Matharpacady has a strong historical connection with Goa and Goan Christians. The neighbourhood has several kudds; dormitories that provide accommodation to migrant workers from Goa at a nominal fee. The kudds are managed by clubs linked to villages in Goa, which patronize them. This kudd, 21/B Ground Floor, Matharpacady, is run by the Association of Paroda from Paroda village, in Salcete taluka, South Goa district. It was established in 1900.
The six-pointed Star of Bethlehem is associated with the Nativity story. The star served as a navigation aid for the three wise men who visited the manger where Jesus was born. It represents the divine light and hope brought into the world by the birth of Jesus Christ. This star of Bethlehem, stored in the open veranda at 20 Mataharpacady, will be hoisted during Christmas.
Marian Villa is among the better-preserved Portuguese-style bungalows in Matharpacady, home to the Mascarenhas family. Azulejo tiles are used for the nameplate, similar to those used in Goan homes. Arabic in origin, these blue and white tiles were produced by the Spanish from the 14th century onward to decorate their churches and monasteries. The Portuguese imported the tiles from Spain and, in the 17th century, started exporting them to their colonies, from where they reached Goa.
Ladies strike a conversation on the veranda at Keep Sake, 20 Matharpacady (built in 1928). The tightly spaced bungalows enable residents to interact with each other and socialize on the veranda. The long veranda is a typical feature of Koli villages where the open space at the front is used to repair fishing nets. This common characteristic is also seen in the bungalows of the East Indian community, whose ancestors were Kolis and other native communities before they were converted to Catholicism.
The interiors at 20A Matharpacady are furnished with antique wooden furniture. The eclectic collection of curios displayed inside the vitrine were acquired from various corners of the world, reflecting the family's extensive travel history and maritime activities. The vitrine was meticulously crafted by a Chinese craftsman, specially summoned for this task, who made it in the confines of this home.
This old home, at 9 Matharpacady, has batwing doors (double swinging doors) at the entrance, preserving its historical character and charm. The lintel above the door is decorated with colourful tiles with floral motifs, each different from the rest.
The Holy Cross Oratory is the most notable religious landmark in Matharpacady. This small chapel was built on land donated by Mrs Buthello and constructed in response to a devastating plague that struck the city in 1875 (another plague struck in 1896). The residents came together to collectively build the chapel, praying for the plague to spare the village. Miraculously, not a single death occurred at Matharpacady in the plague and the community has maintained the tradition of holding yearly feasts, now in its 148th year.
Every year new installations are made by the residents of Matharpacady during Christmas, entirely handmade by them. The sleigh is pulled by the reindeer Rudolf and Dasher, and driven by Santa Claus across the night sky. The sleigh was very popular with the neighbourhood children who were thrilled to take a ride on it and get their pictures clicked.
A bread seller ferrying his goods on a bicycle in front of D’Silva House, 24 Matharpacady, the house of Mr Trevor D’Silva, and his sister Joan Saint-Prix, grandnephew and grandniece to Joseph ‘Kaka’ Baptista (1864-1930), Indian freedom fighter and a prominent member of the East Indian community. Kaka Baptista was born in Matharpacady in 1864 in his ancestral house which has now been demolished and replaced by a high-rise building. Kaka Baptista was a barrister at the Bombay High Court and was closely associated with Bal Gangadhar Tilak. In 1925, he was elected as the mayor of the Bombay Municipal Corporation.