Goan Catholics

Goan Catholics
Goiche Katholik

File:Goan Catholics.jpg Cardinal Oswald Gracias • Remo Fernandes • Leander Paes • Ileana D'Cruz • Eunice De Souza • Lorna
Total population
~1,200,000
Regions with significant populations
India	~960,000
→Goa	~600,000
→Bombay	~100,000
Languages
Konkani
Religion
Christianity (Roman Catholicism)
Related ethnic groups
Konkani people, Mangalorean Catholics , Indo-Aryans

Goan Catholics (Konkani: Goiche Katholik) - are Roman Catholics along the west coast of India, located in the former Portuguese colony of Goa. Almost all Catholics in Goa are converts to the religion, and the society is marked by a caste-system. Conversions to Catholicism were seen mainly after the start of Portuguese rule in the area, particularly along the central coast, which Lisbon ruled from the early to mid sixteenth century onwards. They are Konkani people and speak Konkani as their mother-tongue. The total population of the community is estimated to be around 1.2 million.

Their culture is a blend of different influences they had to endure during the centuries. After the Portuguese arrived Goa in 1510, they adopted the Portuguese culture but retained their Hindu caste system and few other customs and traditions. Their architecture and literature encompass some of the notable contributions to India and the world. Their Cashew Feni and contributions to Konkani literature are well known.

A large fraction of the Goan Catholic community in North America and Europe (primarily the U.K.), used to be settled in East Africa. With the onset of independence in these African countries in the late 1960s', many Goans decided to leave Africa. Toronto is believed to have the largest expatriate Goan community. Most of the Goan community in the UK , N.America and Australia have become permanent residents there.

The pattern in the Middle East is different. Because of local laws, the Goan community cannot permanently settle there. They usually go to the middle-east on a temporary basis due to favourable economic conditions in the oil rich nations. Some use the middle-east as a stepping stone towards entering the west. Most return to Goa after completing their jobs.

Today, the Goan Catholic diaspora is scattered across the globe, with emigrant communities in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf and the Anglosphere. The Goan Catholic identity has been broadened in recent times to include emigrants of Goan Catholic descent, since around half of the community resides outside Goa.

Ethnic identity

The Roman Catholics from the Southern Konkan region, and their descendents are generally known as Goan Catholics. The Southern Konkan region is also referred to as the Gomantak or simply Goa, and falls on the western coast of India. At present it consists of the North Goa and South Goa districts in the state of Goa. Almost all of the present Goan Catholic community trace their origins entirely to the Gaud Saraswat Brahmins who migrated to the Konkan via Magadha in Gangetic India from Aryavarta, in the north-western part of the Indian sub-continent due to the drying out of the Saraswati river, while the rest of them have mixed Aryan-Maratha heritage. Hence, they are also known as Saraswati's children. The Saraswats brought with them a simplified version of Sanskrit, known as Brahmani, which was the root of modern day Konkani. As years passed by Konkani grew and flourished in Goa. Hence, slowly even the locals of Goa were assimilated into the Konkani stock. Thus, their ethnic identity is confined to the Konkani culture and language.

Today they form 32% of the the total population of Goa. They are known by many names over the ages, in Konkani such as Goiche Katholik or Kristao which literally translates as Goan Catholics or Goan Christians and simply call themselves as Goenkars which literally reads as Goans. Before the advent of Protestantism in Goa, they were also referred as Goan Christians, however its current use to represent the Goan Catholics alone has been depreciated after Goan Protestants and other Non-Catholic Christians started increasing in Goa in the 19th and 20th century.

History

Main article: History of Goan Catholics

According to some Hindu legends, Parashurama flung his axe into the sea and commanded the Sea God to recede up to the point where his axe landed. The new piece of land thus recovered came to be known as Konkan meaning "piece of earth" or "corner of earth" (Kona(corner) + kana(piece)). The Southern Konkan was called Govarashtra.

