The third-year students of the Department of English, Carmel College for Women- Nuvem, accompanied by all their teachers visited the village of Sal in Bicholim on 13-14 April 2023. Twenty-five students and seven staff members explored the folklore and legends of the historic village which is well known all over Goa for its Gadiyachi jatra.
The students and staff resided in an eco-resort Raut Farm, flanked by fruit trees and flowering plants. They had access to fresh fruits such as cashew, love apples, mangoes, and jackfruits. The resort owner Mr. Sandip Raut was generous to offer them niro (cashew apple juice) and gave them a demonstration of how to roast cashew nuts in a traditional drum. The students also learnt to break the nuts to experience the joys of eating fresh drum-roasted cashew nuts.
The night stay was peaceful and exciting. The students then proceeded to experience an early morning eco-trek to the Sal village and explored the various flora and folklore of the village. Dr. Glenis Mendonca, explained the legends associated with the traditional Gadiyachi jatra of Sal village. The concept of the rakhondar or the protective spirits of the forests was a subject which could be explored in literature through the frame of Ecocriticism, she explained. She associated the same to the popular film Kantara—a film which was used as a text by many students of Ecocriticism and Culture Studies. After a hearty breakfat, students then enjoyed themselves at the waterfall and the pool waters and had a pleasant time.
At lunch, the students were urged to write about their experiences at Sal village and Dr. Brian Mendonca, coordinator of Carmelines 2023, assured them that he would consider their writings for publication in the College magazine. The students had a memorable experience, as this was their very first stay in a remote village in North Goa.
