A bus load of tourists (25-30) on a holiday to India visited our Village on Tuesday, 9th September ’14. They were staying at the Trident, at Bandra Kurla Complex and were visiting places in and around the city of Portuguese interest. They had already visited Daman & Diu, the Vasai (Bassein) Fort and now our Heritage Village before proceeding to visit Gloria Church at Byculla.
They were taken around our village by Hansel Baptista, besides visiting the residence of Mr Trevor D’Silva at 24 Matharpacady. They were then treated to tea, cookies and East Indian “Thali Sweet” by Hansel Baptista at his residence, 21 Matharpacady. In addition, their tour guides, gave them a brief description on the history of Bombay. Each visitor was then handed over a memento on their visit to our Village – a laminated photographs of some of the houses in the Village on one side alongwith a brief historical description of Matharpacady Village on the reverse. All the Portuguese tourists were greatly impressed that such a picturesque, tranquil village still exists in the heart of a bustling, noisy city of Mumbai. They had vivid memories of how many of our houses reminded them of their own homes back in Portugal, and shared these fond memories with us.
The Matharpacady Residents Welfare Association (ALM) is striving hard to maintain and preserve our ancestral heritage. We invite ex villagers and well wishers who have visited Matharpacady Village to send us any photographs, articles, memoirs etc. of their yesteryears.
Photographs courtesy – Andrew D’Sylva & Stanislaus Baptista
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