Goa in West India, called Golden Goa by the Portuguese, was an important Portuguese colony in Asia. The Portuguese were driven by their desire to spread their faith to the local population. Thus the culture of Goa is deeply influenced by Portuguese culture. Modern day Goa, a state of India, is a quaint blend of tradition, religion and modernity. Hindu temples are as much a part of Goa as are Christian monuments. The culture of Goa today is a synthesis of Portuese and Indian cultures.
People of Goa
The natives of Goa are vivacious, amiable and friendly. When you travel to Goa, you discover that they enjoy life to the fullest without getting tense about the unfavourable repercussions. 'Siesta' is an important part of life in Goa. On your trip to Goa, you will notice shuttered down shops from 1-4 pm that provides an afternoon nap to the Goans. Though the people belong to different faiths, sects and cultural backgrounds, their living spirit knits them together unlike other places in India.
Cuisine of Goa
Goan cuisine is really palatable satisfying the gluttony of anyone, especially a gourmet or connoisseur. If you belong to the above category and you are making a trip to Goa, then you have made the right choice. The cuisine in Goa is a perfect blend of diverse food cultures - the Konkan, the Portuguese and the Bahamani Nawabi traditions. When you travel to Goa, you will find Goan food is simple but also very hot and spicy. The major attractions of the cuisine take in seafood, sea-fruits, fish, prawns, mussels, oysters, crabs, feni, gin and many more.
Goan restaurants also offer chourisso (pickled pig's liver cooked in vinegar with tamarind) & vindalho (spicy pork). Goans use coconut sauces. One can also find India's best of beers& local wines (port being the most palatable). Goa offers equally good options for vegetarians also with a wide range of regional vegetarian thalis from North-Indian, South-Indian, Jaini thali, marwari thali so on and so forth.
Fairs and Festivals of Goa
When you travel to Goa, you will find that Goa is famous for its Indo-Latin festivals especially the famous carnivals. These are the occasions when a Goan peasant manifests joy and happiness. The word, 'carnival' originated from Medieval Latin: carnem levare or carnelevarium which means 'take away or remove, meat'. Even recapitulation discovers its origin in the ancient Saturnalia festival of ancient Rome.
For the Hindus of Goa it's Shigmo. This, too, was originally a spring festival like Saturnalia honouring the New Year and celebrating the burgeoning of life. While Carnival and Shigmo are festivals of joy, Shivaratri is one of austerity and penance. It is also, in all likelihood, the most ancient of the three major festivals of Goa because it is in honour of Lord Shiva, a God who had been worshipped in India for centuries before the Indo-Iranians migrated into this land. Shivaratri, however, is essentially an introspective festival. Zatra is celebrated in all special temples at Mangueshi, Nagueshi, Ramnathi, Kavlem, Madkai, Kundai, Shiroda, Khandepar, Borim, Kapileshwari, Mulgaon, Fatorpa, Amona, Shirgao, Marshel, Mala-Panaji, Mapusa, Velinga, Karmali and Calangute.
Goa, so, completes the trio of Christianity, Hinduism & Islam. Apart from these there are several festivals celebrated by the respective communities but enjoyed by everyone making Goa an example of Indian secularism.