According to the legends of the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin community, they were settled along the banks of the Saraswati river. When the river suddenly went dry, Parshurama created the new land on the coast and ordered them to migrate there. The Saraswat Brahmins settled in three islands in the estuary of the Zuari and Mandovi rivers. The Sarswats settled in three different groups which lent the name to the land based on the number of families settled there:Twelve(Barah) families in Bardesh(modern Bardez); Thirty(Tees) families in Tiswadi; and sixty six(Sashasta) families in Sashti(modern Salcette). These three islands formed the ancient Gomantak.

Pre-Portuguese era

Ruins of Fort Aguada in north Goa; one of the defences that the Portuguese built during their reign.

Goa's known history stretches back to the 3rd century BC, when it formed part of the Mauryan Empire. It was later ruled by the Satavahanas of Kolhapur, around 2000 years ago it was passed on to the Chalukya Dynasty, who controlled it between 580 to 750. Over the next few centuries Goa was successively ruled by the Silharas, the Kadambas and the Chalukyas of Kalyani, rulers of Deccan India. The Kadambas, a local Hindu dynasty based at Chandrapura, (present day Chandor - Salcette), laid an indelible mark on the course of Goa's pre-colonial history and culture.

In 1312, Goa came under the governance of the Delhi Sultanate. However, the kingdom's grip on the region was weak, and by 1370 they were forced to surrender it to Harihara I of the Vijayanagara empire. The Vijayanagara monarchs held on to the territory until 1469, when it was appropriated by the Bahmani sultans of Gulbarga. After that dynasty crumbled, the area fell to the hands of the Adil Shahis of Bijapur who made Velha Goa their auxiliary capital.

Goa was ruled by the Muslims for about 60 years before they were removed by Harihara I, of Vijayanagar Empire. For about 100 years, Goa's ports were important for ships carrying Arabian horses for the Vijayanagar Cavalry. Around 1510, the Portuguese arrived.

Portuguese era

The path of migration of Goan Catholics towards Mangalore

In 1498 Vasco da Gama, the first European to set foot in India, arrived in what is today called Old Goa via Kerala. A few years later in 1510, the Portuguese under Afonso de Albuquerque,with the help of Timaya, a Hindu privateer, who claimed he was born in Goa but fled because of the ruling Muslims, defeated the ruling Adil Shahi. In revenge for an earlier failed attempt in to capture Goa, de Albuquerque ordered the massacre of all Muslims in the conquered area. The Portuguese initially came to India to expand their spice trade but on conquering Adil Shahi sultanate and by order of the King Sebastian of Portugal they established a settlement in Goa that was to last 450 years.

The first areas to be conquered by the Portuguese were the districts or talukas of Ilhas, Bardez and Salcete. These areas grouped together were known as Velhas Conquistas or Old Conquests and each taluka consisted of a number of villages communities. It was in these districts that the Portuguese undertook their most zealous efforts to convert the local pagans to Christianity and where the majority of Goa’s Catholic community is to be found. Hindu temples were destroyed and replaced by Catholic churches. Some years later Portugal expanded their conquests in Goa to include ten more talukas and these grouped together were known as Novas Conquitas or New Conquests. However, at the time of the conquest of the Novas Conquitas the fervor of the Inquisition in Goa had waned and the Portuguese, although they continued their missionary work, their attempts at conversion had subsided. Many Hindu Goans that fled earlier returned to their villages and reestablished their temples making the Novas Conquitas the area with the greatest concentration of Hindus.

