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of Goa |
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Goa: Variously
known as "Pearl of the Orient", the state
of Goa is located on the western coast of India in
the coastal belt known as Konkan. Legends from Hindu
mythology credit Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of
Lord Vishnu with the creation of Goa. Over the centuries
various dynasties have ruled Goa. Rashtrakutas, Kadambas,
Silaharas, Chalukyas, Bahamani Muslims and most famously
the Portuguese have been rulers of Goa. Goa was liberated
by the Indian Army from Portuguese colonisation on
December 19, 1961 and became an Union Territory along
with the enclaves of Daman and Diu.
Having been the meeting point
of races, religions and cultures of East and West
over the centuries, Goa has a multi-hued and distinctive
lifestyle quite different from the rest of India.
Hindu and Catholic communities make up almost the
entire population with minority representation of
Muslims and other religions. The state of Goa is abundant
and rich in people, culture and festivals. Being an
immensely multi-cultural state, its festivals and
people are numerous and various.
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People:
The population of Goa is composed of a Hindu majority
of around 65% and a Christian  minority
of around 30%. Muslims and other religions make up
the rest. The people of Goa prefer to call themselves
Goans and not Goanese, they are proud of it and guard
it fiercely. They are very friendly, relaxed and extremely
happy-go-lucky. People of Goa belong to different
faiths and come from different cultural backgrounds.
However, they all lay emphasis on good living. The
best evidence of this is seen in quite a few places
of worship in Goa, where both Hindus and Christians
go together. The Damodar temple at Sanguem, the Church
of Our Lady of Miracles in Mapusa, the Shantadurga
temple at Fatorpa are excellent examples of this unique
religious harmony that exists in Goa. Besides these,
a number of other festivals in Goa are celebrated
by members of both communities with equal fervour.
In contrast to other parts of India, Goans have developed
a remarkable degree of tolerance towards each other's
religious beliefs, and hence religious fundamentalism
is completely unknown in the state.
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Culture:
Having had a multicultural past, culture of Goa have
been accordingly affected. The  Portuguese
were great church builders, their desire to spread
their faith an important motivation. However, the
early Hindu and Muslim settlers were nonetheless eager
to populate the land with their descendents. So, what
you see in modern-day Gao is a direct result of their
urge. And much as the image evoked by Goa is the picture
of its lush and luxurious beaches, the inhabitants
of Goa are very religious-minded and conscious of
their ethnicity.
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Food:
Goan Food too forms an important
part of the culture of Goa. Goa boasts of many different
cuisines - the Konkan, the Portuguese and the Bahamani
Nawabi traditions. Sea-food and rice, however, is
a common feature with all these categories. Goa is
abundant in different types of fish, the chief being,
prawns, mussels, oysters and crabs.
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Festivals:
With the majority of the population
being Hindu, Goa has scores of festivals celebrated
all around the year. All these festivals do not occur
on fixed dates of the caldendar year, since they are
based on the Hindu calendar, so all the major religious
festivals of India are celebrated in Goa. Quite a
lot of the Goan festivals are actually Jatras (feasts)
of the local or family deity celebrated at the temple
of the God or Goddess called Devasthan. It is a festive
and colourfull occassion in the temple complex with
thousands of devotees taking part in the celebrations
and the palakhi (palanquin) procession. In any case,
fairs, fetes, fests, feasts and festivals are quite
a regular feature of Goan life. Celebration is an
integral part of Goan life; and not to miss out, they
also have a day to commemorate the very idea of fun
and festivity.
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Lifestyle: Goans
as the people from Goa are known around the world,
have a unique lifestyle which reflects the perfect
blending of the cultural influences that they have
experienced over the centuries. By nature, Goans are
warm, friendly, easy going and large hearted. They
live life in style and at a leisurely pace. They are
passionate about dance, music and art which is in
their blood and they love their food and feni.Goans
attitude to life is best described by the word Susegad
which means taking life at a relaxed pace and enjoy
it to the full. This unique philosophy of life originates
from the Portuguese word Socegado which literally
meant quiet. The people of Goa have taken that to
heart, quite wholeheartedly while leading quiet and
relaxed lives in their peaceful land.
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