Goa’s healthy foods

Goa abounds in beauty and serenity. It also abounds in a rich cuisine most of which has been inherited from inputs of Portuguese cuisine including the ingredients that go into Goan cooking. When it comes to eating healthy foods, Goans often take a back seat in preference of bad eating habits and underscore on their dietary requirements thereby compromising on nutritional values required for a healthy growth.

In Goa, we have various natural foods which are rich in their nutritional value. Vegetables in Goa which are grown in the villages and across the highways of Goa are rich sources of vitamins, iron and magnesium. Vegetables such as tambdi bhaji, ghosale, padval etc are a must in the Goan diet for healthy foods.The Hindu community of Goa prepares a pulse-vegetable curry known as “khatkhattem” which is very healthy as it contains rich proteins, calcium and ragi. The popular “Bhakri” is also composed of Ragi.

Fish is a natural staple food for many Goans and is also gifted with proteins and calcium. The Kokum juice has been traditionally used in Goan cooking and is now consumed as a health drink or simply eaten as a fruit in Goa. Kokum is known to reduce levels of cholesterol and also assists digestion. In the summers season, Goa’s tender coconut juice and soft pulp of the coconut fruit has a cooling effect while providing rich potassium content. Red rice or “ukdde tandul” especially the traditional Goan rice such as ‘azgo” has more fibre and B complex vitamins and can be regularly consumed as “kanji”

Gopan papayas have also content of vitamin A and fibre while bananas promote adding of weight and have resistant starch in them. Watermelon which is a favorite among Goans is very refreshing and full of water. Mangoes lend the high dietary fibre and contain beta carotene. Often a mango a day can be quite satisfying for the necessary health.

Goan cucumbers are rich in water soluble vitamins and can easily substitute a salad when eaten with salt. They are also excellent for diabetes patients with heart problems and also good against obesity.

Breakfast options in Goa include ‘koiloyos” which are made from Goan rice and can be very rich, healthy and filling. For bread, it is better to opt for whole wheat bread or better “chapatis” made out of wheat which are also very good.

The Goan Christmas beckons Goa

Its the all too familiar sight in Goa at this time of the year. The streets packed to capacity. Traffic snarls all over the city. The town painted red with with the memorabilia of Christmas. Santa Claus waving from the glimmer of paint from glass fronted shops, Christmas carols renting the air and absolutely no place to park your two wheeler, while your four wheeler has no ambitions to make to the city for a long time to come.

From music shops to food outlets, to cloth shops to gift shops and groceries to designers, from stationers to hair stylists and beauticians  to cold storages and sweet marts, there is a buzz of big time business in Goa for all merchants at this time of the year. With barely 2 days for the Christmas cheer to ring in, there is therefore the last minute scramble to fill up the missing ingredients to ensure that this years Christmas is not compromised for anything.

The prices of eggs normally soar in Goa at this time with a commanding premium. Eggs are major ingredients in many of the Christmas sweets and the Goan Bebinca which is a class favourite among Goans calls for a lot of the egg. Broken eggs or damaged shell eggs do not remain on the shelf and are quickly whipped off by Bebinca makers. These eggs are cheaper compared to normal eggs.

The prices of all essential commodities also become steep as demand rises for various food items. Cashew nuts which is also another major ingredient for many Goan Christmas sweets such as cakes and marzipan, is also in great demand. Demand for Christmas decor always satisfies the passion of most Goans and you will find the streets filled with Christmas decor of all types most of which is imported from China and has a lot of takers here. The Goan  Christmas "star" has innovated over the years and the various styles are on display. However nothing can obviously beat the home-made bamboo star which many Goans fondly fabricate till date and the same brings nostalgia to the Goan Christmas.

Goans are also passionate about their clothing and the women always prefer to ring in Christmas while flaunting the crispness of a new dress. Tailors and designers have their hands full all over Goa and you can forget about ordering for a new dress a good 15 days before Christmas and are likely to be turned down. The town is also packed with a host of mens suit shops and from ready-mades to made to order, there is one for everyone.

The cribs at home are being given their finishing touches and the Christmas tree is moving out from the gloom of its storage in the attic to the comfort of the living room with buntings all over. Kids are now expecting good ole Santa to provide them with the gifts that they have been awaiting the whole year .

The curtains are being ironed, and there is a coat of paint given to the peeling walls. The Christmas dance is on the mind and the midnight mass would be the best way to ring in the Christmas cheer for all Goans.

Goa is therefore getting ready for the Christmas flavour, heralding the birth of Christ our saviour and King.

Goa : Bollywood's beach-eyed baby

For Bollywood, Goa has been a favourite destination to camp for shooting since the sixties when Bollywood producers and directors seem to have woken up to a landslide beauty next door to Mumbai. The trend therefore began in the sixties with the legendary Manoj Kumar  shooting "Ghum Naam"  and since then there has been little looking back for the bollywood film industry which has found Goa to be the ideal foil to most of their plots

Goans will not forget the presence of their Goan beaches in the unforgettable romantic tragedy titled " Ek Duuje Ke Liye" which starred Kamal Hassan and Rati Agnihotri in the lead pair, with the beach of Dona Paula as their favourite haunt and the stories of that beach being woven around the storyline of that movie. Of course, in recent times there have been blockbusters such as "Dil Chahta Hai" and "Josh" to name a few.

Over the times, it has not only been Bollywood, but also the south Indian film industry which has caught the fascination for Goa and other vernacular film industries have taken good notice of the Goan touch and beauty to ensure that their shooting schedule has Goa as their favourite stopover. Besides, Hollywood has also shown keen interest in the state of Goa for shooting their movies. Therefore Goa now sees itself as a hotspot fro all film shootings, serials, documentaries , video clips for advertisements, calendar shoots, portfolio shoots, Photography clinics etc.

Earlier, Goa had no special body to grant licences for film shoots. However after Goa began hosting the "international film festival of India" since 2004, the ESG or the Entertainment Society of Goa took birth and it is now the body to grant the permission for any shooting to be done in Goa.

