The villagers of Pilerna are in a festive mood as they gear up to celebrate their annual and most anticipated cultural festival, ‘Matiechem Fest’.
With months of planning and constant practises since August, the villagers set aside caste, class and religion to unite as five groups of the village to showcase their talent.
Pilerne is no longer a small, unknown village on the cultural map of Goa. Beginning with the first edition of ‘Matiechem Fest’ in 2022, the villagers fell in love with the idea to host a cultural programme that brings the village together as one. This was followed by the Thursday Weekly Market that was organised in the Church compound which encouraged entrepreneurs from Pilerne as well as musical talent.
For the third edition of ‘Matiechem Fest’, they are well prepared to host people from across Goa who land at the village for a day of entertainment and laughter. The day will begin with Mass at 7 am for the parishioners. ‘Matienchem Fest’ will be held on October 2 from 10 am onwards at St John the Baptist Church, Pilerne. Organised by Pilerne Art and Socio-Cultural Association and led by the president Fr Derrick Fernandes, parish priest of Pilerne, the festivity will begin with a heritage walk.
Three important personalities will have a conversation, St John the Baptist (Teryll Coutinho), St Francis of Assisi (Dominic Savio) and Mahatma Gandhi (Juze Lobo), followed by the passoi from the small bridge to the Church where the rest of the programme will be held.
The 13 wards of the village are divided into five groups, with each group providing a dish for lunch and presenting a float and dance. This year, the five groups will focus on the natural beauty of the village. The groups are Amche Agor (Saltpans), Amcheo Zhori (springs), Amchim Tollim (lakes), Amchi Xettam (fields) and Amche Dongor (hills).
Speaking about the festival, Fr Derrick Fernandes, says, “The response for the festival in the first year itself was wonderful. It was something new and it was curated by Marius Fernandes. The second also was great thought we prepared everything within a limited time frame. This year, the villagers itself came forward with the idea to host the festival. Everyone is excited and the villagers from different faiths are coming together, to perform different programmes. For the first time, we will be having five floats that are prepared by the villagers. We have also organised a photo exhibition of all the beautiful places around the village. From the lush green fields to the hills, salt pans and lakes, the green beauty of Pilerne will be on photographs.”
As the day is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, it gives office goers a holiday to enjoy with their family. “Many people are looking forward to the festival. They come from different parts of Goa. I only advise everyone to please carry their own cups and plates as this is a zero plastic event and we will be serving a Goan lunch followed by black tea with Kankon (bread),” adds Fr Derrick.
The programme will include Ghumatacho Nach at 12.20 pm followed by Grace before meals to bless the sumptuous and piping hot food prepared by the five groups of the village. During lunch, the programme will continue with a performance by Seby Fernandes of ‘Mira Mira’ fame, Balcaocheo Gozali with Swapnesh Sherlekar, a social activist who will talk about nature and its conservation. Next, it will be the local band, Derepend taking the stage, followed by the seminarians of Pilerne Saligao Seminary, students of St Threza High School, Candolim and Spring Valley Higher Secondary School and seminarians from Nivas Seminary, Duler who will be performing one song each.
John Fernandes and group will perform a comedy dance, Ganesh Mahila Mandal, Navelim, Pilerne will perform a Kol’lxi dance and the natives of Chotanagur will showcase a Jharkhand dance.
Secretary of Pilerne Parish Council, Edmer Barreto, is representing the youth and is excited to be a part of the planning committee. “We have been preparing for a great festival and we have finished polishing all the coconut shells required for the festival and the Bonderams too. There is a lot of enthusiasm from not just the villagers but also the students from different schools and seminarians. We have also invited youth from the neighbouring villages of Calangute, Candolim, Nerul, Sinquerim, Arpora and Reis Magos,” says Edmer.
Lunch will include parboiled rice, Sambarachim Koddi (prawn) curry, Dudhi Melgor, mackeral fry and Vonn. Pilerne is celebrating Goa’s culture on October 2, be there to witness it live in action.