Features of Goa.

Goa as a region can be divided into four divisions-the Eastern Hill region comprising areas in the Western Ghats like Atari, Panda& Anaconda etc; the Central Valley Lands comprising Perineum, Bucolic, Panda, Eastern Cangue, and Queen; the Flood Plains comprising the coastal plains and rolling uplands; & the Coastal Plains with areas of SiSwati, Formulae, Barden, and Calcite. The major rivers of the Goa Tiraspol , Mondovi, Zara , Galgibagh, etc. Some of the famous lakes in the state are Mayhem and Catabolism.

Historical background.
Most of the rivers are navigable and of the Portuguese. Till her independence and eventual addition to the mainland of India, Goa had seen the rise and fall of kings and paupers alike and had treated them with the same elegance and benevolence that she affords to her guests today. Mythology essays play a large role in piecing together the history of Goa. This mystical land is said to have been formed by Parsuram for the Saraswat Brahmins. Legend has it, Parsuram, an incarnation of Hindu God Vishnu, shot an arrow from a mythical bow into the sea and reclaimed the stretch of coastal land, that is Goa, by hitting what is

now, Salkache Tollem or Lotus Lake in the village of Benaulim. A land that hunters and gatherers had reclaimed from the sea after a gigantic geological upheaval of the coastal strip. Farming, courtesy the Aryans and other inland tribes in 600 BCE and trade, thanks to the ancient Greeks, saw Goa flourishing as a port on the western coast of the undivided mainland. Goa is the land of plenty and as such, she has been hailed by many a sobriquet. Gomant, Govrashtra, Gomantak, Gopakapattana and the Greek Melinda were just the initial wave, soon followed by the colonial 'Pearl of the Orient' and 'Rome of the East'. After the hasty exit of the Greeks, the expanding troops of Emperor Asoka Maurya of Magadha claimed Goa or as they called it, Aparanta Desh or Land Beyond the End, in the 3 BCE. Such are the vagaries of fate that for the next 700 years, Goa was ruled by a succession of Hindu Maharajahs. Of prime importance are the mighty Kadambas, indigenous sons of Goan soil, who overthrew the Pallavas and eventually, the Chalukyas. Goan land has always been in the limelight as it has a deep natural harbor and as such, is a great trading area. Mahmud of Ghazni had always been interested in the riches of this country which he had invaded a total of times. Goa's beauty and treasures attracted his acquisitiveness.

Following him, Goa's doors were pushed open by Alauddin Khilji and the Tughluqs. The Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagara was fast becoming a large dynasty. Themselves, legend has it, breakaways from the Tughluqs, Vijayanagara faced an internal faction that tore a large chunk out of her territories. This rebel faction was the Bahamanis who usurped control of Goa. The 1350s saw religious tolerance take a devastating blow. The indigenous Hindus and migrant Muslims fought bitterly and left a widetrail of ashes in the form of ruined temples and murdered priests. The Bahamanids also, couldn't hold on to the reins for too long and after a few tussles with the Hindu Vijayanagara rulers, both kingdoms were slaughtered by the Ailsas of Bijou. Goa saw many admirable years under the Ailsa mantle. A need for a quicker trade route, a land with more riches to rake and more souls to convert, enticed the Western world. The Portuguese set their sights on the mainland after Bartholomew Dias rounded the African tip. First de Civilian and then, Vasco ad Gama made their way towards India. In 1498, ad Gama successfully landed at Calicut on the western coast of India.

His stepping on Indian soil represented the beginning of a long and tedious colonial suppression. The inquisition followed in 1559 and reversed all of Albuquerque's liberal policies. Hindus, by the thousands, were fleeing into different parts of the country. Goa suffered through forcible conversions, heavily censored media and severe brutalities. Two hundred years of ruthless inquisition could not, however, quell the fires that had been raging from a thousand years. Secret temples were built and religion thrived despite it all. The 'Christianization' of Goa was a project of the Portuguese evangelists. St. Francis Xavier, who plays a large part in the spiritual and cultural history of Goa, arrived with a party of young Jesuits, all intent on their mission. The descendants of these Goan converts form the largest part of the population of Goa today. The inquisition came at a time when Goa was in the throes of her 'Goa Dorado'. Trade in spices and horses had brought immense wealth to Goa as was evident in the lifestyles of the Goan elite. By the mid 19th Century, Pan Jim, which had been a minor fishing hamlet was transformed into a dynamic township with spruced up streets and burgeoning trees on either side. This coastal suburb is the capital of Goa till date. After India attained independence from the British in 1947 and the systematic withdrawal of the British forces began, there was immense pressure on the Portuguese to 'quit Goa'. Portugal had recently gone the Republic way under the pro-

colonial dictator Salazar who was loathe to see Goa escape his clutches. Mahatma Gandhi lend both a hand and an ideology to the people of Goa. His technique of Satyagraha was used against the Portuguese extensively in the 1950s. Finally, the Indian government sent out military forces and Goa achieved independence on December 19, 1961. 1987 saw Goa join the ranks of Indian states. Her political structure though, has been through some turmoil. Goa has become a tourist hot spot, with great infrastructure and substantial investments but there is still need for political stability. From a segment of an Indian Union Territory to being a state in its own right in 1987, Goa has come a long way, ever tireless, never ceasing, displaying the indomitable spirit that has become synonymous with her name.
Chapora Fort

Aquada Fort

Cabo de Rama Fort

Candolim Beach

Dona Paula Beach

Star Cruise

Pearl of the Orient

Blackwater Thrills

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Dolphin Fantasy Cruise

Water skiing

Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary

Religion, festival & dance.