How to undertake film shooting in Goa

To carry out film shooting in Goa, Line producers who are the initiators of the shoot should contact the ESG and give details of their schedule with dates and the locations of the film shooting in Goa. Thereafter, depending in the type of location chosen, the ESG contacts the departments concerned surrounding that particular location. For instance, if the location is a beach, the tourism department is contacted. The concerned department gets back to the ESG and upon the compilation of all the necessary permissions and grants, the ESG prepares one main slip which okays the shooting. The entire procedure takes a period of about 10 days.

The ESG also states its clauses and conditions of the shooting in Goa and these are mentioned in the permission slip given to the line producers. The major conditions being that there should be no hindrance to the flow of traffic or human activity at the places of shooting, no shooting to be undertaken inside an archaeological structure, no nudity and no garbage to be left behind. Generally most beaches in the Vasco-da-Gama area of Goa are banned due to the naval presence in the area. The ESG is expected to enforce these conditions strictly and any contraventions by the shooting team are to be penalised.

Film shootings in Goa are therefore more organised now than before and the government of Goa works together with the ESG in a co-ordinated pattern ensuring that the filmmakers find the experience of obtaining permissions and shooting in Goa to be a very pleasant one. Goa naturally has an interest in film shootings as it only helps to showcase Goa to the rest of the world as a tourist destination thereby increasing its market potential and as a result adding to the revenues of the state.

Its "patolleo" time in Goa - Goan Cuisine

Its the 15th of August 2009. Independence day. However for Goans, the independence day of our country is looked forward to for yet another steaming reason. It is simply time for the Goan delicacy at this time of the year when most Goan homes especially the catholic homes of Goa are busy preparing the hot favourite of Goans in the monsoons. The "Goan Patolleo". Patolleo or Patoleo are known to command a nostalgic feeling among Goans for centuries and are a very aromatic and simple preparation of a delicacy that Goans faithfully root for, year after year.

So how do Goans prepare patolleos? Firstly, the Goan sweet patolleos are intrinsically connected to the use of turmeric leaves in which they are baked or steamed leaving a distinct aromatic flavour which is in itself a big draw to the taste buds. Other variations of the Patolleos are the "Kholle"  or "Dhonne" which are cone shaped patolleos made with jackfruit leaves instead of turmeric leaves and have a similar following when it comes to its distinct taste. In some places of Goa such as Santo Estevam in the North, there is a tradition of preparing patolleos in the shape of tortoises which seems to be a faithful tradition living to this day.

The turmeric leaves are available in plenty inside Goa and the vegetable markets are full of such leaves at this time of the year. Turmeric has always been used in Goa as is all over India for its medicinal properties and the oil in the leaf is considered to be excellent for purifying the blood and as such the Patolleos which are baked in these leaves help the oil to be sucked into the sweet dish thereby adding to the health value of the patolleo. The mild tantalising aroma of the leaves is of course very very nostalgic and delightfully pleasant.

The Goan patolleo is probably an unique preparation of such sweets probably identified with Goa along with a host of other dishes which decorate the Goan cuisine books.To prepare patolleos, the procedure is pretty simple and involves the use of the following ingredients

Turmeric leaves ( Cucuma Longa)
Goan rice
Salt
Coconuts
Jaggery ( Palm jaggery - black colour)
Cardamom Powder

The Method of preparing patolleos: Soak the rice in water preferably overnight. Grind the rice with a little water and some salt to form into a paste.

Separately grate Goan coconuts finely and add palm jaggery ( black jagery)to this grated mix with some cardamom powder and mix thoroughly.( some also add chana dal along with the jaggery for added flavour to the stuffing)

Take fresh turmeric leaves and trim the edges with a scissor, wash the leaves and apply the rice paste thinly and evenly to cover the inside of the turmeric leaf. Then stuff the leaf with the jaggery paste in the centre and fold the leaf from one side to another while pressing the edges firmly.

Now place the patolleos in a vessel ( normally a "Kompfro") suitable for steaming the patolleos. Steam the patolleos for around 20 minutes untill the colour of the turmeric leaves begin to change colour from the fresh green to a dull green.

Serve hot without removing the leaves . The aroma, the taste and the flavour have kept Goans asking for more and more over the years.

Happy feasting!

By Goacom

July turns out to be wet saviour for Goa

The month of July 2009 has brought plenty of cheer to many stakeholders with their fortunes dictated fully or partly by the rains in Goa. In over the last 11 days Goa has witnessed heavy to very heavy rainfall which was received with a welcome lap by most Goans although the heavy downpour did contribute to flooding in some city areas and damaged houses and establishments in certain areas of Goa. However much of that blame has to go to the irresponsible sense of development that has been heaped on Goans by various vested lobbies than the contribution of the blessed rains.

Astonishingly, the rains in the last 11 days have helped to wipe out the deficit of around 15% experienced in last months tally while also producing a surplus of around 25%. In June this year, the seasonal rainfall had been measured at 74 cm as compared to the average of 89 cm for that month.

However the bountiful pouring in the last two weeks have helped the seasonal total to reach 156 cm or 61 inches of rainfall in Goa. So while over 30 days of June provided only 74 cm of rainfall, the last 11 days of July have helped produce over 82 cm of rainfall thereby adding to the obvious cheer.

The total seasonal rainfall that Goa receives is at an average of 262 cm (around 104 inches) which is considered as normal for Goa. With over two months of the monsoon season still to come, there is a widespread positive feeling among meteorologists in Goa that this year would therefore be a normal year of rainfall in Goa.

The month of June 2009 was a shade drier than that in last year which witnessed 78 cm of rainfall compared to 74 cm this year and over 107 cm in 2007. However it was the year 1991 when Goa witnessed the lowest rain turnout in the month of June which was a measly 45 cm while the highest recorded rainfall for Goa in June was observed in June 1999 at a staggering 158 cm of rainfall.

