Saint John the Baptist
(São João)
In Portuguese, Saint John is called São João and in Konkani we say Sant Juanv.
The Saints Birthday is solemnized by Catholics on 24th June by attending the sacrifice of the Holy Mass in the morning and in the afternoon till night the youth along with the not so young adorned with crowns made of fresh flowers and tender coconut palm leaves, parade the roads shouting, “Sanjanv! Sanjanv!!”
This call is given to alert the villagers to assemble at the village wells, fountains (zhor), rivers or ponds, there they jump into the water, splash and dive to the accompaniment of drums (gumott) and cymbals (cansaim). “Sanjanv! Sanjanv!! New brides are then doused with water “Sanjanv! Sanjanv!!”
The revelers are treated with sweets and jack fruits and of course the usual pegs (cop) of fenni. They then troop to the next well till most of the village wells are visited and the same performance is repeated.
“Sanjanv kelo” is often heard to other times in case a person accidentally falls in a puddle, or an inebriated fellow is seen lying in water. “Tannem Sanjanv kelo re”!!
Courtesy: Sebastian D’Cruz