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Growing up in Mumbai, it was easy to identify a GSB woman by the coral (pavle) necklace she wore — the KashiThali, more commonly pronounced Kasthali. True to stereotype, we GSBs are an impatient lot: we speak fast and love shortening words, so KashiThali naturally became Kasthali in everyday speech. More common in GSB families from South Kanara and less so … Read more
In general, before visiting a temple we make it a point to be physically clean—taking a proper bath and wearing fresh clothes. Yet one tradition followed at GSB Kuldevata temples stands apart. It is called Dhulī Bheṭa—Dhulī meaning dust and bheṭa meaning meeting—symbolizing a meeting with the deity while one is still unclean from a long … Read more
I recently listened to a beautiful discourse by Vedamurthy Ramakrishna Bhat, in which he spoke about how temple visits today have increasingly become holidays or tourist outings rather than journeys rooted in pure devotion. That thought struck me deeply—because it feels so true. We are often in such a rush to “complete” the trip that … Read more
During the transfer of Shri Damodar idol from Madgaon to escape Portuguese authorities, the mahajans briefly halted at the house of Shri Purushottam Keni situated in Comba in Madgaon. Since the house was still in the precincts of the Portuguese rule, this stay was brief and the troupe set off further down South to cross … Read more
The Portuguese Arrival in Goa (1510) The Portuguese first conquered Goa in 1510. Their control was initially limited to five islands: Goa (also known as Tiswadi), Chorão, Divar, Vamsim, and Jua. Tiswadi alone consisted of thirty villages. These areas later became known as the Old Conquests (Velhas Conquistas). Expansion of the Old Conquests In 1543, … Read more