Goa Festival "Chikhal Kalo" in Marcel

ChiKhal Kalo is yet another Goan festival which is linked to the prevailing Goan season, just as many other Goan festivals which are celebrated as per the cycles of nature and going by the revelry of the ChiKhal Kalo it is indeed not surprising that the festival is celebrated in the monsoon season in Goa as it does seem that without the monsoon the festival would not be as frolicking as it turns out to be every year at this time of the monsoon season.

The Chikhal Kalo is a virtual mud play and is unique to the village of Marcel, in the taluka of Ponda. Celebrated on the twelfth day of the fourth month of Ashadh in the Hindu calendar, the festival is dedicated to Krishna in his childhood stage which is Bal-Krishna.

This year the festival was celebrated on a Saturday 4th July 2009, wherein Goan Hindus in Marcel are dressed in only their lower body garments such as short vests and frolic in the muck (ChiKhal)  by playing some traditional Goan games or some sporting games spontaneously. The whole scene takes place in front of the Devaki-Krishna temple in Marcel.

The festival of ChiKhal Kalo is believed to have been traditionally celebrated in Marcel as a portrayal of baby Lord Krishna who loved to play with his friends in Vrindavan and in Marcel it is celebrated as a sign of gratitude to Krishna.

The idol of Devaki-Krishna is believed to be originally hailing from the island of Chorao in Tiswadi taluka and was said to be taken to Marcel to evade the Portuguese wrath in the days of the erstwhile regime's rule in Goa.

ChiKhal Kalo is celebrated in Marcel where everyone from the village comes together sinking all their differences and celebrate ChiKhal Kalo by singing devotional songs and playing a variety of games. On the eleventh day of Ashadh, a saptak or non-stop performance of devotional songs is carried on in the temple of Devaki-Krishna. No sooner  the saptak concludes, the villagers from Marcel come together at the temple and invoke the folk deity Dad Sakhal with sounds of the drums, cymbals and bells with chants of 'jai hari vithal" renting the air.

As soon as the chanting ends, the real fun begins. Everybody first applies oil on their bodies which is taken from a huge brass lamp standing in the temple hall and wearing only their lower garments, the young and the old enter the open ground in front of the temple to prance in the rain drenched muddy waters( Chikhal) .

While the participants in the whole Chikhal Kalo indulge in a spontaneous frolic with games, devotional songs and chants being sung, those standing on the sidelines under the peepal tree close-by, shower different kinds of missiles such as sweets, ladoos, puran polis and bananas to those in the muck which is a thrilling spectacle to watch and well entertaining. So it is a free for all in the muck with a variety of games played in heavy rainfall, with friends and families applying wet clay and often pulling reluctant friends forcibly to playfully participate in the mud bath. 

The whole celebration culminates when the youngsters among the revelers form a human pyramid and break the clay pot of butter tied to a branch of the peepal tree above. The whole celebration is a picture of great fun and shows the spirit of the youth and their energy levels to take part in the muck in great spirits while brushing aside their daily inhibitions and enjoy the moment presented by the Chikhal Kalo festival in Goa

Some people in Marcel still prepare traditional sweets for the ChiKhal Kalo festival  like the special pancake called "bole" which is prepared from wheat, moong dal, jaggery and copra ( shredded coconut) and is considered to be a delicacy on this occasion.

TAG to urge Goa Board to include tiatr in school books

The newly formed Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) as a part of its ambitious plan to re-invigorate the essence of the tiatr for Goa and Goans, is set to request the Goa board and the textbook committee to include the tiatr in the school curriculum either as a lesson or as a part of dramatics which is currently being taught as an optional subject in many schools in the state.

According to the President of TAG, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, tiatr plays a very important and relevant part in Goan society and is known to have had a major role in mobilising the public at the time of the opinion poll which played the most historic chapter to ensure that Goa remained as a separate state and did not get merged into Maharashtra. Songs and duets from tiatr are also known to strike an emotional chord with people in the state.

Mr Cardozo stressed that besides being a part of Goan culture, tiatr deals with social issues such as drugs and casinos and emphasized that anything that goes against the interest of Goans is brought to the fore by artistes from tiatr and said that students in modern Goa should be made aware about this fact.

Among the other things, to push the cause of tiatr far and wide in Goa and outside, Mr Cardozo lined out a series of activities that the TAG plans to undertake which include organising of seminars and lectures in schools and colleges on the different aspects of tiatr in Goa.

TAG also wants to document the history and experiences of the old tiatr artistes by interviewing them and recording their experiences on films. Tag will endeavour to document the history of tiatr by publishing books on it past legacy.

Preservation of tiatr literature is also high on the TAG agenda and it has resolved to publish scripts, one act plays and lyrics with the musical scores wherever possible.

A museum is being planned in the state of Goa which will house tiatr material in the form of manuscripts, handwritten lyrics, printed books, old records, CDs, DVDs which may be scattered around the state with government authorities as well as private individuals and collectors and will be exhibited at this museum. this collection of material is expected to begin this year in 2009 and go on uptill the museum is set up.

Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) which was set up by the government officially in February 2009 is expecting a funding of Rs 60 lakh towards its various activities. On the anvil is also a plan to encourage tiatr production by youth, technical workshops and seminars to upgrade the quality of tiatrs, promoting the art form as a means of communication outside the state and setting up a website for the academy.

TAG also wants to encourage and revive the use of wind instruments in tiatr and will host a festival of award winning dramas. Artistes of yesteryears will be remembered and honoured through various activities and persons documenting their works will b e provided incentives. A directory of tiatr artistes is also expected very soon. TAG in the meanwhile is also awaiting a premises in Panjim which has already been identified a provision for which is already made by the government which is reportedly to the tune of Rs 1.5 crore.

