Samir Bhat
Curchorem: The two-day Tribal Festival held at Copelabhat Deao, Quepem, offered a glimpse into traditional living through exhibits, live demonstrations, games and food stalls, evoking memories of childhood and earlier village life among visitors. The revival and display of traditional tribal art, household practices and food that are fast disappearing from everyday life was the mainstay of the festival.
The festival was organised by Adivasi Sanghatna Quepem at January 17 and 18 in coordination with the Directorate of Art and Culture and the Tribal Welfare Department.
Among the exhibits that attracted attention was the ‘mudi’, a traditional storage container for paddy and rice. “Before the use of sacks and plastic bags, households stored grain in handmade ‘mudis’ made from paddy grass and banana stem. The containers could store the equivalent of two sacks of grain, were resistant to rats and could preserve grain for up to four years,” said Pobre Fernandes from Ambaulim.
Another highlight was the weaving of ‘mandri’, a traditional sleeping mat. Milagrina Gomes from Paroda demonstrated the process. “The art was passed down from my mother. Made from ‘lovo’, a wild grass found in khazan areas, the mat takes about 15 days to complete and requires two people,” she said, adding that sleeping on it can help relieve back pain. Each mat costs about Rs 1,700.
The festival also showcased Petromax lamps once used during festivals and feasts, kerosene lamps that lit poor households, mud cooking utensils, coconut shell spoons, wooden measuring tools like ‘payli’, and glass liquor bottles known as ‘karbo’, protected with bamboo coverings. Other traditional items included ‘nivoni’, ‘mollam’, ‘sann’ and ‘fulam fati’.
Traditional games such as ‘logoryo’, ‘koino bar’, tug of war, breaking the pot, bucket ball and ‘langadi’ were organised, while food stalls served items like ‘fov’, ‘ambil’, ‘pez’, ‘pitya ladu’, ‘donne’, ‘sanna’, ‘patolyo’, ‘shevyo’ and ‘soji’.
Social worker Remedios Rebello said Adivasi Sanghatna Quepem was founded in 2008 to preserve traditional folk dances, art, household items and food.
