After Easter, various saints’ feasts are observed by the Catholic Church. The season starts with the feast of Annuciação de Nossa Senhora de Nazareth, also known as Jezu Nozre Fest/Pejechem Fest, on the first Sunday following Easter at the Jesus Nazareth Chapel-Siridão. Siridão is a small hamlet bordered on two sides by the villages of Curca and Bambolim and on the other by a Zuari River branch. Siridao lies on the northern fringe of the ancient Gopakpattnam port. Most people are Catholic, and the majority of them work as fishermen and toddy-tappers. Most people have migrated to Europe, and very few now reside in the village.
Constructed in 1604 on the hillock of Nazareth ward, the Jesus Nazareth Chapel honours the memory of the victims who perished due to the Cholera pandemic during 1790-1810. There are statues of St Mary Magdalene and Christ the King on either side. In the background is a painting of the Annunciation. There are also openings in the dome’s wall- a place to keep the Torah. The dome pattern resembles the Jewish synagogue, suggesting the possibility of Jewish settlement there before the advent of the Portuguese. Pilgrims from all over come to this feast to make vows/’Angvon’ or after fulfilment of vow: “Lok angvonn kortat, Saiba mhaka borem/boro kor, hanv tujea paiam kodde yevun pez jevtam” (People make vows. Lord, please cure me. I’ll come to your feet and eat kanji).
Road travel was uncommon in the past. Therefore, devotees from far-off villages, such as Sanvordem and Sanguem, would occasionally arrive by sailing in canoes and catamarans. In the past, pilgrims travelling great distances for the feast were accommodated by the homes in the village. On the feast day, every village household prepared to accommodate and serve a meal to the visitors.
After the feast mass, the Our Lady of Annunciation statue is carried through the village in a procession. After that, people line-up below the chapel to receive canji. Canji is traditionally prepared in seven large copper pots by married women. The seven vessels are thought to have been connected to the Sanskrit tale of the seven sisters. Canji is served first at the Xim (village boundary) for the deceased souls before people are served. Traditionally, it was served in traditional Goan bowls called Maltuli.
The Dempo family bears the expenses of preparing canji. They own most of the properties in Siridao. As per the folklore, the landlord serves canji to atone for the Pensanvanchem Bhatt. Pensão means a periodical payment. In the past, some landowners with no heirs or, as an act of philanthropy, bequeathed property to the church, laying certain conditions that had to be fulfilled, including offering several masses for the souls of the deceased family members. If the requirements were not fulfilled, the spirits would protest and possibly even bring omen to the property owners.
Another distinctive feature of this feast is the performance at the Manddar - a little stage set up by the villagers. People come with their chairs and wait at the Manddar for the performance. After the puja at the Zonnkar house, they come in procession while lighting firecrackers, and the drama begins at the Manddar. Each of the two Zonnkar groups introduces the drama. Since every villager has a part to perform or a song to sing, it unites the community.
