Perfect communal harmony in Goa -- By Nisser Dias

For times in memorial people of different communities have lived in perfect communal harmony in Goa. Goans are also known to partake in celebration of various feasts and festival of each other’s communities. Christians visit and share with their Hindu brethren during Ganesh festival or Diwali, Hindus reciprocate during Christmas, Muslims always make it a point to share their delicacies with Hindu and Christian brethren during Id and Ramzan. This has been Goan tradition and culture.

But over the years there has been marked polarization of communities on political party lines. Nonetheless these lines tend to disappear on various occasion where people of various communities forgetting their religion come together as human beings to create joy that people so deeply cherish.

One such example is a creation of a crib at Mungul on the road to Colva from Margao Old Market circle wherein youth from various faiths come  together to celebrate and depict the birth of Christ. They unveil their creation every year on Christmas day for the general public to view and it lasts till the feast of Epiphany (January 6^th).

Again, the beauty of it is that people from all communities make it a point to come from far and wide to spend some moments to view the crib.

Former Chairperson of Margao Municipal Council Gonzac Rebello is the force behind this group who call themselves ‘Crib boyz of Mungul’.Carmo Dourado, Francis Fernandes, Jess Barreto, Suresh Chawla, Deepak, Krishna, Mohammad, Anthony, Milton Sunil and Shiva come together every year to showcase their art and talent at the same very place for the last six years.

Speaking to TOI, Carmo reminisced that they were talking of preparing crib at home when one of them casually suggested the present site to prepare the crib and it was a huge success and from then on there is no looking back. “Every year we create new items, what encourages us is the public response who frequent every year to have a look and we are conscious that they should not return disappointed seeing the same items or ideas”.

Gonzac informed that they generate funds locally from villagers and business establishments as well as they dig into their own pockets but major chuck comes from well wishers. He said that this year the cost has shot beyond Rs. 2 lakhs as materials like iron, plywood, cloth, thermacol and paints are used to set-up the crib.

He said that they pond is natural water body which they clean every year before setting-up the crib.

The fact that the pond is adjoining the wall of Our Lady of Bom Viagem chapel adds to the sanctity of the crib.

He said that for four years Michael Fernandes – chairman of Goa Citizens Welfare Trust has contributed and for two years Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai financed setting-up of the crib.

About the contribution box placed at the site, he smilingly says it is not much and sometimes they also forget to keep the box outside in the evening. “For us it is not about collecting money but about the general public taking memories of the crib with them.

Gonzac is elated by the fact that Goans from Bombay, London who come to celebrate Christmas in Goa make it a point to visit the crib every year and also meet us. Foreigners too, come and take pictures.

Thousands of people flock to have a glimpse of this crib and many a times it is causes of traffic jam, however it is taken in good spirit and there are no flared tempers which is an indication that there is huge scope of bonding between people which ever communities they may come from.