Samvedi (Portuguese: compadre^[1][2] referring to the father of one's godchild; word derived from Kumpari and feminine being Kumari or Portuguese Comadre^[3]) or Samvedi Christians are a sub-group of East Indian community. This community is concentrated mostly in Bassein (Portuguese: Baçaim),^[4] India, which is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Mumbai. Kupari Ancestors were Mixture of Samvedic Brahmins, Goans and Portuguese because of inter marriages between them. The population is about 40,000 to 45,000. The language spoken by the Kupari community is called Kadodi, which is a mixed dialect of Marathi, Konkani, and with very few words derived from Portuguese. 97% of this population is Roman Catholic,^[5] and the remaining minority is a mixed population of various Christian Protestant sects. Education along with religion and missionary works has helped upliftment of the Samvedi Christian community . They have 100% literacy rate.

The Samvedi Christian community came into existence during the Portuguese rule of Vasai in 15th century when most of the Samvedi Brahmans forcefully converted to Christianity as their possessions were confiscated and they were ostracized by orthodox Brahmans. Smavedi Christians are originally Samvedi Brahmans. Their language is known as the Samvedi language which is a mixed dialect of Marathi, Gujarati. Till the late 1960s and early 1970s the population was highly dependent on farming. The Samvedi Christian community is mostly concentrated around these parishes in northern Vasai:^[6]

• Nirmal
• Agashi
• Nandakhal
• Gass
• Bhuigaon
• Umrala
• Nanbhat
• Shrilaiwadi
• Bolinj
• Mardes
• Wagholi
• Gomes Ali
• Rajodi

Costume [link]

The traditional costume of the Samvedi Christian community consists of a dhoti also called "ponya" in local language, white shirt, black sleeveless jacket kabja and a red cap with earring vali pierced in the left ear for men, and a red blouse soli with red checkered kashta also called "lugadaa"(a type of sari for women.^[7]

Traditions [link]

• Baltim (Baptism:This is a traditional Christian ritual wherein a newborn is baptised to free him from the original sin of Adam and Eve)
• Komsar (Confession:One of the seven sacraments, also known as penance)
• Cominyao (First Holy Communion)
• Hamdao (Associated with marriage:People from the grooms side send a garland for the bride and traditional sweets to be distributed in the locality, just before the wedding bands are announced in the church)
• Lagin (Wedding)
• Saudio (Celebration next to wedding day:A day reserved for all the people who have helped in organizing the wedding feast.)
• Haira (Engagement)

Recipes [link]

• Variety of fish gravies (specially Bombil)
• Indel (specially prepared meat/fish to last for certain days) anglicized vidialo
• Vade/talnayo rotyo (fried bread made from mixture of flours)
• Dhapti (steamed bread made from mixture of flours and vegetables)
• Hingoli (traditional specialty, similar to pita bread with traditional sweet filling, deep fried in vegetable oil)
• Fogey (Portuguese spherical bread)
• Dodal ( Portuguese Sweet)
• Fuddi ( Portuguese feijoada (typical dish made with pork))
• Sanna (Rice Bread)
• Karji (traditional specialty)
• Laadu(local spherical sweet)

Festivals [link]

• Natal(Festival of nativity christmas)
• Easter
• Pali Fiesta
• Bandra Fiesta
• San Jao

Adresao [link]

SAMVEDI CHRISTIANS today [link]

Samvedi Christians have been well educated for generations. They are hardworking, which aids their ventures in a variety of sectors. In recent years Kuparis have shown transition towards various sectors, including engineering, medicine, and corporate enterprises. A considerable amount of the Kupari population has relocated to the North America, Europe, Middle East and Australia.

Population and Distribution [link]

This community is concentrated mostly in Bassein (Portuguese: Baçaim),^[8] India, which is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Mumbai. The population is about 40,000 to 45,000. Rough estimate of this population around North America is around 300 and around Middle East is of about 150.

Ethnicity [link]

Most of the kuparis have their ancestry through samvedi Brahmin community while some trace few relations in neighbouring vadvalite community as well as goan community due to inter communal marriages. Minor traces of Portuguese ancestry in this community cannot be denied due to Portuguese intercommunal marriages during Portuguese rule as in case of St. Gonsalo Garcia.