Portuguese rule of Goa was not entirely uninterrupted. In 1543 the colonizers initiated what became known as The Goa Inquisition whereby a great many of the local population were converted to Catholicism. The Inquisition lasted from approximately 1543 to 1812, reshaping the socio-cultural landscape of the new colony. To escape the Inquisition and harassment, thousands fled the state, settling down in the neighbouring towns of Mangalore, Karwar in Karnataka and Sawantwadi in Maharashtra, which were outside of Portuguese control. The Sultan of Bijapur attacked Goa in 1571 and ended Portuguese influence in Goa. The Bijapur sultans were especially known for their loathing of Christianity. Fearing persecution, many Catholics from Goa migrated to Mangalore. The attacks of the Maratha Empire on Goa, during the mid 16th century, was also a cause of migration of Goan Catholics. The Dutch attacked Goa twice, in 1603 and 1640. In 1664, Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire, attacked Kudal, a town north of Goa, and began his campaign for Goa. In 1668, he captured five towns in North Goa and ordered renovation of Saptkotishwar temple at the present site during one of his campaigns to oust the Portuguese. But even after repetitive attempts, he was not able to win Goa from the Portuguese. After Shivaji's death on 3 April, 1680, his son Sambhaji ascended to the throne. In 1685, Chatrapti Sambhaji captured capital Panaji and penetrated his Maratha army peacefully in entire Central and North Goa but could not retain Goa and again moved to the Deccan plateau to handle the situation arisen due to sudden attack of Mughal. The onslaught of Sambahji, along the northern territories of Goa drove nearly all the Christians from their homelands, and most of them migrated to Mangalore.

In 1787, inspired by the French Revolution, several Goan priests, unhappy with the process of promotion within the church and other discriminatory practices of the Portuguese, organized an unsuccessful revolt against the Portuguese. Known as The Pinto Revolt, it was the first open revolt against the Portuguese from within Goa. Britain gained control of Goa twice, the first time in 1797 – 1798 and for the second time from 1802 – 1813. In 1843 the capital was moved to Panjim and by the mid 18th century the area under occupation expanded to Goa’s present day limits. By this time the Portuguese Empire had begun its decline and further resistance to their continued occupation in Goa started gaining momentum. After the rest of India gained independence in 1947 Portugal refused to relinquish control of Goa. On December 12th, 1961 India moved in with troops and after a fight that lasted twenty-six hours Portugal surrendered Goa. On May 30th, 1987 Goa was elevated as India’s 25th state.

Modern era

Se Cathedral of Santa Catarina, Goa Velha

Catholicism became firmly entrenched in Goa largely as a result of the conversion policies adopted by the Portuguese and the application of the principle 'cajus regio, illius religio'. In 1534, Pope Paul III, at the request of Dom Joao III, then king of Portugal promulgated his Bull Reputanmus which established the Diocese of Goa, which is considered to be an important landmark in the community's history. Henceforth Goa became the seat of great ecclesiastical power and became widely known as the 'Rome of the Orient'. The Portugese had built various churches like the Se Cathedral and Basilica of Bom Jesus. By 1960, Goan Catholics accounted for 2,24,617(36%) of the total population in Goa. During the later 19th century, they started migrating to other parts of India, especially Bombay and Delhi. During the 1970s, coastal communication increased between Bombay and Goa, which facilitated the entry of Goan Catholics to Bombay. In 1961, the Archdiocese of Bombay estimated that there were around 100,000 Goan Catholics in Bombay, of which 90,000 were in urban Bombay, and 10,000 in rural Bombay.

Dr Froilano de Mello (1877-1955) did remarkable work for improving the health of the malaria-endemic city of Old Goa by mapping the entire area so as to discover the source of malaria. By 1927, this work was completed and over 18,000 wells with stagnant water were uncovered in the jungle that had grown where Old Goa existed two centuries earlier. He fought valiant battles against TB and leprosy. He was hailed as one of the foremost leprologists. Early on many Goan Catholics went abroad, espically the East African countries for greener pastures. John Francis Ludger Gracias (1888-1969), among the first Goans to migrate to Kenya, and played a major role in the establishment of the Kenya and Uganda Railways and Harbours. He was awarded with an MBE by King Edward VIII -- one of the few honours bestowed by King Edward in his short reign. Brilliant Goan civil engineer Bismark Dias is remembered for designing the town of Vasco da Gama. In the US, he has done work on devices used in colour TV receivers, and also ultrasound imaging devices. Charles Correa, another Goan, has designed monuments ranging from the Kasturba Gandhi Samadhi at Pune, to Salvacao Church in Bombay and hotels in Andamans and Kovalam.

