CANACONA
The three-day Intruz, the traditional rich local form of Carnival, began in Canacona on Sunday.
Many elders believe that Intruz is the only ancestral activity which has kept certain residential wards together and helping to spread the unity throughout the villages.
Soon after attending Sunday mass, many youngsters in Canacona headed to their ‘Mands’ in respective wards and began to beat Dhol, Tanso and Kansali.
The groups making a prayerful start, then headed to play drums and sing songs by visiting house-to-house. During the three days celebrations, most groups ensure that they visit ‘Mands’ of each of the groups in reciprocation of the other making similar visits.
Replacing the tradition of ‘Ghode’ distributed for lunch and dinner, food and drinks are arranged at common places, but limiting this habit only during lunch time.
Villages of Agonda, Loliem-Polem, Galgibaga, Bhatpal and some areas of Canacona Municipal Council are in the limelight of taking out ‘Mel’ during Intruz.
“This is one occasion which we are eagerly waiting to arrive, before the Lent season and we are making most of it,” said Savio, who finds himself in the forefront to sing traditional songs during house-to-house visits.
Joaquim Fernandes said many families provide snacks and drinks to the groups moving in their localities. Praying and playing in front of a chapel or Cross is always considered as prime importance during Intruz revelry.
According to elders in the villages, beginning mid-1980s there was serious decline in Intruz revelry, as many youngsters showed little interest to continue the ancestral form of revelry, until some youth showed interest to revive this rich tradition.
In Canacona, the 'mell', where a group of village youth dances in front of the main cross of the vaddo and houses. They dance to the beat of drums, sing songs in praise of their generic ancestors.
