Pamboorians in Doha celebrated traditional Novem Jevaan

By Philip Mudartha
Bellevision Media Network

Doha 12 September 2010: Parishioners of Holy Cross Church, Pamboor, residing in Qatar and currently belonging to the Parish of Our Lady of Rosary Catholic Church, flocked to partake in the solemn mass offered in Konkanni on the occasion of Nativity of Our Virgin Mary on  September 8, 2010.

 

 

This beautiful saucer shaped church building was inaugurated on March 14, 2008. Before this landmark event, catholics congregated in private homes and compounds both in the national capital and outlying smaller towns like Dukhan, Umm Said and Al Khor on rostered days. The Navem Jevann was strictly a family affair, or at most attended by close relatives and family friends. Usually, we waited till the blessed corn arrived by snail mail, which was about at least a fortnight later. Not anymore

 

Victor has reported from Doha earlier, in his back-to-back dispatches, packed with large number of photographs, on both the blessing of new paddy during the Grand Holy Mass Celebration as well as the Konkanni Speaking Community’s cultural meet with navem jevann. But not all Pamboorians could go to these occasions. The working hours and nature of work did not permit us all to be there.

 

The announcement of Eid-ul-Fitr public holiday on Friday came to the rescue. Taking advantage, nearly all Pamboorians got together to mark the Monti Fest as one family.

 

 

Family Feast, I said. Families brought home cooked delicious and healthy vegetarian dishes. Bendam, alsande, mogem, moong, tovsachi karamb, vhorn, idiyo, annii borem borem...The most memorable about it is the nostalgia of sitting on the floor cross legged and eating from the banana leaf.

 

 

To acknowledge, thank and encourage everyone who pitched in, the kutmamchi ghurrkarn, Dorothy-bai lead the chorus "Dev Borem korum tumka, dev borem korum" to the song of " bhendeachem nistem kellea vallabak..." etc.

 

 

She herself had taken hours in the kitchen making 150 idlis, and three other dishes, supported ably by these beautiful ladies.

 

 

The highlights of the evening included enchanting song and dance performances by Kum. Nisha, Nikita, Neema, Gina, Eleena to the foot tapping music and appreciative clapping of audience. With guests and friends, appreciatively gracing the occasion, the Pamboorians are graduating to next level of building their own identity.