Bahrain, Feb 6 (GDN): A BAHRAIN author has become the country's first woman to release a book of Konkani poetry, highlighting the traditional occupations of Goa.

Goenchi Girestkai (The Wealth of Goa) was penned by Indian poet Maria Conceicao Pereira, who uses her prose to highlight traditional Goan jobs which are now dying out.

"Many children born to parents living in Bahrain or abroad have no idea about our traditions in Goa," she explained.

"Neither do they have a chance to know anything about Goa, so this book is to help them to explain to their children and instil some knowledge about Goan traditions and professions.

"Many Goan children have been brought up by their parents through this traditional hard work and it is sad to see that these professions are fading away, becoming a mere tourist attraction in Goa."

The book focuses on 12 traditional occupations in Goa, India's tourist hotspot, that are now in decline - fishermen, carpenters, bakers, coconut pickers, toddy-tappers (people who make alcohol from coconuts), barbers, grave-diggers, church helpers, ploughmen, tailors, postmen and potters.

Ms Pereira depicts their daily lives with a vivid use of the Konkani language and has already sold more than 100 copies of the book, which is available for just BD1.

Money raised from book sales is being donated to the Sacred Heart Church.

Ms Pereira, who is a secretary with the Bahrain Medical Society, was born in Arossim, Cansaulim, and graduated from Carmel College in Goa.

She came to Bahrain in 1993 to be with her husband Hilario Rodrigues and the couple have two daughters. To get a copy of the book, contact Ms Pereira at pereiras3@hotmail.com.