Arambol celebrates the sea

All dressed in blue that matches with the sea and the sky, the people in the fishing village of Arambol will be celebrating the second edition of Ramponkarachem aani Voddekarachem Fest on September 30, spending a day out on the beach and enjoying the traditional Goenchem Jevonn, singing Konkani folklores on the beat of Ghumot, the state musical instrument of Goa.

Though the festival was initiated only last year the villagers have adopted it as their own unique way of celebrating their vocation and introducing it to the next generation. “Last year, rain tried to damper the spirit of the locals, who, not paying any heed to it, continued their rain dance on the beat of Ghumot. This year, hopefully, the celebrations will see a smooth sailing,” says Fr Pio Almeida, parish priest at Mount Carmel Church, Arambol. 

Fr Pio who has been the parish priest here for the past seven years, knows the village too well. “Ours is 100 per cent a fishing village where the villagers take pride in continuing their family vocation and each member of the family is involved in the business. There are around 50 boats and 500 fishermen who go fishing on a daily basis wherein their families assist in sorting, selling or drying the fish,” he explains. It’s hard work but quite rewarding and hence the youth are getting attracted towards this traditional occupation. Unlike other villages, at Arambol there is no hired workforce and all the work that’s related to fishing is carried on by the villagers themselves. Both ramponkars (fishermen) and voddekars (boatmen) will participate actively in the festivities. 

Speaking on this cultural feast of fishing community, Vailankanni D’Souza shares, “This year we are expecting 25 per cent more presence than last year and hence around 2000 meals will be ready at the venue for the participants to enjoy free. Though we live in the coastal area but not all of us visit the beach in relaxed mood. The fishing depends much on the season and when not fishing people sit idle at homes. The festival will bring them together on the beach. It will be our best day to enjoy food, music and dance.”  Coordinator and in-charge for cultural programmes, Vailankanni has trained the local performing groups. 

The fest will begin at 9 am from the Mount Carmel Church with Arambolchi Heritage Pasoi (the heritage walk of Arambol) with around 1000 fishermen and boatamen participating with Ghumots, guitars, kottieos (coconut shells) and other musical instruments with local bands and musicians taking the lead showcasing various talents and cultural flavours. While the procession will proceed in the leadership of Daniel D’Souza, a colourful display of Konkani folk lore like mandos, dulpads will entertain the audience on the way to beach where the people would assemble at 10 am. A prayer song to welcome all will be sung here. Apart from the locals, prominent Goans like Wendell Rodricks, Prajal Sakhardande, Miguel Braganza, Carlos Gonsalves, O’luv, Dr Glenis Mendonsa and many others will be participating too.

“The venue of the festival is the beach itself where a fishing boat with over two dozen fishermen and enthusiastic people would go to sea with a big rampon (fishing net) for an hour and return with the catch for the day which will be documented before frying and serving at the meals. Meanwhile the cultural programmes will continue,” briefs Marius Fernandes, cultural activist who conceptualised and initiated the festival a year ago. 

The programme includes ‘Balcaochyo Gajali’ where local citizen Peter Rodrigues will interact with three fishermen - Luis Fernandes, Manual D’Souza and Daniel Rodrigues, asking them to share their experiences at sea and their family occupation - fishing. A theme song created by Meena Fernandes and Collate Fernandes, and ‘Ami Nustekar’ - a song and dance performance by Young Stars of Arambol, fugadi by a self-help group from Bhattwadi, a cultural dance ‘Darya Kushin’ and a skit by Dempe College group will keep the audience entertained. 

The sumptuous meal will have traditional Goan ukdo rice, sambarachi koddi, sungatachi koddi, melghor, bhajalele nuste, pej, khare, tora, lonche, chone will be cooked publicly and served on patravali (leaf plate). Futi chao (black tea) will be served in kotti (coconut shell). The entire festival will be plastic-free. There are no sponsors too. A message to ‘say no to straws’ will be given to society through a newly founded group - ‘Uzwaad - The Ray of Hope’ wherein Sendra Pereira and Aarti Rane will do a Konkani skit on ramponkars. The TYBA students of St Xavier’s College will do a project - Celebrating Identities: A sociological study of contemporary folk festivals of India. A documentary on the small birds (who are the hunters of the remaining small fish in the net) will be shot live and uploaded on Instagram. Xavier’s BBA Mass Media students will prepare a documentary on the  life of ramponkars. Don Bosco Media team - Sierra Frais and Asiss Shaikh will be documenting the entire festival. 

Organised by the people of Arambol this multicultural festival will be moderated by Xavier Mascarenhas who reasons out that such uniting festivals are required to bind people together. Xavier maintains, “We are so special. Most of us work on the fishing boats and there is no hired labour in our village. This fest is to celebrate our identities. Arambol has not left fishing. Probably, we are the only survivors to go for a catch. Nothing stops us, rain or shine.”   

Footballers, musicians, tiatrists, fishermen, cashew farmers, farmers, toddy tappers, coconut pluckers etc will be participating in the festival. A day out is much needed to these hardworking folks and the fest will serve as a rejuvenation activity to pump energy into their tired bodies.