Geographical Distribution

File:Goan Catholic Distribution.jpg

Goan Catholic distribution in India

The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman estimates the population of Catholics in Goa and Daman to be 627,400.So Sanferd estimates the Goan Catholic population in Goa to be 600,000. He estimates their total population to be 1,200,000, out of which 960,000 are in India.

Goan Catholics today are especially found in the metropolitan cities of India like Mumbai and Delhi. They are also found in other Indian cities like Thane, Belgaum, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkatta, Chennai, Nasik, Pune and Nagpur, but not as abundantly as in Mumbai. They are found in large numbers in the Indian states of Goa and Maharashtra. Their presence in other states is minuscule.

Goan Catholics are also found outside India. Many Goan Catholics have migrated abroad for greener pastures, some of them are NRI's or they are the official citizens of that nation with some people born in that nation itself. A large number of 2,40,000 live outside India. Overseas regions where Goan Catholics are found are the Arab Gulf nations in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia , Qatar, Bahrain , United Arab Emirates and Kuwait . Some of them have migrated to the Anglospheric world including the United States , United Kingdom , Canada , Australia and New Zealand, while some have settled in Portugal and East Africa mainly in Kenya. Many Goan Catholics are also found in Karachi, Pakistan. These Goan Catholics are those who fled Goa during Portuguese rule. These Goans call themselves as Karachi-Goans.There are also many Goans who reside in Melbourne, Australia. These Goans in Melbourne are popularly known as Melgoans.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Goan Catholics

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Goan Catholics

An traditional Portuguese-influenced Goan Catholic home.

The architecture of Goan Catholics is a delightful combination of Indian, Mughal and Portuguese styles. Most of their houses have the bust of Jesus Christ at the entrance. Gateways are consisted of elaborately carved compound walls on either side of the gate posts. Central staircases leading to verandahs and balconies upstairs are a unique feature of the architecture of only found in Goa. The ancient houses had walls were made of mud and then later of laterite stone; they were usually plastered then painted. Very few buildings are coloured exactly alike and solid colours are used for front facades; interiors are usually in paler colours/white with solid color highlights. Almost all Goan Catholic houses have a false ceiling of wood. Country tiles used as a corbel are a feature peculiar to Goa. The effect achieved is aesthetically pleasing, giving the roof projection a solid, moulded appearance. The roofing is mainly of Country tiles or Mangalore Tiles. Their flooring consist of humble burnt earth plastered over with cow dung and hay, or with elaborate patterns made with tiles imported from Europe. The windows are usually curved inwards that are glazed with glass or oyster shells. These large ornamental windows with stucco mouldings open onto verandahs. A central courtyard is yet another feature of Goan architecture. The homes are mainly surrounded by fruit trees. The Pig toilet are a typically feature of traditionally built Goan Catholic homes.

Cuisine

Main article: Goan Catholic cuisine

Rice and Fish curry, the staple food of the Goan Catholics.

The Goan Catholic cuisine is influenced by native Goan, Portuguese, South Indian, and even British cuisine. Coconut and curry leaves are common ingredients to most curries, so are ginger, garlic, chili peppers and chili. Fish curry and rice is the staple food of the community. Popular pork dishes include Chorizo (garlicky pork sausage), Vindaloo and Sorpotel. The Soluntule kodi, a fish curry made with coconut juice, is a traditional curry served during the many ceremonies. The Podecho are dry rice flakes usually accompanied with jaggery. They are considered to be a variant of dosa, a South Indian dish. Their vegetarian cuisine is similar is unique. Khatkhate, an exotic Goan vegetable stew, is a popular dish which contains at least five vegetables, fresh coconut, and special Goan spices that add to the aroma. Pattoe, a dish of colocasia leaves stuffed with rice, dal, jaggery, and coconut is also popular. The Pez made of soaked rice, water and salt, is usually eaten during breakfast. It is considered to be a variant of Kanji. The Kuswad refers to sweet delicacies prepared during Christmas and includes Bebinca, Kalkals, Perad and Neuries. The most popular alcoholic beverage in Goa is feni ; Cashew feni is made from the fermentation of the fruit of the cashew tree, while coconut feni is made from the sap of toddy palms.