Names of people [link]

• Farsha, Faraashi (Francis)
• Duma (Domnic)
• Ludrik (Rodrigues)
• Damel (D'mello)
• Lop (Lopes)
• Pedru, Pedar (Peter)
• mot,(dmonte)
• shimya (simon)
• motya (mathew)
• salu (salvador)
• Itur (Victor)
• Phula (Philomina)
• Lusha (Louis)
• Dis (Dias)
• Pirel (Pereira)
• Toma (Thomas)
• Dalmet (Almieda)

History [link]

On 23 December 1534, the Sultan of Gujarat, signed a treaty with the Portuguese and ceded Bassein with its dependencies of Salsette, Mombaim (Bombay), Parel, Vadala, Shiv (Sion), Vorli (Worli), Mazagao (Mazgao), Thane, Vandre(Bandra), Mahim, Caranja. In 1548, St. Francisco Xavier stopped in Bassein to preach. This marked the advent of Christianity into Bassein. Bread Buns, (locally as called pav) played a key role in conversions. Bread being fermented food was considered unholy by local Hindus then. Missionaries with motive of conversions added Pav to the drinking water sources like well thus making it unusable for Hindus. Unaware Hindus, tricked into drinking water from these wells were excommunicated by orthodox Brahmin community and declared as untouchables. These outcast Hindu were then converted by Christian missionaries (Roman Catholic) with promises of land, other monitory benefit, better status, etc. The churches distributed the seized land amongst east Indians. Along with new names and dress codes the new converts were also endowed with political upper hand during Portugal rule. Today these missionaries also run Schools and hospitals benefiting both Christian and non-Christian. Despite initial hostility the converts and Hindus are happily sharing their neighbourhood. During this period Portuguese built 3 churches in present day northern bassein for these converts:Manickpur (1530), Nirmal (1557), Agashi (1568), Nandakhal (1573). All these churches are still used by the Christian community of Vasai.

Religious Practices [link]

Paya bharni [link]

This is the ceremony that is conducted when the foundation stone for a house has been laid. Ceremony begins with the burial of some jewellery into the earth and breaking of a coconut the priest then makes some prayers and blesses its construction. This ceremony has its roots in the Hindu tradition of bhoomi pujan.

Bejimat [link]

Bejimat is the ceremony conducted during the inauguration of a new home. During this ceremony a priest is invited to a home who then prays before the people sprinkles holy water throughout the home and blesses it.

Yentar [link]

This ceremony is conducted when final funeral rites are given to a person. This is conducted in a church followed by prayers and burial at a cemetery.

Saatvoh [link]

This ceremony is conducted on the seventh day of a funeral. During this the affected family dedicates a mass for the dead this is followed by a dining service at the family's place which usually includes meat and alcohol to mark the passing of sorrow.

Upas [link]

This is the fast carried out during the lent season of 40 days.

As respect to their Hindu roots they abstain from beef consumption

Religious Services [link]

The religious services of the Samvedi Christian community confirm with the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic faith. Some of them can be seen below.

Baltim (Baptism) [link]

A new born infant is taken to the church and blessed by holy water and fire in presence of his/her parents, relatives, godmother and godfather .... hence he will be called by a name decide by his/her parents. its almost like a name ceremony.

Komsar (Confession) [link]

Cominyao (First Holy Communion) [link]

Chrisma(Confirmation) [link]

Varad[Lagin](Wedding) [link]

Yentar (Final Funeral rites) [link]

Family life [link]

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Lifestyle and Culture [link]

Olden Days [link]

Language [link]

• 'SAMVEDI, wadval and etc.(somewhat like Marathi)

Clothing [link]

Traditions [link]

Ayaez [link]

Ayaez means ornaments owned by a married women gifted to her by in-laws on a day before marriage ceremony also the ornaments gifted by her parents on the wedding day

Hamdao [link]

Before the marriage the in-laws of the bride send garlands[aboli,gulshedi,shevanti,etc.]and sweets[laadoo,karji,mesoor,khaja,etc.]to the bride and she distributes it to her relatives and to her neighbors.

Saudio [link]

It's the day after the WEDDING DAY. On this day at the groom's house the relatives play pranks and take money from the newly married couple [also known as postao in Kadodi language]on this day mostly in the evening the bride's relatives dress in old traditional dresses and go to the groom's house singing and dancing with music played on musical instrument known as "GHUMAT"[a drum made from earthen pot which has openings on both the sides one opening is tied with leather] when the bride's relatives reach the groom's house, his relatives play pranks on them like putting spices in the drinks which is being served to them after all the fun the bride's relatives take newly married coupe to the bride's place for a day.

Education [link]

Today Samvedi Christian community are 100% literate.

Relations with outside world [link]

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Portrayal in popular entertainment [link]

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See also [link]

• East Indians
• Portuguese India
• Marathi people
• Vasai

References [link]

External links [link]

• Roman Catholic Kupari Community site
• Information related to vasai