Goa Sao Joao Song - The Goan Sao Joao Festival

Goa Festivals : Ribandar and Candolim celebrate the Sangodd

Fishermen in Goa consider June 29th as the sacred day which has been traditionally dedicated to  their patron saint, St Peter. On this day instead of venturing out to catch fish, the fishermen of Ribandar tie three of their traditional wooden canoes  together to form the Sangodd. Palm leaves and other flora are then used to decorate the Sangodd which is made to resemble a chapel.

The Sangodd celebrations in Ribandar commence early morning at 6.30 when the parish priest of the Ribandar Church marches to the beat of the brass band along with a confraria member who clutches to a statue of St Peter and all of them board  the well decorated Sangodd which is waiting for their oncoming. The priest subsequently blesses the village and the river and prays for the fishermen and seeks blessings for their welfare while fishing.

The Sangodd later returns to the jetty and the holy mass is celebrated at the Church. This tradition has been brought down the ages and is over 100 years old wherein the faithful in the village are convinced of the power of the blessings on this day for God to protect them and also provide them with a good catch.

The Sangodd is also celebrated at Orda in far away Candolim which is also another spectacle to watch in the Candolim creek. Sangodd at Orda is known to be celebrated for the last 200 years as most people from Orda were known to be traditional fishermen. Traditionally people from this area were known to keep their daily work routine aside for the day and use their boats to celebrate the feast with a lot of pomp and gaiety.

A chapel of Santa Cruz which is over 130 years old stands by the creek at Orda and the members of the Santa Cruz chapel committee who organise the Sangodd continue with the tradition of erecting a chapel on top of the Sangodd  which was earlier done with bamboos and cloth.

However, nowadays in recent modern times, a neat plywood structure is being erected on the boat instead of a temporary structure. The Holy cross is placed at the topmost point of the chapel and a statue of St Peter is carried out from the holy cross chapel in a ceremony and placed in a small niche just below the cross.

As afternoon sets in, around 2.30 pm an opening hymn is sung by the locals of Orda and subsequently professional singers take over. This year on 29th June 2009, a large number of Konkani artists which included Anil, Olga, Socorro d e Santa cruz, Sonia, Albert, T Britton besides various child artistes and local artistes performed live on board the Sangodd.

Once the gathered crowd is entertained enough, the Sangodd moves to another location to regale another section of the crowds at another point down the creek. After the first point, five more stops are made as the artistes perform much to the excitement and thrill of the large gathered crowds. Slogans such as Viva Sao Pedro can be well heard.

In Salcete, the Sangodd is celebrated at Assolna at round 3 pm along the river sal at three different places. The first point is at the jetty behind the Church, the next one is at Collean Dando at Assolna and the third one is at Ambelim. All of them tie their fishing boats together and erect a stage on board the raft. Various artists sing on these Sangodds which are witnessed by curious crowds along the banks of the river.

Sangodd is therefore a  festival celebrated all over Goa mainly by the fishing community to invoke the blessings of St Peter and to celebrate the spirit of Goa.

Vasco celebrates feast of Sao Pedro in Goa

The feast of Saint Peter or Sao Pedro, the patron saint of the fisherfolk in Goa, termed by many as the "God of the sea" was celebrated by the fishing community at Khariwaddo in Vasco on Monday 29th June 2009 as per their annual tradition. Prayers seeking better prospects in the coming fishing season were offered on the occasion.

The feast of "Sao Pedro" is an annual affair  for the fishing community residing in Vasco's areas of Khariwaddo, Non-mon, Pixem-Dongri and other areas inhabited by the community who engage in fishing activities in the port city. This is a traditional feast celebrated by these communities and dates back to centuries when their ancestors began the tradition.

This time around, after offering prayers at the Old Cross chapel at Khariwaddo, by the parish priest of St Andrew's Church Vasco,  Fr Jose Antonio Da Costa, the members of the fishing community went towards the Khariwaddo jetty in a procession to the accompaniment of the brass band. Next they embarked into the sea in colorfully decorated fishing canoes which were adorned with flowers, leaves, balloons and coconut palms.

Here the parish priest offered prayers to Sao Pedro and also sought a blessing for the fishing community and prayed for God's protection on them when they venture out into the high seas to earn their bread.

The celebrations culminated with all the fishing community groups such as the Ramponkars, the Magkars, the Boatkars and other members of the community offering prayers and then venturing into the sea in their decorated boats.

Ferry boat ride wont be free in Goa anymore

For those who loved the thrill of hopping on to a Goan ferry boat and enthuse themselves to back and forth  rides across rivers all over Goa may now have to pay a little fee to allow themselves these little flowing pleasures in Goa. Soon enough, the government of Goa has decided that vehicles such as two wheelers and four wheelers will be charged a higher fee besides normal passengers also being charged a nominal fee ranging from 50 paise to one rupee per person.

Till now passengers on ferry boats in Goa were allowed free travel but the latest announcement made by river navigation minister Mr Sudhin Dhavlikar to impose the fees will be effective from July 2009. From July, fees for all vehicles such as two wheelers, cars, pick-ups and trucks will be raised as the new measures are expected to help increase the revenue by about Rs 1.5 crore per annum.

However the residents of islands such as Chorao and Divar would be given a waiver of ferry charges after producing an identification card, such as a panchayat certificate stating the ward and village panchayat or an electoral photo identity card which would be accepted to allow passengers a free ride.

The measure to charge fees for people playing on ferries is also expected to ease the load on the Panjim - Chorao ferry which is currently used freely by people from Mayem, Bicholim and Sanquelim thereby burdening the people from Chorao who had to stand in long queues to avail of the ferry service and often ended up late to their destinations.

Goa's Mayem Lake crying for development

Mayem lake which is a natural beauty spot in Goa's hinterland side, has been a place visited by Goans who love to go here due to the natural scenic beauty of the place. However all such places need maintenance and help from the government if they should be promoted as the ideal tourist destinations for the world tourist. This  factor seems to be neglected as far as the Mayem lake is concerned and the local people of Mayem are therefore unhappy with the attitude of the government towards this beautiful spot which they feel is not being given due attention.

