During the Christmas season, one gets the opportunity to witness several cribs made by the youth or different organisations in Goa’s villages. These cribs are massive in nature and mostly visible in South Goa.
Apart from the cribs made by enthusiastic youngsters from different villages after hectic efforts and preparations, most of the cribs on display and public viewing are created largely for competitions organised by different art and culture bodies.
But, there’s a gentleman in North Goa, hailing from Agassaim, Tiswadi taluka, who works vigorously, preparing stars made of bamboo sticks. It’s sheer passion that keeps him going and he has been displaying over 100-odd stars at his residence, near the Zuari bridge for the past 10 to 15 years.
“My stars, displayed for public viewing, have drawn hundreds of people, not only from Goa, but abroad as well,” informs the ‘star man’, Anthony Rodrigues. “Tourists are fascinated by the illumined stars along the national highway, and drop in to appreciate them and take selfies before parting,” he said.
A LABOUR OF LOVE
Rodrigues began his work on this year’s stars in all earnest from August or September. And, when he sits with the task of decorating the stars, he will continue his work for almost two to three hours at a stretch.
“Morning time is the most pleasant time,” Rodrigues shares, and he will be up from his bed by 3.30 am and will work on his 100-odd stars. “During that time, there’s no disturbance around the place and the coolness around helps me to complete most of my work,” he reveals.
When the Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, made it a point to drop in and get a glimpse of his creations this year, Rodrigues was rather excited. “He was quite appreciative and couldn’t believe that it was a mere one-man creation,” he said.
The more visitors who stop by (to get a glimpse of the display of stars made in a uniform pattern), the more Rodrigues feels elated and his joys knows no bounds. “It’s definitely not an easy task to prepare so many stars single-handedly,” he says. “But, moral support from my wife, Succorine, and encouragement from tourists and guests keep me going.”
The sight of so many stars on display is one of its kind in Goa, and Rodrigues definitely deserves applause for all the efforts put in for his creativity. Each passing year, he increases the number of stars and also keeps a cash prize for the right guess of stars on display.
“Till date nobody has succeeded in estimating the correct number of stars on display, and the prize remains unclaimed. But, the closest wins the prize at the end,” Rodrigues said. “However, the enthusiasm never dwindles among the participants and the entries continue flowing till the day of the results,” he said.
As the display of stars continues to attract crowds from far and wide, Rodrigues wishes to continue his unique art for years to come.
As the response from the passers-by is overwhelming, Rodrigues wishes to keeps his stars on display till January 6. “After the feast of the Three Kings, the stars will be dismantled and kept in the store room, to be re-opened and worked upon the following year,” he adds.
