Scan 210
Gazetteer Of The Bombay Presidency, Thana Vol. 13 Part 1 (1882), 1882
11 lines. Read by computer on 17 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Konkan.]
3THÁNA.
5The Christians have a sufficient knowledge of the doctrines of their faith, and show their attachment to their religion by freely contributing to their churches and to the support of their priests. As a rule they go to church regularly, and on great festivals very few are absent. At Bándra it is common to see whole families, father, mother, and children walking together to church carrying their books with them. Though neither handsome nor imposing, the churches are generally large, substantial and lofty. Some of those now in ruins had lofty arches, tall gable ends, transepts, and high-pitched sometimes vaulted roofs. They have given place to a style of building which, while quite as roomy, is less pretentious and more suited to the capacities of native workmen, and at the same time is distinct from any non-Christian place of worship. The new churches are plain oblong tiled buildings, generally with the doorway at the west, and a small chancel at the east, but no aisles; the larger churches have in most cases a low square tower at the south-east or south-west corner, and the smaller ones a belfry. They are white-washed outside, and the west end is often painted in colours. Inside they are gay with gilding, chandeliers, and pictures of saints. The high altar is sometimes very elaborate, and a few have old wooden pulpits or well carved wooden screens. Altogether they are clean and cheerful and compare favourably with the local temples or mosques. They generally stand in large enclosures, and have always in front of the west door a large Calvary cross white-washed and adorned with the symbols of the Passion, and generally bearing the date of the church, and a short devotional motto. Votive crosses of the same sort, made either of stone or of wood, are common in the villages and along the roads. Within the last few years many of the churches have been rebuilt or restored at a surprising cost, the people contributing freely to weekly offertories. The prayers are in Latin, but Portuguese and Maráthi prayer-books are within the reach of all, so that all who can read can follow the prayers. The hymns, like the prayers, are in Latin, but of these also there are translations, and the sermons are either in Portuguese or in Maráthi.1 Each church pays one or two music masters, who, as a rule, play on the violin and in some churches on the harmonium. There is no lack of musical talent, but they seem to have lost their old fondness for singing.2
7Parish priests are chosen from all classes except Mhárs, Bhandáris, converts, and illegitimate children. Some of them are the sons of landowners, sufficiently well-to-do to give their children a good education. Others come from Bombay or from Goa. All know
91 There is an interesting Life of Christ or Christe Purán, originally published in 1659, which is still well known and much read by the people. It is in the home dialect of the Thána Son or Sea Kolis, and differs little from the Maráthi now in use.
102 In former times one hamlet of Trinity (probably Vihár) was specially noted, whose people used to sing sacred songs while at work. Even in the woods men and boys were heard chanting the ten commandments from the tops of trees. The Thána choristers were famous singers. Annaes Maritimos e Coloniaes, Lisbon (1843), 382-383. Anquetil du Perron (1757) notices that in Thána the service was most orderly, and that the voices of the singers were accompanied by violins and bassoons. Zend Avesta, I. ccccxxv.
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