Names and surnames

Main article: Goan Catholics names and surnames

Goan Catholic nomenclature is unique. Bilingual names, having variants in both Konkani and English, like Motes (Matthew) and Mâri (Mary) are most commonly found among Goan Catholics. Depending on the language in use, the corresponding variants are preferred. Nowadays having English mames are in trend. Another popular naming convention is the use of English names which don't have Konkani variants. Names of this convention are Kevin, Kenneth, Myron, and Sanferd. Other European names are also very popular. Names of this type are Savio, Mario and Andrea. Indian names are also quite popular among them. Names of this type are Sandeep, Rohit, Rahul and Anita. The Portuguese surnames like Rodrigues and Carvalho are abundantly found among Goan Catholics due to the former Portuguese colonationization of Goa. Some Goan Catholics still have records of their original Goud Saraswat Brahmin surnames such as Kudva, Prabhu, Kamat, Pai, and Shenoy.

Goan Catholic variant	English variant	Meaning	Sex
Lazar	Lazarus	God has helped	Male
Lusi	Lucy	Light	Female
Mâri	Mary	Beloved	Female
Mingel	Michael	Who is like God?	Male
Motes	Matthew	Gift from God	Male
Mornel	Magdalen	Tower	Female
Salvador	Salvador	Saviour	Male
Zâbel	Elizabeth	My God is my oath	Female
Source: English-konkani Dictionary

Language and literature

Main article: Literature of Goan Catholics

See also: Konkani language and Goan literature

File:DoutrinaCristam book cover.jpg

Cover of Dovtrina Christam by Fr. Thomas Stephens, first published work in Konkani, and any Indian language

Goan Catholics have strong feelings take pride in their mother-tongue is Konkani. This love and affection for their language can be seen when most of the Goans united and fought for Konkani as their mother tongue. They speak a dialect of Konkani, known as Goan Konkani, which the Ethnologue identifies as the Goanese dialect. Like most Konkani dialects, the Goan dialect is a unique identifier of the community. Many Portuguese words have entered in the Goan lexicon due to the influence of the Portuguese. This is also true for the Goan Hindus. With the Kannada Kadambas ruling Goa and its close proximity to Maharashtra a lot of Kannada and Marathi words have been incorporated. The konkani community with its trade links with the Arabs and Persians have also incorporated many Arabic and Persian words into their vocabulary. Devanagari script is the offical script for Goan Konkani, although the Roman script is quite popular among Goan Catholics. Today Goan Catholics have all strata of the society conversing in English and in fact taking pride in the same. Goan Catholics do have the elite people who do continue speaking Portuguese. Goan Catholics have another set of people who are pursuing this language just for the love for it. The first book in Konkani and any Indian language was Dovtrina Christam em Lingoa Bramana Canarim (Christian Doctrines in the Canarese Brahmin Language), published by the English Jesuit Thomas Stephens in 1622 in Goa.

The origin of literature dates back to 1563 when the first Konkani grammar was prepared in by a Fr.Andre Vaz, Goan priest at St. Paulo College at Old Goa.In 1989, Fr.Matthew S.J., published a linguistic grammar book named A Description in Konkani, explaining the phonology, morphology and syntax of the Konkani language of Goa and its surrounding districts. Popular forms of their literature include, the TSKK Konkani Basic Course by Matthew Almeida, S.J. (1991), is a course book for beginners to learn Konkani. Fr.Moreno de Souza published a book, Tisvaddecheo Igorzo,(1994) that gives a panoramic view of the churches of Tiswadi or Ilhas. The TSKK Linguistic Glossary: English-Konkani and Konkani-English dictionary by Matthew Almeida, S.J. and Pratap Naik, S.J.,(1994) are some examples of their literature. The Sonvsarak Jezu Diat by Vasco do Rego, S.J.(1995), contains sermons preached by St.Francis Xavier at Basilica of Bom Jesus. Other forms of their literature include Lambert Mascarenhas' Sorrowing Lies My Land and Fernando de Noronha's Nostalgic Memories of the Past.