Blaming the tourism department, the residents of Mayem village feel that the tourism department has not undertaken any maintenance and development of the lake surroundings which is an incentive for tourists visiting the place.

Mayem lake is indeed a beautiful tourist spot with peaceful and serene surroundings but unfortunately lacks proper development as a result of which the condition of the lake is deteriorating. This has happened despite the residents of the area demanding from the authorities that they carry out some beautification activities of the lake and develop its surroundings . However there has been no response from the government.

The local population is therefore bitter with the government that such a beautiful spot has been neglected  by the government thereby denying the local population a means of generating some business revenue through the avenues with visiting tourists as also help the farmers around the area to get sufficient water supply for their fields and agricultural farms.

The lake which has a perimeter of about a kilometer has about three water streams locally named as " vhodlem tollem ( big lake)", "Shetwad Zara" and " Dhaktem Tollem"( small lake). the water of Vhoddlem tollem is used for fields  and agricultural farms while water from dhaktem tollem is utilised by farmers . Both these streams meet at 'fovachi kond" and this water is used for rabi crop cultivation by farmers from Kumbharwada, Sashtiwada and Sawnwada.

The main water source of the lake is the "shetwad zara"  which has weakened thereby leading to a drop in the lake's water level. During the past years the farmers used to de-silt the lake near its main stream but now with many villagers giving up farming , this practice has been discontinued.

The villagers are now expecting the panchayat and the  government authorities to see that the water resources are not affected and are maintained properly,

It is a general feeling among the villagers of Mayem lake that due to the basic amenities not being available at the lake tourists are reluctant to pay a visit to the place. According to them the negligence of the authorities towards beautification of the lake and the lack of proper facilities like boating, standard eateries and restaurants, cottages with proper amenities at reasonable rates, good gardens etc, the tourists have slowly declined and now rarely visit the spot. Also ironically, the private tourist buses which take tourists on sight seeing tours around the state of Goa do not include Mayem lake in their tour itinerary due to which the locals lose out on any such business.

The general perception  therefore is that while Mayem lake is a beautiful spot the government needs to step in and improve and enhance the facilities which have ample scope for development which could help restore and beautify this area with gardens, recreation facilities, restaurants, etc to ensure that this beautiful spot on is added more strongly on the tourist map of Goa.

Goa in the rains entices tourists with bargain deals

Goa in the rains is supposed to be as exotic as Goa in the winter. However this charm of Goa in the rains has to be seen to be believed. Green verdant fields dotted with palm trees and a rain soaked environment where the rain spikes hard into the red soil evoking life out of the Goan earth is a sight to behold because like they say, when it rains in Goa it actually pours.

The boat cruises are another delight to savour in Goa at this time of the year when the rains beckon Goa like a beautiful veil and cruising on the Goan boats can be an wanton attraction for all ages,  from the die hard romantic to the fagged out businessman or the relaxed octogenarian finding the pleasure too hard to resist in Goa.

For some people in northern India, this is also a good time to check out on a vacation to Goa since the schools in Delhi are normally on vacation mode and prices are always at its bottom at this time of the year, providing a great Goan holiday.

What's making the holidays more enticing to tourists this year are the tariffs of hotels in Goa which have dropped to almost half or lesser in the starred hotels while the smaller or medium sized hotels have also reduced rates by over 50 %.

So it is a win-win situation for the avid tourist to Goa as well as the hotel sector. While Indian tourists come to Goa to avail of the twin benefits of reduced tariffs and Goa in the monsoons delight, the foreign tourists are normally here to enjoy Goa in the rains.

So among he various packages on offer , the three day packages are normally picked up faster by the tourists  where a three day stay ranges between 12,000 and 21,000 which include transfers from and to the airport/railway station, with three meals a day and in certain cases, use of the hotel spa and the swimming pool.

Some starred hotels have gone full blown in the offer package with a reputed five star hotel in the south of Goa offering a tantalising package for three nights which includes transfers from airport/railway station, welcome drinks, all buffet meals, sight seeing, swimming pool usage, boat cruising, free use of steam and sauna and daily beverages for one hour, all at a bargain price of Rs 17999 which also throws in a complimentary stay for a child under 12 years of age. Click here for more details.

However competition is stiff in this times and the same offer as above is beaten by another starred hotel in south Goa which offers similar facilities for as little as 11,999 if booked 2 weeks in advance of the check-in date.North Goa is also not far behind in the rates-on-offer packages. A prominent north Goa hotel has a tempting monsoon package starting at Rs 12,800 which goes upto Rs 21,150. Other packages also range from 15,200 up to Rs 35,999, for a couple for a two night stay. Click here for more details

The serviced apartments in Goa are also showing a steady rise in bookings because many tourists find the apartments very convenient and have a better freedom to move around in Goa as well as keeping their room tariffs even lower while enjoying similar benefits.

The tourism department in Goa in the meanwhile is upbeat about the number of tourists in June this year which has shown a steady rise in the arrivals of tourists to the state. No doubt this is the best time to visit a must-see fun-filled, sun-kissed and now rain-drenching destination such as Goa.

The Goan Sao Joao Song

Here's the famous Goan Sao Joao song which lends the extra fervour to the Sao Joao Spirit in Goa. From the north to the south of Goa, the Sao Joao song is sung with a lot of love and emotion by Goans. The lyrics of the  song are a wonderful combination narrating the nostalgia an old rustic Goan village camaraderie which is melodious to the ears and the tune tends to reverberate the senses long after the song is sung and over with.

  

                   SAO JOAO CANTAR

Sogle ami zanvoim vortotaum, chodda tempan bhetleaum
Sao joao-chem festh mhunnon ami manvoddea aileaum
Mateak him kopelam ghalun uddok navonk bhair sorleaum
Aichea dissak voddle ami nokom khuim pauleaum.

Chorus
Sao Joao, Sao Joao gunvta mure vatt amkam dissona
Aicho dis urbecho konn konnak hansona
Choll-re pie-re tum illo ghe-re faleam kaim mevona
Oslim festam vorsak kiteak don pauti enam.

