Goa was once, the predominantly agricultural land and the tribal communities like Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar since the hoary past were involved in making living by doing agriculture. On account of deposition of silt that is brought by seasonal streams the land available on the hilly slopes is fertile and is used by the Goan for raising various agricultural crops. While living in the tune with the nature and environment in their vicinity, the Goans might have evolved this tradition hundreds of years ago.
Goa's natural beauty nestled amidst the Western Ghats and West coast has been always enriched by the agricultural and horticultural fields that are dotted this ecologically fragile land. The hilly slopes having the perennial and natural water bodies are terraced and are planted with the cash crops, spices, flowers, fruits and common medicinal plants. As the family members toiling hard were living inside this horticultural field it became known as the Kulagar. Each Kulagar throughout Goa is being sustained and supported by the system of traditional irrigation system, commonly a reservoir or its own spring. Goa recieves good amount of the monsoonal rain and available water is made to penetrate into the soil. The management of this water is done in such a manner that the plants would get sufficient supply of water till the end of the summer.
A Kulagar is an orchard where a variety of plants are grown at different levels. At the upper zone the trees and creepers of the forestry are offered protection. In the middle zone, trees like mango, coconut, jackfruit, pineapple are grown whereas at the lower zone trees like arecanut, banana and spices are grown. This multistoried arrangement of the various trees has been made by the Goan efficiently with the proper planning and vision that is why this tradition has been survived through the ages and generations.
It is said that Mayurvarma, founder of the Kadamba-Kula in Karnataka (345-360 A. D.) brought from Gujarat three hundred families to perform Yadnas at Gokarna. According to these Havig Brahmins engaged in the priesthood whereas some worked in their orchard. The members of these families who came in Ashtagrahara or Sanguem introduced arecanut and coconut gardens. In order to irrigate these fields they built artificial channels bringing water of the rivers. During the rule of Shivachitta of the Kadamba dynasty the Karhade brahmins who settled in Goa took up professions which were handed down through the generations. The Havig Brahmins had displayed engineering skills while levelling the land for cultivation.
The historian B. D. Satoskar in his book, 'Gomantak: Prakruti ani Sanskruti' mentions, "Though in the Kulagar, the main cultivation is of arecanut, the practice of cultivating arecanut, coconut, banana, lemon, rose apple, betel leaves creeper, pepper, turmeric, ginger and other plants collectively where water is abundantly available have been initiated by the Kol or Gauda belonging to the Proto-Austroloid race."
The stone inscription of 1413 A. D. on the wall infront of Nagesh temple in Bandora refers to the grant of Vedkhandikiche Kulagar, Nagzarimaloshet and Rubo kulagar of Goltiwado to Nagesh and Mahalaxmi temples. The village community of Goalimaula of Tiswadi in it documents of 1571 mention about Madiyache Kulagar.
Though, the Kulagar has a variety of trees, the arecanut is the must. Areca is the delicate palm tree which thrives well in regions of heavy rainfall and high humidity. This shade loving plant, grows well when planted with banana, mango, jack and guava trees. In Ponda where bowls and valleys are full of natural springs. Arecanut plantation is found abundantly in Ponda followed by Sattari, Bicholim, Sanguem, Dharbandora and then by remaining talukas. Though the arecanut is not economically today viable crop and yield too is decreasing, the horticulturists still prefer to grow it as the tree's pole is used traditionally for erecting pandal and arecanut is essential in the most of all cultural and religious rituals performed by the Goan Hindus. Alongwith other trees the arecanut green foliage provide cool shade in the Kulagar and that is why this tree is the most integral. In the past, most of all temples of Ponda at the backdrop of the lush green Kulagar were offering mesmerizing sight.
During the Shigmo festival in Goa there is a tradition of worshipping pole of tree. In Ponda, Tiswadi areas villagers make the pole of tree to stand erect infront of the village temple and various folk performances and rituals are performed.
As the Goan tribal and other agricultural communities had immense love for toiling hard in their soil, they never thought of earning a lot of money through the horticultural crops rather they wanted to enjoy peace of mind and solitude inside the Kulagar and that is why they gave importance to their association with the Kulagar. Our ancestors in since generations never thought of the profit through the horticulture but their happiness was related with the nature in the vicinity. Through traditional method of irrigation they helped the horticulture crops to grow. Whatever needed, they were growing inside the Kulagar and hence it was life sustaining and boosting their morale.
For the Goan Hindu communities, Ganesh chaturthi is the most popular festival. They welcome the lord Ganesh by decorating the wooden canopy over the head of the festive idol by tying the seasonal fruits, flowers, roots, leaves brought from the forest as well as the horticultural field locally called as 'Kulagar'. The matoli tradition of Ponda, Sattari, Dharbandora, Sanguem and other places where the Kulagars are dominating displays the agro-diversity available inside the horticulture field.
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