Traditions and festivals

Goa Carnival

Although the Catholics in Goa have been deeply influenced by the Western culture, they have retained their Hindu caste system and a few customs common to both Christians and Hindus particularly regarding marriage. Due to the Portuguese rule, they have adopted both Indian and Western traditions. The Roce (anointing) ceremony, conducted one or two days before a wedding, involves the parents' blessing of the bride and groom, who are anointed with coconut milk. Later, it is followed by the traditional Catholic wedding mass and finally the wedding. The tradition Of Ovi (wedding songs) which are sung by women during a the wedding is a unique tradition among Goan Catholics.The tradition of the burning of the old man happens every year on the 31st of December. Village boys make an old man by stuffing old clothes with hay and set up roadblocks to as people for monetary help for their ailing old man. The old man is then customarily burnt at midnight and the money collected is used for a new year party.

In addition to the common Christian festivals like Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter, the community celebrates many other festivals which have both religious and historical significance. The Zagor (nocturnal vigil in Konkani), which is mainly celebrated in the Siolim village of the Bardez taluk of Goa is actually a dance-drama that starts out with a processions of Hindus and Christians from their villages, which converges onto the zagor site with exuberant singing and dancing from either side. Other important festivals include of Mae de Deus Church at Saligao , Feast of Passion of Christ at Siridao, Feast of Holy Cross at Panarim (Aldona), Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Procession of the Saints in Goa Velha, Feast of the Holy Spirit Church, at Margao, The feasts of San Joao and St. Peter, Goa's Monsoon festivals, Bondera at Divar, Sangodd at Cumbharjua and Feast of Our Lady of Mount Mary, Chinchinim. The Goa Carnival is one of the biggest feasts of Goan Catholics in Goa. Carnival in Goa is a 4 days festival of color, song and music, providing a healthy entertainment for all, young and old.

Historical Society

The Goan Catholic society is the society is marked by a caste-system. The Saraswati river has long since dried out because it flowed from the receding glaciers of the great ice age 10,000 years ago. Due to this many Saraswats migrated and settled in Gomantak(Goa). Over the years, the Saraswats established the concept of Kuladevatas or family gods, and began worshipping them. The followed a specific acaste-system. This caste-system was further carried to Goa.

They were divided into four castes — Bamons, Charodis, Shudras, and Gaudis. The largest group were the Bamons (the Konkani word for Brahmins). They were converts from the Brahmin caste (priestly class), and they especially included the Goud Saraswat Brahmin converts from Goa. The next biggest group were the Charodis, who were converts from a mixed Kshatriya (military class) and Vaishya (merchant class) castes. The artisan converts formed the third biggest group, and were known as Shudras (labour class). The Vakkals (medical class) were called Gaudis, and formed the fourth group. The local Jain converts from the fisher-castes were known as Padvals.

Sports

File:6691925.jpg

Fatorda Cricket Stadium, Margao.

Football is perhaps the most popular sport among in Goa and is embedded in Goan Catholic culture. Its origins in the state are traced back to 1883 when the visiting British priest Fr. William Robert Lyons established the sport as part of a "Christian education". On December 22, 1959 the Associação de Futebol de Goa (Football association of Goa) was formed, which continues to administer the game in the state under the new name, Goa Football Association. Today Goa, along with West Bengal,and Kerala. is the locus of football in the country and is home to many football club in India's National Football League, including three of the ten Premier Division teams. The state's football powerhouses include Salgaocar, Dempo, Churchill Brothers, Vasco Sports Club and Sporting Clube de Goa. The state's main football stadium, Fatroda (or Nehru stadium), is located at Margao and also hosts cricket matches.

In recent years, a growing influence of cricket is visible among the community. Field Hockey is the third most popular sport.

Dance and Theatre

The Dekhnni is the traditional dance of Goan Catholics, who were converted to Christianity from Hinduism during the Portugal rule. They were the ones to compose this traditional dance form of Goa. The dance also involves singing by people. It usually begins with a beautiful lady starting the dance and is joined later by other dancers gradually. The music of this dance is a lovely combination of rhythm and melody of both western and Indian genre. The Corridinho is a form of Portuguese dance is another dance performed by the community. It is danced with the pairs always embraced, forming a circle, girls inside and the boys outside the circle. By rotating the circle the pairs evolve side by side.