Zanvoim ami festak aileaum mun ganvan bobau poddla
Mhojea sasupain tin kouxe soro addla
Tin kudvanchim sandnam keleant ani dhukor marla
Sezarchea konsu manan ponos daddla.

Chorus
Sao Joao, Sao Joao gunvta mure vatt amkam dissona
Aicho dis urbecho konn konnak hansona
Choll-re pie-re tum illo ghe-re faleam kaim mevona
Oslim festam vorsak kiteak don pauti enam.

Vhooddilanchea kaiddea pormonem uddok nataum bhaimchem
Khoddegant fest hem amchem manvoddechem
Pondra diss alchenoi hangache bhorench ami ghevchem
Choll atam sao joao vhoria maguir tem pouchem.

Chorus
Sao Joao, Sao Joao gunvta mure vatt amkam dissona
Aicho dis urbecho konn konnak hansona
Choll-re pie-re tum illo ghe-re faleam kaim mevona
Oslim festam vorsak kiteak don pauti enam.

Viva Sao Joao

Sao Joao celebrations beckon Goa

The feast of Saint John the Baptist is a favourite among Goans and the entire state gets set at this time of the year to get its watery act together to celebrate what is commonly known as "Sao Joao" festival in Goa. In Salcete, the feast is celebrated with a lot of gusto especially in the village of Benaulim which has the Church of St John the Baptist and the feast is on the 24th Of June. Sao Joao Day!

The Church of St John the Baptist in Benaulim is located on the  picturesque hillock situated at the entrance of Colva and towards  Benaulim. This Church also has a unique architecture and is well admired by tourists who flock to the place when they visit Colva and Benaulim. Novenas are held for 9 days prior to the feast day and the feast is celebrated with a lot of pomp and gaiety known to be part of such feasts in Goa. This time as usual there are a lot of programmes lined up including singing and dancing acts besides the prospect of watching a tantalising soccer match. Besides the  Benaulim parish, the feast is also celebrated in other villages of Goa such as Cortalim, Harmal and Terekhol in the north.

An unique tradition which runs is that the son-in-law gets invited to the brides house on the feast day. Also the newly married son-in-law wears a crown of fruits or leaves and jumps into the well. It is believed that it is for this very reason that many youngsters  jump in wells all over Goa in celebration and revelry accompanied by the sounds of the ghumot and traditional music and songs such as some delightfully sung mando's. Rivers, ponds, lakes and pools are not spared for a bountiful dip on this day and the young and the old join in the melee which reaches a crescendo towards the afternoon. Goan food, traditional drinks and various Goan delicacies make their way into this festive mood and the whole atmosphere is of fun and joy.

The chant of "Viva Sao Joao" is however not limited to south Goa alone and the north of Goa in fact has various locations where the celebrations are far more wider and louder. It is believed that St John the Baptist leapt with Joy in his mother Elizabeth's womb when she was visited by mother Mary. This is actually the basic background under which the "jumping" in the wells has become a traditional feature in Goa. Villages of Anjuna, Calangute Vagator,  and Siolim celebrate the feast of Sao Joao in a pompous manner.

In the village of Siolim, the celebration is very prominent and every village area plays its part with places such as Igrejavaddo, Gaunsavaddo, Marna and Fernandesvaddo chanting the "Viva Sao Joao ' in style. Distribution of Jackfruit, mangoes , Goan foods and pouring of water on newly married daughters-in-laws is a tradition in Gaunsawaddo.

In Siolim and in Goa as a whole the spectacle to look out for during  the Sao Joao celebrations is however the grand boat parade which has increased its followers over the years. A large number of people flock to witness this parade and this 175 year old history of celebrating Sao Joao in this village continues till date. However the event which may have started long ago on a small note has magnified in size and shape to turn out into a major attraction of Goa. The youth are traditionally known to merge from the neighboring places around Siolim coming in decorated boats wearing crowns or tender coconut leaves, singing Mandos and playing the Ghumot. After reaching near the cross in front of the church,they light candles at the cross, put a garland, light firecrackers , perform the "Saude" and dance around with the chant of Viva Sao Joao.

The boat procession is a replication of the entry of the Portuguese merchants along with the miraculous statue of St Anthony. The event was given a more organised shape in the year 1992 by some traditionally live Goans from Siolim and thus the "Sao Joao traditional boat parade" was formally christened. Later a committee was formed and since 1997 the Siolim Sao Joao traditional boat festival committee ensured that the festival was organised in a proper manner till date.

Goa beats jinx and Bengal to lift Santosh trophy

India's tiniest state of Goa drove all myths and jinx to dust by pulling off an exciting 4-2 victory against arch-rival Bengal and claimed the national honour by lifting the 63rd National football championship for the Santosh Trophy at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Sunday 14th June 2009. Goa was also awarded the fair play trophy thereby doubling their joy while lifting the championship.

The victory came after a goalless draw consuming 120 minutes of play including extra time thereby driving the result to the fate of penalties where Goa came out trumps beating the Bengal side by a 4-2 scoreline.

The win was special for the Goans side and for the entire state as a whole since it came after six unsuccessful meetings in the final against Bengal which saw the Goan side lift the trophy for the fifth time, having won it three times outright before and once as joint winners with Bengal.

    GOA-BENGAL SANTOSH TROPHY FINAL RECORDS

YEAR	VENUE	WINNER	RUNNERS-UP	RESULT
1978-79	Bengal	Bengal	Goa	1-0
1982-83	Calcutta	Joint winner	Joint winner	0-0;0-0
1995-96	Bengal	Bengal	Goa	2-0
1996-97	Bengal	Bengal	Goa	1-0
1997-98	Bengal	Bengal	Goa	1-0
1998-99	Bengal	Bengal	Goa	5-0
2008-09	Chennai	Goa	Bengal	4-2 (penalties)

A barren 90 minutes of play and  half an hour of extra time failed to find the back of the net for both the teams which eventually had to be decided via the penalty shoot-out.

