By Prajal Sakhardande
ome of the old houses have wells set at a great depth. The well was almost sacred to the household. Laying the foundation of the house and digging a well were done simultaneously. Many of these traditional houses had a ‘nirpanas’ (bread fruit) tree planted close to the well and hence the name ‘paanpanas’ or ‘nirpanas’ wherein ‘paan’ or ‘nir’ meant water. It is unfortunate that many families have buried their wells and cut the breadfruit trees snapping ties with their ancestral heritage.
Many of the old wells in Goa are steeped in history with a number of myths, legends, folklore and history associated with them. For example in St Inez, Panaji there was the famous ‘Bismachi baai’ (Bishop’s well). There were some mysterious stories and happenings associated with it. On Govindghat, Molanguinim near Cuncolim-Salcete on a hillock is an ancient well known as the "Kauravanchi baai" and in Sonarbhat Usgao there is an ancient well known as the "Pandavanchi baai" associated with the famous Kauravas and Pandavas respectively.
Generally one comes across the popular legend of the Pandavas hiding in caves in Goa. But it is rare to find a well associated with the Kauravas. In the so-called Kadamb Palace site at Pilar there are a series of ancient deep set wells. Within the underground Soundekar Palace site is a very deep well that supplied water to the palace on the Gouli-Mouli plateau.
In Old Goa, near the gate of the College of St Paul, are two ancient wells. These wells were used by St Francis Xavier the Jesuit Missionary who arrived in Old Goa in 1542. Folklore says that St Francis Xavier drank water from the well next to the Francis Xavier chapel here. The other ancient well in line with the gate of the 16th century College has steps going down. It is said that St Francis Xavier used to descend these steps to wash his legs.
At the centre of the Khorjuvem Fort is a well that once supplied potable water to the soldiers stationed there.
Since the Portuguese period, wells have been used to celebrate the Sao Joao feast.
In the ancient Buddhist math cave at Rivona is an underground cave with a well. Next to this mysterious well is a secret dark chamber. In the ancient cave at Mashem in Canacona, in the vicinity of the old Nirakar temple is a very old well.
Wells have been an important part of our ancestral heritage. Today we have buried our traditional wells. When taps run dry we remember our heritage wells.
In the village of Ambeshi I found a beautiful well that was ringed within. At my ancestral house in Marcel the well built by my great grandfather on the paternal side is still being used. It is my link to my ancestors.
