big houses, old Goan houses and very few villagers residing here. The roads are congested and no open space for the fair. There were earlier stalls put up by different sports clubs in the village like Siridao Sports Club, Jesus Nazareth Sports Club and Central Sports Club, that too has stopped,” reminisces Vincy.
“However, the pez is served, keeping in mind all the traditions. Right from 6.30 am, devotees will have their bowls filled to the brim with piping hot pez. Containers are even sold for those who would like to take pez home for their family. Some people who have also offered their intentions, can be found begging at the entrance of the church. This tradition continues to this day,” adds Vincy.
Another uniqueness of this feast is the performance at the Manddar, a small stage set up by the villagers. On Monday evening, the villagers gather at the home of a Hindu ‘Zonnkar’. Vincy explains the performance, “People come with their own mats and now chairs and get ready at the Manddar for the performance. The Zonnkar performs a puja in his house and from there they come in a procession, bursting firecrackers and he has to begin the drama at the Manddar. There are two groups of Zonnkars and each begin the drama alternately. Everyone from the village has a role to play or a song to sing. It brings the community together.”