In the nerve wrecking moments of the shootout, Goa proved their detractors wrong when they scored through Climax Lawrence, Bevan D'Mello, John Dias and Fulgancio Cardozo to emerge victorious, even while the kick of  Nicholas Rodrigues from the penalty spot at the far post was saved by the diving Bengal custodian Subhashis Roy Chowdhury. However the win has been credited largely to the two grand saves made at the goal by none other than the captain of the Goan side Felix D'souza whose heroics throughout the tournament during which he did not concede a single goal have contributed immensely to Goa's great run to the final and also helped to keep their slate clean till the end.

For Bengal, only two players were successful in finding the net when Snehasish Chakraborty and Pachau Lalam puia were on target but Safar Sarkar and Lalkamal Bhowmick shot straight into the hands of Goa keeper Felix D Souza. 

29 times champions Bengal had themselves to blame for the defeat after missing scoring chances  while the Goan side also fumbled with a few opportunities coming their way. Marcus Mascarenhas from Goa and Pachau lalam Puia from the Bengal side were the two most outstanding players on display in the final

Goa coach Mariano Dias was a picture of jubilation when he was lifted in the air by the Goan players after the match in joyous celebrations and he said that he was very relieved to see the Goan side lifting the title after over 120 minutes of a tense battle. The coach had special praise for goalkeeper and captain of the Goan side Felix D'souza for his tremendous feat of not conceding a single Goal in the entire tournament an achievement which was  accomplished only by Goa's famed goalkeeper Brahmanand Sankhwalkar in 1984 when Goa won the Santosh trophy outrightly for the first time by beating Punjab 1-0.

GOA'S OVERALL SANTOSH TROPHY WIN RECORD

YEAR	WINNER	RUNNERS-UP	RESULT
1982-83	Bengal & Goa Joint winners		0-0
1983-84	Goa	Punjab	1-0
1989-90	Goa	Kerala	2-0
2005-06	Goa	Kerala	1-1, 2-0 (extra time)
2008-09	Goa	Bengal	4-2 (penalties)

* Goa has won the trophy 4 times outright, once as joint winners and have been runners-up on seven occassions

The Chief Minister of Goa Mr Digambar Kamat congratulated the Goan team and said that by winning the Santosh title, Goa has once again proved their supremacy in the football arena in the country. The Sports authority of Goa in the meanwhile has announced a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh each to the 23 member side while the winners purse of Rs 5 lakh will also be shared among the players. GFA President Mr Joaquim Alemao who was in Chennai to witness the proceedings, announced a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh to the players as also Mr Peter Vaz , GFA vice-President and President of Sporting clube who announced a similar amount. A rousing reception awaits the Goan team on their arrival to goa with the prestigious crown of supremacy in Indian football.

Viva Goa!

Goa tiatrist M Boyer bids adieu

Goa's most famous theatre personality and noted stage artiste, Padma Shree M Boyer passed away at his residence at Raia on Saturday morning after battling with a prolonged illness.The noted Goan dramatist, musician and singer was 78 and is survived by his wife Ms Martha, and five sons, Mr Sebastian, Mr Remus, Mr Stanford, Mr Errol and Mr Sywald.

Born in Raia on October 11 , 1930, and Christened as Manuel Santana Aguiar, he was a favourite performer in School. However the principal  of his school shunned his acting in tiatr and would penalise him with fines every time he was caught while singing on the stage. it is believed that he adopted the name M Boyer after the hollywood artiste Charles Boyer, in order to escape the fines.

Boyer had been a dominant figure on the Konkani tiatr stage for most part of the last century and was well awarded the Padma Shree in 2005 for his immense contribution to art and culture at the hands of former President of India, Mr Abdul Kalam.

To his credit are around 28 awards including the prestigious sangeet natak academy award in 1994 which he received at the hands of former President of India late Shankar Dayal Sharma.

At the age of 18, Boyer shot into the limelight with his very first tiatr titled " Rinkarri" ( Debtor) which he staged at the Mae de Deus Feast at Nuvem in Salcete Goa. The drama was well accepted by the audiences and since then Boyer never looked back.

A composer, singer, scriptwriter, actor, director and producer, in his long career Boyer has staged over 35 tiatrs and held out over 5000 perrformances in various dramas and around 1000 songs rendered in these shows which is a great achievement of this illustrious Goan.

A great writer of plays his own productions include famous tiatrs such as "Ekuch Rosto", which emphasised on social harmony, " Chintnam and Sopnamm" dealing with the evil of drugs, "Sounsar Sudorlo" which was critical of the dowry system, "Bhurguim ani Bhangar" which highlighted the evils of alcoholism, " Adim tem atam hem" which exposed superstitions, Dukhi Ganv Sukhi" dealing with student unrest, while " Mog Kazar Divorce" stressed on the importance of trust and love in the institution of marriage.

Boyer had received a golden corn from the late chief Minister of goa Mr Dayanand Bandodkar for his song "Japanese Okol" which was based on the hybrid variety of rice brought to Goa by the government in those days. Boyer being a favourite of the crowds was repeatedly called on stage to repeat his comedy songs and often used to compose the fourth extra verse on the spot which is a great talent that this artiste possessed.

M Boyer was suffering from Parkinson's disease  for a long time and was recently admitted to a hospital after he was infected with typhoid. After discharging from hospital the artiste was recuperating at home when suddenly the end came

Goa's "Purumentachem Fest" at Margao today

One of the major Church feasts in Goa associated with the stocking of provisions for the monsoon season is the feast of the Holy Spirit at the Holy Spirit Church Margao, which is also fondly known all over the state as the "Purumentachem Fest" of Goa.

While there may be many such feasts close to the monsoon season, it is believed that this feast at Margao essentially derived the reputation of being the original  "Purumentachem fest" owing to its closest proximity with the monsoon season in Goa.

