Our Lady of Bethlehem church has a large open courtyard paved with gravestones. On special occasions, such as festival days, the additional congregation is accommodated in the courtyard.
Aagera is traditionally held on the first Sunday in October. However, this event represents a token harvest as the monsoon season is still ongoing. The main harvest of the kharif crop begins towards the end of October, coinciding with All Souls Day on November 2.
The events recreate a typical day in a farmer’s life. The community gathers on an agricultural field for a special service organized by the local parish of Our Lady of Bethlehem Church, located in Dongri-Tarodi village.
Father Oscar Mendonca, dressed in a white cassock, leads the congregation in offering prayers and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. The occasion is marked by the lighting of candles and smashing of coconuts.
Keeping with age-old traditions, after the harvest is collected, it is transported on bullock carts much as it was done in the past before the invention of motorized transport.
The procession passes along Dongri Road, passing old-style bungalows. Traditional East Indian houses feature tiled roofs, which help keep the interiors cool during hot summer months. They also have large verandas or porches that serve as spaces for socializing.
The bullocks (and horses) are specially adorned with garlands, floral tassels hanging from their necks, and peacock feathers attached to their horns. Embroidered body covers are placed on their backs.
Our Lady of Bethlehem was originally built by Franciscan missionaries in the 17th century CE and dedicated to Mother Mary. Its neo-Baroque façade is influenced by Portuguese-era Catholic churches in Goa. Over the years, the church has undergone several renovations and expansions to accommodate the growing congregation.
On this special day, East Indian women wear their traditional attire, a nine-yard sari worn in the Maharashtrian kashta style, known as the Sonkari Lugra. The Lugra is distinctive for its pink or red colour and intricate embroidery along its border.