The Konkani language theatre play known as the tiart is quite popular among this community. It derives its name from the Portuguese word 'Teatro' and they are mainly melodramas about family and domestic life. Each lyricist will offer his own explanation for life's varied problems, often coloured by individual prejudices. Although there are quite a few 'Tiartist' who produce plays with political satire. Notable, is William de Curtorim. It has at least 2 to 3 releases per month and one can find the tiart being performed all the year round in Goa. Popular tiatrist who have become household names include Prince Jacob, Alfred Rose, Tony King, Kid Boxer, Souza Boy, M.Boyer, Emiliano D'cruz, Rosario Rodrigues and J. B. Rod.

Songs and Music

As a result of 450 years of colonialization by the Portuguese, Goan music has evolved to a form that is quite a bit different from traditional Indian music. Remo Fernandes has immensly contributed to Bollywood and has succeeded in bringing a uniqe blend of Indo-Western Pop. The recent contributors to Goan music are the Canadian- Goan band Goa Amigos, The band has recently represented Goa at the largest South Asian festival in North America. Goan popular music is generally sung in the Konkani language. Songs of the Jazz artistes like Chris Perry are immortalized by singer Lorna, that remain all time favorites. The popular folksong Hanv Saiba Poltoddi Vetam (I am going across the river) was composed by Anna Jacques more than four hundred years ago! An international ad campaign by Nike for the 2007 Cricket World Cup featured a Konkani song Rav Patrao Rav (Wait Boss Wait) as the background theme. It was based on the tune of an older song Bebdo (Drunkard), composed by Chris Perry and sung by Lorna. The new lyrics written by Agnello Dias (who worked in the ad agency that made the ad), recomposed by Ram Sampat and sung by Ella Castellino. Goa is almost synonymous with trance music and one can see many trance parties taking place on the beaches of Goa. This transition took place somewhere around 1960 - 70 when many hippies came to Goa and made it a hot tourist destination for the like minded. Since they enjoyed trance music, they introduced the same over there too. Goa Trance band Juno Reactor had their music featured in many Hollywood movies like Mortal Kombat, The Matrix and even Once Upon a Time in Mexico. The community is also much influenced by western classical music and listens to the likes of Bob Marley, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, etc. The current generation listens to rock and hip hop music religiously.

The most widespread kind of folk music in Goa was the mando, a kind of dance music that evolved out of wedding music, specifically the Ovi (traditional wedding songs). Mando is meant for dancing, and, in contrast to the Ovi, uses a chorus. It probably evolved after the 1830s, when ballroom dance was introduced to the area.

Zolmancho Dis (Happy Birthday song)

Dis tujea zolmacho, dis vhodde khoxecho
Today's your birthday, a day of great happiness.

Happy Birthday mhunnon ugdas kortaum tuzo
I remember you a lot, as its your birthday.

Sorgar kor anjeamcho, sad ghaltat borea ieneancho
Lets make the heavenly angels sing good intensions.

Sounsar chear disancho, hasson khellon sarcho
The world is of a few days, lets dance, laugh and sing.

— Mando taken from Traditional Mandos article by Sanferd Rodrigues,

Organizations

The campus of the Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK), a research institute working on issues related to the Konkani language, located at Panjim in Goa

Many organizations cater to the community in Goa. Goa Konkani Akademi (GKA) was founded by the Government of Goa to promote Konkani language, literature and culture. The Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK), founded in 1989 and ran by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) is a popular research institute based in the Goan capital Panjim, which works on issues related to the Konkani language, literature, culture and education.The Dalgado Konkani Academy is another popular Konkani organization based in Panjim.

