The captivating oral tradition of Goan folklore — with its enchanting folktales, fables, idioms, legends, superstitions and myths — has stood the test of time. The editor says she herself “had the privilege of listening to captivating tales from the seasoned storytellers of my family, my father Epitácio Pais and my uncle Sidónio Pais.”
In these narratives, animals took centre-stage, engaging in conversations with humans and expressing emotions that brought the stories to life. These tales, often featuring tigers, jackals or foxes, held her spellbound, anticipating these creatures to leap out from nowhere and be swept by the next twist to events.
Today, anthropologists and folklorists recognise that such story-telling sessions were more than mere recounts, recognising their cultural significance in society. In the context of Goa, they are gateways to the pulsating world of local traditions, whispers of our ancestors, customs and history.
Pais writes: “I once envisioned compiling Goan folk stories, but time constraints hindered my progress. Alternatively, opening the door for contributions from individual writers seemed like a more effective approach to collating and preserving them for posterity.”
Thus, the call for contributions on an online platform led to an amazing response from the community. This collection Whispers and Reflections: Folk Tales from Goa unveiled a treasure trove of narratives, some familiar, and others that lay hidden in memories.
A few storytellers of Goa have used the familiar spoken word, the language of Konkani, to carry the wisdom of the ages. A reader will experience the flavour of Goan customs, traditions, dietary habits, music and institutions within this collection of folk stories and a few essays.
Some stories are allegorical, ritualistic and comical. Allegories employ symbolic characters to convey norms, philosophical concepts and taboos of society at a given point in historical time.
Animals in folktales often represent exemplary symbols with specific traits. For instance, a wise owl exemplifies wisdom, a cunning fox or a jackal slyness, while a dog embodies fidelity. Jackals are commonly portrayed as the trickster archetype that challenges societal norms and disrupts order or may represent the unpredictable and mischievous aspects of life.
Likewise, we may learn wisdom from the metaphorical lessons gained from these stories. The actions and behaviour of animals can serve as metaphors for human behaviour. By anthropomorphising animals, folktales convey moral lessons, cultural norms and societal values engagingly.
Many folktales attribute spiritual or supernatural qualities to animals, connecting them to the divine or mystical realms. Animals may be seen as messengers, protectors or guides from the `Spirit World'.
Folktales often highlight the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world. Animals, birds, and jackals are often depicted as intermediaries between the human realm and the forces of nature.
Some Goan folktales featuring animals are connected to specific rituals or ceremonies, reinforcing the cultural practices and beliefs of this region. A few intriguing stories are performed or retold during significant cultural events.
This collection is a representation of the region’s historical and cultural heritage.
Folk tales here have been arranged thematically in the classifications below, allowing readers to explore various facets of society.
- The theme on ‘Anecdotes of Amusement’ offers light-hearted entertainment through wit, wordplay and comical exaggerated characters.
- ‘Echoes of the Past’ are rooted in history and draw inspiration from actual historical events. They combine historical incidents with fiction to capture the attention of readers.
- ‘Stories of the Animal Kingdom’ anthropomorphise animals, giving them human-like attributes, but also impart valuable moral values or lessons through their adventures.
- ‘Sacred Marvels and Tales of Divine Intervention’ are intertwined in religious beliefs and traditions. Likewise, the theme ‘Narratives of Moral Insights and Sagacity’ offer pearls of wisdom and ethical insights to readers.
- One gathers insight between the natural and supernatural realms from the ‘Tales of the Spirits and Guardian Deities’.
- A small section in this work is also dedicated to enthusiastic essayists who have delved into the depths of Goan traditions and beliefs.
With a team of enthusiastic collaborators — including Nandini Cardozo, Megan Fernandes — this endeavour was buoyed to its fruition. Nadine Martins assisted in generating images and sketched some illustrations. A group of talented artists — Charlize Rangel, Andrea Rebello, Sabrina Carvalho, Nadine Martins and Alex Fernandes — infused visual depth to several narratives with their own illustrations.
Sharmila Pais (Editor) Folklore ISBN: 978-93-95795-94-4 (Ebook) ISBN: 978-93-95795-56-2 (Print) Rs 500. August 2024.
