Dock of the Royalties

Venessa SilveiraRibandar, a serene and beautiful village, is nestled between the capital city of Panaji and Old Goa in the district of Ilhas or Tiswadi. The Ourem creek separates it from Panaji and forms a large marshy estuary along the Mandovi.The village rests in the bosom of Ribandar hills, lapped by the Mandovi river and surrounded by Panaji, Chimbel and Sao Pedro village.The islands of Chorao and Divar lie to the north and north-east of Ribandar, respectively. The ferry wharfs at Ribandar are the major means of transportation to these two islands. The Ourem estuary is traversed by an old causeway built in 1633 under the auspices of the viceroy, the Count of Linhares, after whom it has been named as the 'Ponte Conde de Linhares'.Although separated geographically from Panaji, Ribandar has been made a part of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP).Administratively and judicially, Ribandar stands alone as a village, and a part of the CCP, but it’s religious jurisdiction has continued to include Chimbel and Sao Pedro in the Ribandar parish.The name ‘Ribandar’ is a combination of two words, ‘Rai Bandar’ meaning ‘Dock of the royalties’ or ‘King’s harbour’. There were many Hindu, Muslim and Portuguese rulers, who ruled Goa in patches due to constant wars with each other.Ribandar boasts of some famous historical places. Some of the places of interest are O Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Ajuda (The Church of Our Lady of Help), which derives its significance from the fact that the body of St Francis Xavier was given a canon salute here on March 14, 1554, and is an architectural wonder, its shape resembling that of a ship.The residents of Patto celebrate the Our Lady of Remedios Chapel feast on the second Saturday of February, while the residents of Fondvem celebrate Infant Jesus feast at Our Lady of Ajuda Chapel. Although a small village, Ribandar has four Hindu temples, Ram temple at Manasvaddo, Shri Vitoba temple at Fornavaddo, Pandurang temple at Fondvem and another temple of the same deity at Sao Pedro or Panvel.Among the prominent educational institutions in Ribandar figures the over-200-year-old Ajuda convent housed in the mansion which once was called Palacio Julio Nogar. It was handed over to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, who extended it to start a teachers’ training course and subsequently a high school. In due course, they wound up the school, leaving behind only a kindergarten, and it is now a noviate of their order.Peopled with creative persons, arts, entertainment and culture come naturally to these villagers. On the third Sunday of January, the village traditionally stages a tiatr. Artists like the famed sculptor, Waman Zo, besides Charis and others, including Francisco Martins, who has been excelling at putting up floats at the state and national level, all hail from this village. Going back in time, it is said that the Carnival dance used to be held in the Gracias house.Every year, two to three Marathi dramas are staged by the Hindu community. During the monsoon, the people also celebrate the ‘Sangodd’ in the River Mandovi, creating a floating platform by tying two or more boats together.Ribandar has a concentration of fairly large and architecturally impressive mansions, Solar Colaco, Camelot House, Dr Inacio de Sa, Dr Alvaro D’Souza, Ave Gracias, Govinda Panvelkar, etc. The hillock overlooking a 360-degree view of the silvery river and its emerald islands has witnessed the rise of nearly a score of housing colonies, which, ironically, native villagers say, is destroying the charming character of the village.Resident's WoesWATER | Water shortage is currently a problem that we have been facing.This is probably due to the increasing number of constructions in Ribandar. We never faced this problem of water shortage 5-6 years ago. The roadsides in our locality are lined with garbage. Also, the road to Ribandar, the new bypass, is not yet ready- Melvin Silva | ResidentInfrastructure | Ribandar has two wards, 29 and 30, under the CCP. Over the past few decades, both the wards have been neglected and are used as vote banks. This village has also been struggling for a football ground, community hall, a public market, a children's park/garden. Successive governments have failed to deliver though much was promised- Aires Rodrigues | ResidentMayor's takeRibandar requires a full-fledged market, a good football ground, better roads and continous water supply. Presently, the residents don't even get half-an-hour of water supply. All this has to be improved. Every manifesto of the MLA has promised to get these development works, but nothing has come of itSurendra Furtado | CCP mayorSanta Casa de MisericordiaAn important landmark is the Santa Casa de Misericordia, also known as Holy House of Charity. It was also referred to as the Royal Portuguese Hospital and, later on, was used by the management school, the Goa Institute of Management. Being a heritage structure, it has not been modified. It was also used for some time by the Goa Medical College, which was Asia's first hospital, in its chequered historyCasa de PolvoraThe last traces of the Casa de Polvora or the house of gunpowder, set up by Francisco da Gama at Panelim, circa 1630. A residential complex was built at the site wiping away almost all traces of this piece of heritage. After an outcry by heritage lovers, the ASI shifted the millstones to Old GoaOrthodox connection A significant part of Ribandar’s history is the life of the Goan priest, Fr Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares, who was associated with the Jacobite Orthodox Church, based in Kerala. He was bestowed the honour of being a bishop of the rank ‘Mar Julius I’ as archbishop metropolitan for the archdiocese of Ceylon, Goa and entire India. After his death, he was buried at St Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church, Ribandar. He was beatified last year