Naguesh Sardessai / Navhind Times

Panaji, May 24: Claudia Pereira’s ‘The Gaudde of Goa’ is an interesting exhibition of photographs highlighting the similarities and differences between the Hindu and Christian gaudde against the other sections of the society.

These pictures, put up at ‘The Consulate General of Portugal’, do not claim to preach or advocate any philosophy. They are pure and straightforward presentation of the normal life of Goan gauddes. There is no attempt to push a new perspective about the said community or even make a forceful statement. What one sees is a sort of documentary in a framed manner. The regular life of gaudde including the after-work playful dance they perform, harvest dance with descriptive lyrics, seasonal chores and mundane activities etc. seem so appealing and admirable.

Claudia’s pictures capture the adorable unity and inherent simplicity of the members of this community. The photographs are systematically categorized and similarly displayed in four sections. Starting with the snapshots, it shows them in casual settings like group of members lazing around the village corner or even near the well including a man performing the daily puja with all piousness.

The next section, titled ‘The Monsoons Round The Corner’ covers the most important aspects in their life without which life can be difficult for them. Cleaning of the collected grass, weaving of the palm leaves, overhauling and fixing of the roof tiles, thrashing of the paddy and other regular chores arranged in a sequence gives one a feeling of actually walking through their area.

Gauddes in action decked for festivities dominate the third section. Playing Fugdi, performing Dhalo, posing for the camera adorned with all the finery and enjoying a good splash of Holi colours, bring out the colourful side of these community members.

And in the end one get to see the old and young juxtaposed to highlight generational transition. Besides this, an audio-visual documentary film playing in the corner encapsulates the gist of the four sections.