The story of Gosripuram is a fascinating one for generations old and young. The place being one of the oldest streets, inhabits the people of Konkani culture and has evolved over the years to accommodate the livelihoods of the Konkanis. The Konkanis, with their unique nature, add to the vibrant tapestry of India’s linguistic and cultural diversity. Over the years, the community produced numerous distinguished scholars, academicians, administrators, and traders, contributing significantly to the region’s intellectual and economic landscape. Furthermore, the Konkanis still hold fast to their distinctive religious beliefs, cultural identity, and lifestyle, adding greatly to the cosmopolitan nature of Cochin.
The History
During the 19th century, in the wake of the Portuguese religious persecution, a section of Konkanis migrated from Goa. They did it as the Portuguese were forcing them to change their religion, culture, and beliefs. To protect their identity, they migrated to different parts of Kerala and finally to Cochin. Foreseeing their ability to contribute to the flourishing businesses of the region, the Cochin king granted them permission for their permanent settlement. The Konkan community also settled in Alleppey, Kollam, Kottayam, Trivandrum, and other places of Kerala but the majority portion was settled in Cochin. During their migration, they had also brought with them, their deity. They constructed a temple and enshrined their deity within it. The placement of the temple became significant as the GSB community settled around its perimeter. This close proximity of the GSBs to the temple inspired the name of the region to Gosripuram.
The Tirumala Devaswom temple serves as a focal point and marks the identity of the Konkani settlement in Kochi. The T D East Sannidhi road, located towards the east of the temple, demarcates the boundaries of the settlement. Various sub-communities also settled along the road. Over time, as roads emerged from the temple’s gopurams, the community expanded its settlements along these roads. The progress of time witnessed the divergence, emergence, and interconnection of roads, leading to further growth in the settlement and fostering interconnectedness among its inhabitants.
Culture and Language
The Konkan people (Konkani/Konkanis) are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group. There are different divisions among the Konkani caste, the Gauda Saraswat Brahmins are the highest caste of them all, and they occupy the major portion of Gosripuram. A typical day starts for them with Puja at their homes, followed by worship at the temple. Evenings are marked by lighting lamps, singing songs, Arati, and Puja of the idols they keep at home. Their traditional occupations have been described as practiced by successive generations, rooted in customs and these include food preparation, businesses, and trade. As time progressed, the community’s proficiency and expertise in specific trades and professions made them sought-after and valued members of society. Wherever they reside they identify themselves with the locality and have forged connections with other people. They are always conscious of respect and honour instead of wealth and money. For all their religious and cultural activities, they collect donations and subscriptions from their people.
The Konkani language is also a most versatile one, having at present as many as 19 dialectical variations. However, the greater proliferation of Konkani literature has suffered a severe setback due to hindrances caused by the scattered nature of the Konkani entity. It is acknowledged to be one of India’s oldest independent languages. The Konkani spoken by Kerala Saraswats has borrowed loan words from Malayalam, and they speak with a Malayalam accent. This was due to several centuries of domicile by the Saraswats in these areas.
Food and Festivals
Following the Hindu lunar calendar, Gauda Saraswat Brahmins of Gosripuram annually celebrate their festivals. The two main temple festivals ‘Aratt’ are the most important events of the year. Rathotsavam and Mahotsavam(8-day-long festivals) are celebrated annually. Holi, Diwali, and Navaratri are the other main festivals in which Konkanis celebrate Holi by making a figurine out of cloth and hay called a “phodo” a month before and burning it on the day of Holi. The celebration ends at midnight with people offering sacrifices around four corners of the temple. During Diwali, special poojas are held, people attend by wearing new dresses; and in Navaratri, people arrange dolls(Bhomma Kulu) which is different from the usual celebration.
The people of Gosripuram have a deep love for their vegetables, cooking everything from colocasia, fenugreek, and fiddlehead ferns with no onions. One of the most beloved dishes made from colocasia leaf is called Pathorvodo, made on special occasions. They have also adopted vegetarianism, distinguishing them from the rest of the southern Saraswats. The main staple is rice, the community also makes various kinds of pohe; and typical Konkani curries include Val Val, gash, and methi sukke.
Being an old settlement, Gosripuram has a thoughtfully designed architectural style that is based on cultural norms, climatic circumstances, etc. This indicates that everything remains the same as they share the same culture, special customs, and rituals, in addition to belonging to the same region. They interact and have good ties with the people. It signifies that they share joy and support one another when they are in need. Additionally, residents of this village extend a warm welcome to visitors and treat them like members of their family. The site’s character and legacy have both evolved as a result of the architectural style’s evolution throughout time. Nevertheless, the region brings in a sense of timelessness as the community still tries to remain rooted in its customs and traditions.
References
- dbpedia.org. (n.d.). About: Konkani people. [online] Available at: https://dbpedia.org/page/Konkani_people [Accessed 14 Jul. 2023].
- Vazarmstrong’s Weblog. (2008). History of Konkani language spoken by Goans, Mangaloreans. [online] Available at: https://vazarmstrong.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/history-of-konkani-language-spoken-by-goans-mangaloreans/ [Accessed 14 Jul. 2023].
