Venita Gomes
Those who have explored Goa will surely agree that a seashell window is a window to Goa's old-world charm heritage.
These ain't your ordinary windows! These contain the oyster shells called ‘Mother of Pearl’ which are close-fitted between the rustic frames!
Mormugao Bay, nestled along Goa's Arabian Sea coast, was once a treasure trove of Mother of Pearl shells. It's here that many of these shells were found.
Locals would pick the shells during low tide in the bay, clean them, and shape them up by polishing to make them suitable for the window frames.
These windows functioned brilliantly, filtering the harsh sunlight into a gentle glow and allowing cool breezes through cleverly spaced frames, creating delightfully comfortable interiors for Goan homes.
A defining feature of Indo-Portuguese houses was the use of seashells, bringing a whisper of the coast into every home.
However, today, due to overharvesting these shells are under threat and, therefore, the use of it is reduced.