Saint Sebastian Church, Bendur Celebrates ‘Pavsa Gammat 2026’ with Traditional Flavours, Culture and Community Spirit
The Saint Sebastian Church, Bendur, came alive with colour, tradition and togetherness as it hosted ‘Pavsa Gammat 2026’, a vibrant traditional food and cultural festival, at the Platinum Jubilee Hall. The event brought together hundreds of Parishioners in a joyous celebration of the region’s rich cultural heritage, traditional cuisine and community spirit. The festivities commenced with a colourful procession led by the Saint Sebastian Church Children’s Brass Band, followed by farmers, Gurkars, representatives from various parish wards and the clergy.
The dignitaries received a traditional welcome by Deepak Dsouza, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council, while members of the Women’s Commission presented a graceful prayer dance. Rev. Fr Joel Monteiro, Assistant Parish Priest, invoked God’s blessings through a special prayer for timely rains, a bountiful harvest and the well-being of farming families. One of the most touching moments of the evening was the celebration of Grandparents’ and Elders’ Day, during which senior citizens of the parish were honoured with roses in recognition of their invaluable contribution to families and society. They were also invited to cut a commemorative cake amid warm applause from the gathering.
The festival was formally inaugurated in a unique traditional style by Very Rev. Fr Walter Dsouza, Parish Priest, who symbolically cut a bunch of bananas from a banana plant, highlighting the close bond between faith, agriculture and local traditions. In his inaugural address, he urged families to preserve traditional food culture by preparing wholesome homemade delicacies and passing these cherished culinary traditions on to future generations.
Following the inauguration, Very Rev. Fr Walter Dsouza blessed and declared open the food stalls, where Parish wards showcased an impressive variety of authentic traditional delicacies. Visitors enthusiastically relished favourites such as Patholi, Pathrode, Manni, Kube Mutli, Pork Indad, Mutton Boti, Chicken Kebab, Moog Ani Kirl and Payasa, making the festival a delightful gastronomic experience.
Adding excitement to the celebrations was a lively auction conducted by Loy Rego, featuring banana bunches, jackfruit, homemade wine and other locally produced farm items. The spirited bidding by parishioners reflected their enthusiastic support for the event. The cultural segment captivated the audience with a special song performed by the priests, composed by the Parish Priest, followed by energetic dance performances by members of the Catholic Action League (CAL), Young Christian Students (YCS) and senior citizens. Competitions including Traditional Dress, Group Singing, and the Zone-wise Baila Song and Dance Competition added colour and excitement to the evening. Winners were felicitated with prizes in recognition of their outstanding performances.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Royston Farias, Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council. The event was compered with great enthusiasm by Nihal Rego and Anna Patrao, whose lively presentation kept the audience engaged throughout the programme. ‘Pavsa Gammat 2026’ concluded on a memorable note, successfully promoting traditional cuisine, cultural heritage and community bonding while inspiring the younger generation to value and preserve the rich traditions handed down by their elders.
