The 131 km long coastline of Goa on the golden Konkan coast of the Western Ghats is along the Arabian Sea. This small former Portuguese enclave is one of India's most popular tourist spots, both for the domestic and international traveller. The name Goa is derived from the Konkani word `Goyan', which means a patch of tall grass.
The 131 km long coastline of Goa on the golden Konkan coast of the Western Ghats is along the Arabian Sea. This small former Portuguese enclave is one of India's most popular tourist spots, both for the domestic and international traveller. The name Goa is derived from the Konkani word `Goyan', which means a patch of tall grass.
The sheer inaccessibility of Goa by land has always kept it out of the mainstream of Indian History. On the other hand, its control of the seas and above all the lucrative spice trade made it a much-coveted prize for rival colonial powers. Until a century before the arrival of the Portuguese adventure Vasco Da Gama who landed near Kozhikode in Kerala in 1498, Goa had belonged for over a thousand years to the kingdom of Kadamba. In the interim it had been successfully conquered by the Karnatakan Vijayanagars, the Muslim Bahmanis and Yousuf Adil Shah of Bijapur but the capture of the fort at Panaji by Alfonso De Albuquerque in 1510 signaled the start of a Portuguese occupation that was to last for 450 years.
Meanwhile, conversions to Christianity started by the Franciscans gathered pace when St.Francis Xavier founded the Jesuit Mission in 1542. With the advent of the inquisition soon afterwards laws were introduced censoring literature and banning any faith other than Catholicism even the long established Syrian Christian community were branded heretics. Hindu temples were destroyed and converted Hindus adopted Portuguese names such as DA Silva, Correa and De'Sousa which remain common in the region. The transitional influence of the Jesuits eventually alarmed the Portuguese government. The Jesuits were expelled in 1749 which made it possible for Indian Goans to take up the priesthood. However, standards of education suffered and Goa entered a period of decline. The Portuguese were not prepared to help but neither would they allow native Goans equal rights. An abortive attempt to establish the Goan Republic was quelled with the execution of fifteen Goan conspirators.
When you have decided to opt for Goa packages from the tour operators in Goa, be prepared for you might just swoon over the beauty of this enchanting state.
Goa packages from the tour operators in Goa take you on a sightseeing tour that involves churches, temples, beaches and of course the villages. Besides this, when you avail a Goa packages from tour operators in Goa, you get to relish the delicious Goan food, which is always hot and spicy.
Fair & Fastival in Goa
Bonderam Festival, GoaBonderam Festival goaThe feast of Bonderam is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of August every year at Divar Island, 12-km from Panjim.
On this day, the quiant land of Divar, away from the hustle and bustle of Panjim, is agog with excitement. Melodious music drift from the village to mainland Old Goa - once the hub of Portuguese Goa - even before the crack of dawn on the Saturday. At noon people begin trickling into the village. By the evening the trickle is a deluge. An expectant crowd assembles along either side of the main through fare of the village. The tempo is set by lands and lasses wielding "fotashes" engaging themselves in mock battles. The gaily coloured floats accompanied by colourfully dressed youngsters make a pretty picture.
Feast Of Three Kings ,GoaFeast Of Three Kings goaIt is on the Festa dos Reis or the Epiphany on January 6 that the isolated Hill of Remedios and chapel suddenly spring to life and activity. After staying almost whole year in isolation, just nine days before the Feast of the Novena starts, the hill revives and resounds to human voices and feet. Come early dawn, kettledrums and the blare of trumpets, announce to the sleepy little neighboring villages that the day of rejoicing and festivity has arrived.The tolling bells call the faithful to prayer and devotees visit the shrine in a non-stop stream. There's now an excellent road winding its way up the steep hill right to the door of the chapel, making the ascent possible by car. Still, most of the devotees prefer to climb up hill. Even the very old and infirm make their way up for nine consecutive days to hear Mass and recite the Rosary before the Lady of the Blue Mantle. Many come to offer their thanks for fulfilling their wishes. The devotees are always lead by a drummer-boy with his kettledrum who, by the loud beat of his drum, announces of another favor having being granted by the Lady of Remedios.
Goa CarnivalGoa CarnivalCarnival in Goa is a non-stop 3-day festival of color, song and music, providing a healthy entertainment for all, young and old. The soothing climate, full of fun- 'n' -frolic, which the Carnival generates, is much longed for. It does not matter whether one enjoys or see others enjoying. There is enthusiasm and happiness all around.
The Goa Carnival is an integral part of the Portuguese heritage of the state, which was a dominion of Portugal till 1961. The carnival epitomizes the fun-loving culture that is characteristic of Goa. It was introduced by the erstwhile rulers as a rowdy celebration in which flour, eggs, oranges, lemons, mud, sand-filled gloves along with dirty water, various liquids and glue were aimed at passersby. Used pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils were also thrown out of windows. Perhaps this was done to discard the old and the dirty before the Lenten fast.
Sao Joao Festival in GoaSao Joao Festival in Goa Sao Joao is the feast of St. John the Baptist observed all over Goa on 24th June. Newly wed sons-in-law celebrate at their mothers-in-law's house. On this occasion the mother presents the daughter a basket full of fruits like jackfruits, mangoes, pineapples, etc. to be taken home. A procession of village youth wearing crowns of leaves, carrying bottles of Feni advances through the village, ultimately arriving at a well of pond into which they jump along with the sons-in-law.
Shigmoutsav in GoaShigmo in Goa is esentially a festival of the masses. Though it is celebrated under different names and in different ways in various parts of the country.It is the festival of farewell to winter celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna (March), the last month of the Hindu calendar.In Goa, which has always been land of temples, Shigmo begins with Naman or collective obeisance of villagers from 9th moon day to full-moon day. During all these days, they are to 'Shun' non-vegetarian food and all intoxicants.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN GOAAttraction Tour in Goa Goa has so many tourist attraction that one is confused as to which Goan tourist attraction to surrender to.
Temples in Goa: When you think of Goa in India, then images of beaches and sea cross your mind, so it comes as an added surprise to find that Goa in India also has numerous temples doted all around. Once you visit these temples in India's Goa, one is washed with a sense of purity and sanctity.
Churches in Goa: Thanks to the Portuguese invasion, Goa, India, has a number of churches to boast about. Many of these Goan churches are outstanding and exemplary cases of Christian architecture. Most of the church in Goa display a tiered frontispiece and are framed with columns and pilasters. They belong to the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The local population, with their artistically receptive minds, assimilated the symbols of Christian art.
Villages in Goa: To this day, if you ask the Goans where they are from, they'll give you the name of their village, their 'ancestral village' as they often call the Goan village. And since many of the villages in Goa have probably evolved from early Stone Age settlements, each Goan village has had plenty of time to develop its individual character overlaid by an Iberian stamp.
Beaches in Goa: God has been very kind to this Indian town of Goa in terms of beaches. Beaches in Goa rank among the top beaches in the world. And why shouldn't it? With over 40 lovely beaches to its credit, one can just get lost in the mesmerising beauty of these beaches in India's Goa. You have to tour across Goa, India to experience the beauty first-hand.
Carnival in Goa: Come February and you will find excitement bubbling across Goa…the reason…well, Goa is getting dressed for the carnival. It doesn't take much time for this small Indian state of Goa to get into the carnival mood, basically the party mood.
Getaways in Goa: You will never get tired of the beaches or the temples or the churches in Goa, but just in case, you want to try something different, then there are many getaways in India's Goa.
