BICHOLIM: The Bicholim deanery celebrated the Karam festival with the migrant community in the School Hall at Our Lady of Grace Convent, Bicholim, on September 21.
Members of the migrant communities from Honda, Valpoi and Mapusa also joined in the celebration of the festival.
The Karam festival is a significant celebration in many Indian states, including Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. It is a harvest festival dedicated to Karam Devta, and some of the activities associated with this festival include the planting of a branch of the Karam tree, women dancing the Karam Naach, and community bonding.
Their leader, Sunil, provided a history of the Karam festival. Fr Suman from the Pilar Society and Fr Joe Nazareth SJ were the main celebrants at the Eucharistic celebration.
