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Saddo Ceremony
In the northern part of Goa, there is a beautiful ceremony called the
Saddo. Saddo is the ceremonial cutting of the cloth, normally flowery
red, to be worn by the bride in the house after the wedding. A tiny image
of child Jesus is placed on the floor mat where the tailor is sitting
with the clothes, at their house and two tiny length wise pieces
of clothes are cut by him and placed there in the form of a cross.
To begin with, there is the 'Nomon' in which blessing
of God almighty and especially of the virgin Mary, mother of Jesus are
invoked in the form of Zot (a special song peculiar to the occasion sung
by an expert song-stress). Then each relative, from the nearest to
begin with, followed by others to the accompaniment of references
to them made in beautiful metaphor in the form of Zotis, walks up to the
spot where lies the Infant Jesus and lays his or her offerings of
money from Rs2 to Rs10 before the image. Then a piece of betel nut and
leaf with calcined lime and some sweets are disturbed to the people
present. The elder men are served with liquor, women and children with
sweet red wine and soft drinks. The money collected on the occasion is
taken by the tailor, apart from his wages. The tailor will later
stitch the main wedding dress or gown in milky white colour and
other necessary clothes for the bride and near relatives, brides maids
etc. The brides gown, ornaments and trousseau are displayed in a special
ceremony at which people are invited, and then they are sent to the groom's
place for display there.
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