Goa is a small pocket on the west coast of india and which had been under the Portugese influence . This influence is still evident in the culture, dress, cuisine of the laidback and peace-loving Goanese. Goa has the catholic and the hindu communities with a small percentage of muslims, all living in peace and harmony.
The Goanese have a great zest for life (fun) but are known for their lazy and extreme laidback life style; their famous afternoon siesta is well known...This stretches from 12 noon to almost 5 in the evening, when all shops shut down. Even if you are lucky , you will surely face an unwilling, reluctant shopkeeper. Their love for fun and frolic is evident in the spectacular Goan Carnival which heralds the ’lent’ This is a three- day festival, with dancing on the streets with masks, floats and frilly, colourful dresses. This festival is very akin to the Brazilian Carnival. Its a search for selecting King Momo and his Consort the Queen. This Carnival is well-organised by the government and the Tourism Department. The hindu community celebrates the Diwali (Festival of lights, akin to Christmas) and Holi (festival of colours), called ’’Shimgo’’ in their local dialect, konkani. This is a totally carefree spraying of coloured water on the face and person of their friends and near ones with great abandon and laughter and jokes. Great fun, followed by a rich, spicy mutton or chicken curry (shagoti) and sweet preparations.
The Goan catholic community wear western attire and go to churches. The famous Basilica of Bom Jesus is located in Old Goa where the well-preserved, embalmed body of Saint Francis Xavier is encased in a silver and glass casket. This is open for public view only once in 10 years. The hindus wear sarees. The famous ancient temples are the Mangeshi Temple (of lord Shiva) and the Shanta Durga Temple (of the Goddess)
The staple diet of the Goans is river fish and rice. If you are a gourmet you will be swept off your feet by the variety of fish preparations of pomfret, mackerel, lobster, king prawns, crabs, all deliciously gravied, fried or grilled as you like it. And to go with this great food feast, you have their local toddy drink (Arrakh), Kaju Feni (made from cashew fruit, and strong smelling). You can also chose from their red Port Wine and the local ’’Adigadivella’’ Does it sound portugese ?
Goa is an imoportant and popular tourist attraction around december and especially during the monsoons, when Goa is lush and green with swaying coconut palms, backwaters and beaches. Mostly beaches...long clean, virgin stretches of golden and silver sands. Tourists can just laze away on the sands or go swimming, yatching or wind surfing...the famous beaches are the Calangute, Colva, Miramar, Anjuna...There are 5 star Taj group of hotels closeby and also other smaller, comfortable, private accomodations available at nominal rates.
Goa is accessible by road, rail, sea or air. By road it takes about 10 to 12 hours by taxi or bus from Bombay. The waterways are closed during the peak monsoon months. By plane it takes just 45 minutes from Bombay to Dabolim in Goa. A coach then takes you to Panjim, the capital of Goa. The Konkan Railway is a very pleasant journey to Goa from Bombay. I have known many revellers to have taken this train journey to Goa during Christmas.
So, Bien Venu to Goa! You could dance to the strains of
’’Maka Saiba Vat Dakoi, Maka Saiba Vat Kolona!’’(’’Show me the way, for I do not know the way!’’ or yet another favourite...
’’Hee Pori Konanchi?’’ (’’Whose girl is she...?) These songs will haunt you forever!!
VIVA GOA!