Goenkaranchi Ekvot is a registered organisation of Goans residing in Delhi and the adjoining states, that aim is of promoting the social and cultural advancement of Goans irrespective of their religion, caste, creed and community, as well as to arrange activities related to thepromotion of Goan culture and tradition.The International Centre, Goa is an organization that has been established on the lines of the India International Centre, New Delhi, which hosts cultural events. On December 22, 1959 the Associação de Futebol de Goa (Football association of Goa) was formed, which continues to administer the game in the state under the new name, Goa Football Association.

The Goans in Kuwait formed the Kuwait Konknni Kendr organization to help protect and promote Goan culture.. The Goan Overseas Association (G.O.A.) is a strong integrated cultural organization that seeks to preserve the Goan identity and develop a wider appreciation of Goan culture locally throughout the GTA and worldwide.. The Goans of America (G.O.A.) was formed in 1970, is an organization dedicated to unifying the Goan community in the Southern California area and now there are over 300 families participating in the organization.. Goans who emigrated from Tanzania in great number to greener pastures, formed an organization named as Tanzanite Goans.

Notable Goan Catholics

Notable Goan Catholics	Achievements
Eunice De Souza	A contemporary Indian English language poet and novelist.
Ileana D'Cruz	A Goan Catholic working in the Telugu film industry.
Ivan Dias	Prefect of Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Rome.
Oswald Gracias	Cardinal, Archbishop of Mumbai, India.
Leander Paes	International tennis player.
Bruno Coutinho	Indian Footballer.
Evarist Pinto	Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan.
Lorna	Singer from Goa, known as Goa's nightingale.
Remo Fernandes	Prominent Goan pop star and Bollywood, playback singer.

See also

• Roman Catholic Brahmin
• Roman Catholicism in Goa
• Mangalorean Catholics
• East Indian Catholics
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa e Damão
• Konkani
• Goa

References

• Asiatic Society of Bombay (1853). Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay. Vol. 4. Bombay Education Society's Press. Retrieved 2008-09-20. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Ayyappapanicker, K. (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8126003650. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
• Baptista, Elsie Wilhelmina (1967). The East Indians: Catholic Community of Bombay, Salsette and Bassein. Bombay East Indian Association.
• Dias, Giselle (May 2007). Catholic Goan Research Paper (PDF). Printwell Press, Goa. Retrieved 2008-09-12.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
• Gupta, Anirudha (1991). Minorities on India's West Coast: History & Society. Kalinga Publications. ISBN 8185163227.
• Harding, Paul (2003). Lonely Planet Goa, Facts about Goa: History (3rd edition ed.). Lonely Planet Publications. ISBN 1740591399. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |edition= has extra text (help)
• Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture (1983). Indica. Vol. 20. St. Xavier's College (Bombay).
• Maffei, Angelus Francis Xavier (2001). English-konkani Dictionary. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 8120606264. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
• Paul Harding and, Bryn Thomas. Goa. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
• Raj, Selva J. (2002). Popular Christianity in India: Riting Between the Lines. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791455197. Retrieved 2008-08-28. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Sakshena, R.N. (1997). Goa in the main stream. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
• Rodrigues, Sanferd Menino (2007). The Goan Catholic community. Sanferd Rodrigues. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
• Saradesāya, Manohararāya (2000). A History of Konkani Literature: From 1500 to 1992. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8172016646.
• Sen, Colleen Taylor (2004). Food Culture in India. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0313324875. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
• Silva, Severine (1965). The Marriage Customs of the Christians in South Canara (PDF, 2.48 MB). 2. Asian Folklore Studies, Nanzan University (Japan). Retrieved 2008-07-08. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |vol= ignored (|volume= suggested) (help)
• Vaz, Dr.J.Clement (2007). Goans All Over the World are Doing Great Things. Fredrick Noronha. Retrieved 2008-08-24.

External links

• Giga-Catholic website
• Archdiocese of Goa
• The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman website
• Konkani News, Goa.com
• Konkani Roman Catholics of Goa, Karwar, Mangalore
• Goan and Mangalorean Konkani Catholics Blog
• Roman Catholic Brahmin
• Roman Brahmin by Arun Shourie
• Goans on the International Sporting Stage
• Great Men of Goa