"Purumentachem Fest" a konkani term, could easily be translated into "Feast of Provisions " is a time for people to stock provisions for the monsoons. Although the feast has nothing to do with provisions, the timing of the feast induces a large gravitational pull over the crowds who flock to the fair at this feast to net a good bargain against all kinds of vendors displaying their goods, wares, stocks and harvests. Therefore many items and provisions that do not find their way at other feast fairs in Goa can be spotted at this fair. This peculiarity of certain items being sold only at this May month feast at Margao enticed people visiting the fairs to buy stocks in larger quantities by keeping in mind the upcoming Monsoons. That factor is probably the reason why this feast has derived the strongest bond with the term " Purumentachem Fest"

Salted Fish at the fair in Margao is considered to be the best bargain and people from far and wide within Goa and outside make a special trip to Margao for the feast to help themselves to stock up various varieties of salted fish. Kite fish ( solvve) is a distinct favourite among salt fish shoppers at this market as they are considered the most ideal for a good fish pickle (parra) and would help to pull off with the best meal on a rainy day. Dried prawns are almost a must and can help in making some delicious curry. Also the Bombay ducks in salted form known as the "Sukhe Bombil" have always been considered as a quick appetizer if roasted against the fire. Therefore this feast helps to keep the dying traditions of making nostalgic pickles such as "parra", 'balchao" and "molho" distinctly alive in Goa.

Besides the salted fish there is also a sale of traditional harvests of distinct Goan onions and other vegetables which can be stocked for the season. There is the usual fair of the wooden furniture where the traditional carpenters from South Goa display their wares be it beds,sofa sets, tables, benches, stools, showcases , cupboards etc etc. The furniture is known to give the sellers a ready easy market to display and sell their goods while also sourcing new customers for their future supplies.

The Grinding stones such as the flat grinding stone as well as the traditional "Rogddo" are also in full flow at the feast and while one may think that the electric mixers have taken over the Goan homes, the enthusiasm of these grinding stone traders to market their goods, belies that theory. There seems to be still a distinct lobby in Goa which is wedded to the apparent difference in taste, rendered with the use of the grinding stones and "rogddos' in their day to day requirements for cooking various curries, masalas and sweets in Goa.

Earthen pots are still ruling the roost in rural as well as urban Goa and the testimony to the fact is the regular return of these breed of traders who faithfully ensure that they occupy a portion of the market square at this Margao feast to show off their traditional wares  which need no introductions.The "Kunnem",the "burkulo" the "gurgulet" and the gardening vases get automatic buyers at this festival owing to their traditional attachment and the utility that  these earthen wares still command from the "niz goenkar" (true goan) more out of emotional attachment and traditional love than the practical compulsion to use them.

Then there are the other wares such as copper and aluminium vessels, garden tools such as pick axes, choppers, hammers etc. There is also a distinct readymade clothesline on display although most of the clothes at such fairs are of poor quality there is always the enthusiasm of the fair which unquestionably propels the visitors to  make frantic buys. Bedsheets and tablecloths besides other cushion materials are also on display and command sizeable crowds in the evenings.

Finally, one cannot miss the "kaddio-boddio", "laddoos"  "revddios" and the random open stalls of "festache chonne" ( Grams of the feast) which can be easily spotted all over the fair with the avid "festakar"  ( feast shopper) ensuring that he/she has atleast one pottli of the "kaddio-boddio" and one or two "poll" of the "festache chonne".  Without these sweets finding their way into Goan homes, people often consider their visit to the fair as an incomplete one and therefore the traders of these eatables are traditionally known to make brisk business by urging the people to buy some sweets in memory of the feast of the Holy Spirit.

Goa Catholic Minority front to lodge complaint with EC

The Goa catholic Minority Front(GCMF) a newly formed organisation is expected to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission and the Minorities commission Delhi against the office of the chief Electoral officer for the controversial statements made by him that " weddings in Goa should be cancelled if couples do not get permission to serve liquor to their guests art their wedding receptions".

The GCMF which has been formed in a bid to safeguard and protect the interests of the catholic community in Goa has appointed Mr Barnabe Sapeco from Panjim as its convenor while Mr Eddie Fernandes of Vasco is its co-convenor.

The association informed that weddings in Goa are events which happen after lot of advance planning, often a year before the wedding date. The organisation strongly condemned the statement made by the chief electoral officer that weddings be cancelled or postponed if the requisite permission to serve liquor is not obtained at their wedding receptions. This, they opined was a direct insult to Goa and Goans at large while highlighting the immaturity on the part of the Chief Electoral officer in responding to a very delicate issue which discriminates against a minority community.

The sentiments of Catholics have been hurt by the restrictions as the serving of wine at wedding receptions is an age old custom and a local tradition of Goans.

It may be recalled that nearly fourteen wedding couples had sought permission from the election commission to serve wine in line with earlier precedents when such permission was allowed in such special cases

Goa forest dept jumps high to rescue jumping chicken

Jumping Chicken, the pet name given to frogs by frog-eaters in Goa, which has been a traditional delicacy for a section of people in Goa with the advent of the monsoons, is on the most powerful and vigilant radar of law makers this year thanks to the state forest department which has decided to start a " save frog" campaign in Goa

So on the jumping list will not only be frog catchers, but also restaurants in Goa who have been traditionally known to serve frog meat and the list of such erring restaurants is currently being compiled by the department in a bid to evince the co-operation of such eateries while urging them to stop the practice of servicing the "jumping chicken"

Education and the spread of awareness of the threat to the existence of frogs and thereby the ills effected to the ecosystem in Goa would be a part of the campaign initiated by the forest department.

The punishment includes a fine of Rs 25,000 and upto three years imprisonment. patrolling teams for the monsoon season are being worked out to patrol for offenders in most frog-prone areas known for abuse by frog catchers. Wild Goa, a network of wildlife enthusiasts are expected to assist the forest department in the whole campaign.