A troupe perform in various houses in a ward in Agonda, as part of the traditional Intruz celebrations in the village.
CANACONA
While the Carnival celebrations began in the State on Friday, the traditions sounds of the Intruz came alive in Canacona on Sunday.
The ‘Mell’, led by groups of youngsters mostly from a ward, visit the homes of their members and others in many parts of Canacona taluka.
“This is a rich traditional practice started by our forefathers to come together and unite the localities. In this sense, the Intruz is a tradition more relevant than Carnival in Canacona,” stated a youth who has been in the forefront to revive the Intruz celebration at his ward.
Various ‘Mell’ (troupes) began their Intruz celebrations on Sunday, by performing at houses in their areas and also performed at the resepective ‘Mand’ of the other groups/wards, as part of traditional Carnival celebrations in Canacona.
Whenever, a group came across a Chapel or a Cross, the troupes stop to recite a special prayer for the welfare of parishioners there and also for the souls of the departed from the respective ward.
During their house-to-house visits, the ‘Mell’ performs songs to the beats of the Tanso, Dhol and Kansali. However, if the household is in mourning, prayers are said for the soul of the departed family member and to seek the blessings of residents.
Palolem had a Carnival celebration on Saturday evening, while most of the rural areas, such as Agonda, some parts of Khola, Loliem-Polem, Poinguinim have kept alive the traditional Intruz in their localities.
At Agonda, as many as five Mell’s were taken out from their respective ‘Mands’ located in their wards on Sunday itself and will continue till Tuesday midnight.
Most of the ‘Mells’ make it a point to visit the miraculous Holy Cross at Vall, before winding up the Intruz celebrations.
Playing the ‘Dhol’, ‘Tanso’ and ‘Kansali’, the troupe performs folk songs in the courtyard of homes, while the households welcome the troupes with bursting of firecrackers.
As is a customary practice, families either offer snacks, drinks or sweets, while a few who specially invite the troupes to perform at their places offer money for playing at their doorsteps.
Besides Agonda, some of the troupes at Ponsulem, Bhatpal, Galgibaga, Chiplem and Loliem-Polem also keep alive this traditional event.
Meanwhile, a few Khel-Tiatrs are also scheduled to take place in some villages across Canacona.
