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| A group of Catholics perform Borodiner Kirtan (Christmas carols) in Dhaka on Dec. 16. (Photo: Stephan Uttom/ucanews) |
Hiron
Patrick Gomes is a bit upset that his team lost its crown at a recent Borodiner Kirtan (Christmas
Carol) contest in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka.
Gomes'
team was among 17 Kirtan
Dals (Carol Groups) from around the country that participated
on Dec. 16 in a competition organized by the Christian Cooperative Credit Union
Ltd (CCCUL), the country's largest cooperative bank.
It was the third version of the contest
hosted by the CCCUL, coming just days before most Christians in the city head
back to their villages to spend Christmas with family and friends.
Gomes and his team were champions last
year but this year had to settle for fourth.
"We practiced for more than a week
and performed quite well. We are a bit upset, but not heartbroken. In the past
years, I have won many competitions and hope to win more in the future,"
Gomes, 32, a Catholic father of one, told ucanews.
Gomes Gomes has been an ardent kirtan fan
since he was a boy and has sung in numerous carol performances in his home
village of Doripara in Gazipur district, covered by Dhaka Archdiocese, one of
Bangladesh's oldest and largest Catholic settlements.
"For Christians in the country,
carols have special significance during Christmas season in terms of
spirituality and culture," Gomes told ucanews. "I have been involved
with carols since my childhood in the village. Every Christmas we used to form
groups and sing carols at every house in the village."
Gomes, a professional singer, spent a few
years at a diocesan seminary and his time there helped him learn various forms
of traditional carols.
He is now a busy NGO worker and lives
with his family in Dhaka but never misses the chance to take part in Christmas
carols, whether at home or in contests.
"Carol is a soulful expression of
our joy and spirituality during Christmas, our pride and heritage. We are glad
that together we are back to revive and carry on our age-old tradition. I hope
this will continue in the coming days," Gomes added.
A
Christmas special
Kirtan is a widely popular tradition
among Bengali Christians in Bhawal as well in other parts of the country and
also among ethnic indigenous Catholics in the north and northeast of
Bangladesh.
