Fritzell's blog

             This tale goes back to the night,  the star decided to take flight,  once which shone so bright,  with the moon alongside. A glittery streak across the sky, that the star had left behind. Although filled with immense pride, something just didn't feel right. The heart ached, as the star left, that cold night, the moon wept.  For it had known the star so well, the separation felt unreal.  Drowned with melancholy, the moon had lost it's desired company. Once it had known so deeply, had set off for it's final journey. The sky was painted with grieving darkness, as the celestial beauty envisioned loneliness. The end of an intimate connection, had left the moon in sheer isolation. Although it shared the sky, with billions of the same kind, none felt like the one, that had drifted away, forever gone! Till this very day, the moon waits, to re-unite, it craves, a longing so great, to lay eyes on it's beloved mate. Shines br...

Born in a Goan Roman Catholic family, I've always witnessed a number of catholic traditions and festivities which add richness to the Goan culture. For instance, after the most exciting season of Christmas ends and the new year commences, one witnesses the preparations for the procession of St. Sebastian in many of the coastal villages of Goa. Hailing from the village of Assolna, I've witnessed the Nomenar since the dawn of my memory.  St. Sebastian who was a Roman soldier,  was also an early Christian saint and martyr.  He  was killed by arrows during the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Diocletian.  He is often depicted tied to a tree or post and shot with arrows. According to the Catholic Church Calendar, the feast of St. Sebastian is celebrated on 20th January every year. The procession is held a few days before and on the feast day. Being a community event, different villages have their own unique ways of celebration of the feast and the proc...