The Chapel of Our Lady of Candelaria, octagonal in shape with 30 masonry steps leading to it, is situated on a hillock in Kumbhar vaddo, Pilerne. It was also accessible by a ramp. On the main altar, is the image of Our Lady of Candelaria. The feast of this chapel is celebrated every year on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday and this year, it falls on February 14.
This feast was associated with kott’ttios (coconut shells) and hence it got its name ‘Kott’ttianchem Fest’.
On the feast day, the chapel square is filled with devotees from the village and nearby areas. They bring with them white candles of wax, Abolim and Rosans to offer them to the Miraculous Lady of Pilerne.
THE BACKGROUND
The original inhabitants of the hillock in Pilerne village were said to be Kumbhars, hence the vaddo was called Kumbhar vaddo. As regards to their presence here, one theory says that they are supposed to have come to the village in the 4th century BC from Chota Nagpur Plateau. Another theory suggests that they have close affinities with the Kumbhars of Orissa, Andhra and Karnataka. These settled down here due to the favourable soil conditions for their occupation.
The Kumbhars moulded and baked various items such as pots, pans, idols, lamps, toys, gorgoleta, jars, figures of soldiers and cocks. They also prepared traditional musical instruments of clay like the Ghumot and Mhadallem and the small pots to burn incense and the Tulsi Vrindavan.
THE CHAPEL
The story of the Chapel of Our Lady of Candelaria goes back to 1773. Pio Ribeiro and Francisco Britto e Rosario, two friends and businessmen are said to have brought an image of Our Lady of Candelaria during one of their seafaring journeys and placed it in the house of the latter. Francisco is said to have married Monica, the daughter of Britto. At the premature death of her husband, Monica, the widow, returned to her house along with the statue which she placed in a small hut of palm leaves built by her “ her house was close to the present chapel of Our Lady of Candelaria.
Nearby villagers began to visit the hut and soon, it became a place of faith and prayer. Since the hut could not hold the large devotees, a chapel was built here with the donations from the people. Then Archbishop Don Antonio de Neiva de Silveira (1750-1773) refused to bless it as it was done without the permission of Church authorities.
The statue of Our Lady was then taken and kept in the Pilerne Church. The chapel was later reopened by Archbishop Dom Francisco de Assuncao e Britto in 1775. Later, a bigger chapel was built in Kumbhar vaddo with public donations and along with a small residence for the priest.
THE KOTT’TTIANCHEM FEST
The Chapel feast is celebrated uniquely by peoples of all faiths. It is preceded by the Novena by families of the village.
The faithful sweep the ramp and clean it on the previous day. Some devotees even go down on their knees on the slope to fulfil an earlier promise, while others sweep the steps with their long hair.
On the feast day, devotees, young and old, Christians and non-Christians, who had made their vow to Our Lady, say: “Hanv borim zalear, bhik magon farik kortelim” (If I get cured, I vow to beg and give alms to you), would sit with kott’ttios (coconut shells) all along the access ramp and steps, asking for alms from those going to the feast.
Coconut shells were cheap, easily available and nature-friendly, hence they were used to beg. Hence, the feast of Our Lady of Candelaria got its name - Kott’ttianchem Fest! The money collected during the day would be offered to Our Lady.
This feast of Our Lady of Candelaria expresses the deep faith of the devotees in her. They believe that Our Lady will not let them down. Religion or caste or status is not a barrier for them to beg.
(The writer is former director of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr at Porvorim)
