Goa's 'Saibinn', looking beyond tradition, food and camaraderie

When there’s the pervasive fragrance of incense in the air and everybody’s talking about whose grams were boiled to perfection, you know it's Saibinn time in Goa.

Seven o’clock in the evening, and families in the vaddo prepare to visit the neighbour’s house to attend Saibinn, or bring the pilgrim statue of Our Lady to the next house.

People with lit candles in their hands follow the statue as it is carried into the next house. During the litany, many ponder the prospect of having their bellies satisfied – “What will they serve this time? I hope it’s not the regular egg patties or slice of .”

Over the years, some things have changed. To a large extent, tradition is maintained without being extravagant, keeping in mind community well-being.

The statue of Our Lady brings together Catholic families, strengthening the sense of community with neighbours visiting each other and praying.

Over the years, some things have changed. To a large extent, tradition is maintained without being extravagant, keeping in mind community well-being.

CANDLES OF FAVOUR AND GRATITUDE

In the Catholic Church, candles are usually lit as a form of prayer or token of gratitude. Candles can also represent Jesus Christ as the Light of the world.

In the procession with the pilgrim , candles would serve a practical purpose as well, for back in the day, there were no street lights. To avoid tripping in the dark, or inadvertently crossing paths with a reptilian neighbour, some form of illumination was necessary.

While the tradition still stands, in some areas, the candles have been replaced by fancy decorative lights.  

BRINGING FLOWERS OF GOA TO MARY

In the days of old, you would not find commercially grown varieties of flowers such as chrysanthemums, roses and carnations during Saibinn. Goan homes were usually adorned with abolim and buttao flowers.

Since these aren’t commercially grown, they are rarely found in the market. To obtain and buttao, you have to let local flower vendors in the market know that you want them a few days in advance.

So, because the market is virtually inundated with flowers other than those endemic to Goa, people tend to opt for the commercially grown ones when decorating their homes or the statue of Our Lady.

Since these aren’t commercially grown, they are rarely found in the market. To obtain abolim and buttao, you have to let local flower vendors in the market know that you want them a few days in advance.

AFTER PRAYERS, THERE’S ALWAYS FOOD

In the past, boiled grams with pieces of coconut were the most economical food served. But over the years, this tradition did change as people kept trying to outdo each other as hosts.

The boiled were replaced by biscuits and cakes. Every year, the trend kept getting fancier and the number of items served also started multiplying.

After strict instructions from the parish priests, people have begun to offer two food items after the . However, there are a few families who no longer have Saibinn takeaway packets.

Instead, there is a spread of items on the table, and you serve yourself with all the goodies to go.

While the boiled grams have a natural connection to Our Lady in our minds, one must question whether our reasons for attending Saibinn is for the communal gathering and the food, rather than the spiritual element of it all.

We can have all the traditional aspects of Saibinn, and spiritually it could be bereft of meaning, an empty shell of an occasion for chatter and hobnobbing.

There is nothing wrong with a joyous meeting of neighbours, celebrating with food and , but Our Lady must always come first when we meet for Saibinn.