Why Goa's beloved Christmas caroling tradition is on the decline

Way back in the 80s and 90s, mechanised cribs, carol singing and one-act play competitions were a regular feature during the festive Christmas season in parishes.

And, in the past, youngsters from various villages eagerly anticipated participating in these activities, preparing for them with enthusiasm one or two months before Christmas.

But lately, with the creation of small Christian communities (SCCs) in different parishes across Goa, the competitive spirit has taken a backseat and those beloved contests of yore, which carried huge prizes have vanished into thin air.

Today, what remains are mere stage presentations by various SCCs, with minimal participation and a lackluster audience.

This year, just a handful of parishes across the state organised carol singing competitions at the State level, and the participation was poor, leaving the organisers feeling discouraged.

Moreover, one-act play competitions have disappeared during the festive season in villages, and they need to be revived for posterity.

CAROL SINGING COMPETITIONS IN GOA

If we look back at the pages of history, Dr Max Loyola Furtado, from Chinchinim, was the first person to organise a carol singing competition way back in 1969-70-71. And thereafter, many followed him and started organising the same event in different villages across Goa.

Gradually, carol singing competitions gained popularity, with parish choir groups actively participating, drawn by the attractive cash prizes on offer. Such competitions were also organised by the Art and Culture Department in order to promote art and culture in the State.

CAROLING IN THE 70s

During 1976-77, Dr Furtado was an active president of the Young Christian Students Union (YCSU) in Chinchinim, consisting of members of the student community. Later, it was renamed the Young Chinchinim Students Union, with more involvement of students.

“There was caroling all over by the young and the old,” Dr Furtado shares. “But, getting everyone under one umbrella was our main motive.”

When the first carol singing competition was organised in Chinchinim, there were about 6-7 groups which participated.

“In the second year, around 14-15 groups from all over Goa, right from Mapusa to Curtorim to Panjim participated in the contest, and each carried their own equipment. This trend continued for almost 10 years,” he recalls.

“For the second carol singing competition,” Dr Furtado continues, “we invited the late Fr Camilo Xavier, a noted musician, as the chief guest. He was excited and organised the same in Margao.”

“And, from there it spread everywhere,” he adds. “However, as some groups felt disheartened by not winning prizes, these competitions were eventually transformed into mere presentations. And, all the participating groups were given a memento as a token of appreciation.”

LACK OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT

“The social fabric has today has weakened compared to earlier days,” Dr Furtado laments. “Those close bonds, even within Goan families, are slowly dying, along with the community spirit.”

“The sense of belonging and connection is missing,” he adds. “And, this is one of the casualties during the festive season.”

Teotonio Costa from Neturlim, Sanguem, was an active participant in one-act play competitions organised in different villages in the past, and had his own group, too.

He believes that the reasons for the decline in competitions are many.

“Around the year 2000, these competitions began dying a slow death. The reasons for this include the involvement of political parties; also the jury roped in had no knowledge of such traditional plays, and deserving groups were deprived of prizes,” he concludes.