Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji

 Panaji, May 13: The tradition of getting married within the village has been a part of life for St Estevam villagers since centuries. Though modernization has dented this tradition a bit, the people here prefer to get their daughters wedded within their village, for historical reasons.

St Estevam, an island situated 30 kms away from Panaji, majorly occupied by Catholic community, has been a hub of vegetable cultivation for ages. Now, cultivation is on the wane as youngsters prefer jobs on the ship to working in agricultural sector. Incidentally, this island and its villagers are considered as richest in Goa as every family has its male member employed on board the ship.

But one tradition that makes this village different from rest of the world is its belief of getting children married within the village. There are around 4, 600 Catholic population here, which has kept this practice alive.

“Maybe because this was an island that’s why people were cut off from the outside world and hence they began this tradition,” says Sebastian Rangel, a former employee of Mumbai Port Trust (MPT), now retired and back in the village. Rangel himself was married to a girl from the village, way back in 70s.

The island, locked with Mandovi river water from its sides was connected to the mainstream by construction of a bridge in 80s. Before that people used to travel here in canoes and later motorized ferry boats.

Priscilla Menezes, a lady from the village, has her own thinking about this trend. “The village is small so girl and boy tends to fall in love with each other during their schooling. Later they get married during their marriageable age,” says Menezes, who runs a general store shop in the village.

“Majority of them are getting married within the village but now there are instances of girls getting wedded outside the island,” Menezes said citing a marriage she attended a couple of days back wherein the girl was married to a boy from Quepem village, 50 kms away from St Estevam.

“There are houses where more than one girl from same the family is married. It’s always considered safe to marry within the village as you know the character of the boy right from his childhood,” Menezes reasoned.

This unique trend in the island has led to growing family relations. Eva Ferrao born and married in St Estevam said "it is not surprising to find relatives and, family ties connected in the length and breadth of St Estevam".  

The local Church has no objection to such marriages. “Church mind is open; they are welcome to get married within the village,” said Fr Olav D’Souza, parish priest of St Stephen Church at St Estevam.

The name St Estevam is derived for the village from St Stephen, who is the first martyr saint in christianity. Fr D’Souza said that historically people from this village have nurtured the tradition. “Socially, there are no reasons that can be found. But we presume that being an island people were trusting bridegroom within the village,” he commented.