By Vinayak Khedekar
In amorous bond exists between man and his surrounding environment. Traditionally, Goan folk have involved themselves in soil, where in nature around becomes a part of their life and has enriched their culture.
Kell or the banana plant has a significant place in Goan culture and is considered as mortal. It is treated as an auspicious and sacred plant, used not only for decorative or domestic purpose but also for rites and rituals.
As described earlier each Goan traditional house has a small portion of land known as porsum - kitchen garden. It is remarkable to note that joint families are a part of the Goan ambiance, particularly in the Kulmi community.
The joint community is a common practice; one such example was sited at Karve in the panchayat area of Gaodongrem in Kankon, where a family consisted of 110 members. All the members were sheltered in one house and the researcher has observed that the head of the family had 12 ration cards (each such card could carry around 10 persons). This practice continued until 1992. In the same area there was another such family with 89 members. And adjacent to such traditional houses was the porsum, which had a family of banana trees. It consisted of more than 12 to 15 trees of different sizes from those producing fruit to the seasoned ones to those new comers just sprouting from the ground.
A custom was followed that the owner of the house should take utmost care of the new banana bunch. Theology describes that if a bunch of the banana plant comes out facing the south it is considered as a bad omen and a Shanti hom – ritual to appease and keep away such bad things had to be performed. People have often said that just like a woman undergoing labour pain, the banana plant also experiences such pain before the bunch comes out. A number of people in villages and the researcher as well have borne witness and have heard the cry of banana plant when it undergoes pain at this particular time.
Besides the domestic variety of banana plants there are three other kinds found in the forest ie Dev Kell - plant of God, Soan Kell - plant of gold, which has a golden colour and Raan Kell – forest plant. At the time of any auspicious occasion two banana plants adorned with bunches are placed at the main entrance of the Maatow. A raised platform known as Sovo is erected in the Maatow for the bride and groom for various rituals. Conventionally, this Sovo should have two banana plants at the outer pillar. For a specially arranged vow - Vrath of God Satyanarayan, customarily, two banana plants are required. To offer food to God as Nevedya, the leaf of the banana plant is required, only the leaf of the Saldati Kell – domestic or of the Dev Kell, where merely the last part of the banana branch known as Aagotechi Shirti is used. There is a custom that is strictly observed when serving food to a woman during menstruation period, no leaf of any Kell is used, which would have normally been used during meals.
The stem of the banana plant has multipurpose uses. The cut stem resembles a half-cut pipe and is known as Gaabo; used for directing spring water. Some stems are dried in the sun to extract Vaavllyo – a thread. No thread other then this Vaavlli is used for preparing garlands offered to God. Such threads are also woven in an artistic manner to prepare the chumall – which is the base to hold a divaj (traditional earthen lamp). The divaj is carried on the head by the girls of the Kulmi community. There is a custom that is followed where at least four Gabe have to be erected in front of the Tulsi Vrindavan at Chavath.
An aarti known as jodvem is arranged on a piece of Gaabo by a married woman for the marriage ceremony of the Tulsi plant. Similarly, an altar is prepared by the use of such layers, during Navraatr or the celebration of the annual festival.
