When Portuguese were in Goa, there were many houses with Portuguese architecture and some still exist which have nostalgic memories and grandeur of Portuguese opulence.
At my grandmother’s house we still have prismatic crystal chandeliers hanging in the hall with a chain for lifting and lowering to light them with the match stick or a lamp if power supply fails. Even ivory carvings adorned some of the old aristocratic houses.
The windows had oyster shells, the dining room was provided with rose wood tables having a gurgurate for drinking water. The old furniture with Portuguese in essence is a tribute to our Goan carpenters who have mastered the art of wood carvings. The chairs which still exist in some of houses have Rotiaçao.
Portuguese houses were spacious in order to allow air circulation and maximum comfort. Nowadays everything is forgotten. Goan Portuguese culture has vanished. But those who still have, should treasure and keep it for posterity.