According to Hindu :January/February (Magh) Mahashivratri A celebration honour of Lord Shiva held at all the principal Shiva temple, such as the Rudershwar, Mangueshi, Nagueshi, Sri Madadev - Bhumika and other temples. Rantha Saptami festival takes place in February at the Mallikarujuna Temple. Maruti-Zatra at Shri Mahalakshmi Temple is presiding deity of Panaji, Goa's capital city. Mahalasa Jatra or Vijayarathotsav (Chariot Festival) is celebrated at Mahalasa Temple of Mohini in Ponda. February/March (Phalgun) Shigmotsavor or Shigmo: All over Goa, Special celebrations at Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco Da Gama and Margoa. A Spring festival celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Phalgun in March.It is a grand five day festival of colour, celebrated distinctively in the villages, corresponding with Holi or Spring Festivals. Shigmo is universally celebrated in Goa, but specially in Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco Da Gama and Margoa. Ghodemodni or Parade of the horse riders, is part of Shigmo and is found in Fatorpa and Bicholim. Hypnotic and rhythmic music of drums and Whistles accompany the martial dance, which Parades down the main street, imitating horses and their riders. Rombat takes place on the second and third day of Shigmo. It is a Procession of men in traditional dress carrying banners and umbrellas dancing to the music of drums. Young boys wave green twigs, signifying the arrival of spring Drama Festivals form an important part of Shigmo with most villages staging plays during the week.

Holi is celebrated as Gulal or Rangapanchami at Sri Damodar Temple in Zambaulin. The three day festival of Gade at Mahadev Bhumika Temple attracts huge crowds. Kalas Utsav is celebrated on a major scale every alternate year at Sri Morjaee Temple in Pernem. Visitors from Maharashtra and Karnataka attend the seven day festivities which are socio religious occasions. March-Apirl (Chaitra) Ram Navami or the birthday of Lord Rama is celebrated at Ramnath temple. Chaitra Purnima is celebrated at Sri Mahalakshhmi Temple at Panaji, and during the nine days preceding the full moon , at Sri Vithal Temple in Sanquelim. It is also Nagueshi, Chandranath, Cudnem and Mashem in Canacona. Apirl-May (Baisakh) This is home coming season for many Goan settled away from Goa. It is also the fruit season and Feni making season. A distinctive Goan aperitif, Feni comes from cashew apples. In addition it is toddy- tapping season. May-June (Jaith) Mirg is on 6th June. It is the start of the Monsoon season. The Christian Mirg is one day earlier. If the rains fail, prayers are offered to the Catholic saints born this month-- St. Anthony, St. John the Baptist and St. Peter and St. Paul. In Goa there is happy mingling of festivals and feast days for the common good of all. June-July (Asadh) Rainy season with no major festival.

July- August (Shravana) Gokul Ashtami or Janamashtami is the Birthday of Lord Krishna. This marks the beginning of Goa's harvest festival. At Narve village in Bicholim, people gather for pilgrimage from far and wide. August- September (Bhadra-Pada) Ganesh Chaturthi birthday of Lord Ganesh, the most important deity in the Konkani, and is celebrated all over Goa. Thousand return to Goa for this festival, which is associated with good Harvest. Novitiate In each village, the first offering is is made to the church and the paddy specially blessed. No farmer, will harvest his rice crop before it is offered in a ceremony called 'Novitiate' in which the parish priest himself harvests sheaf of rice and returns with it to the Church, Local people accompany him with music, fire works and Jubilation . It is a true feast day for all. Women folk of Goa's earliest tribal settlers perform a dance called Bhandup in half second half of the month. August- September (Ashwin) Navarati or the nine nights festivals associated with Lord Rama's Defeat of Ravana, demon King of Lanka culminates in the grand festival of Dusshera. Dusshera is celebrated by devotees of the Mother Goddess as her festival. The Sri Bhagavati Temple is Pernem has a fortnight's festivities on the occasion. Special celebrations for Navaratar Utsav are held at Shantadurga, Nagueshi, Mahalakshmi and Ramnath Temples at Ponda and at Kalika Devi Temples in Kasarpal. The Dhangar Dance is dance of worship performed during this festival. The Kiran Mahotsasv or religious music festival takes place at Quepem in September and is an all night celebration.

October- November (Kartika) Deepawali is the great festivals of lights . It is universally celebrated in Goa, in homes, on the streets, in shops and of course, in religious places. November- December (Aghrana) Kejagiri Purnima could fall early in lights. It is the full moon following Dusshera and at Mardol in Ponda there are special celebrations to mark this auspicious day. November- December (Paush) Malni Purnima is the festivals at Sri Devaki Krishna Temple at Marcel. The Zatra of Shri Shantadugra is held at Dhargal in Pernem. The deity is taken out of the temple in a colourful procession for the day. The annual Zatra of Shri Shantadurga at Kunkoliemkarin at Fatorpa in Quepem also falls in this month. Thousands flock to attend the festival from afar. Zatra in all Temples, of special importance being at Mangueshi, Nagueshi, Ramnathi, Kavlem, Madki, Kundai, Shiroda, Khandepar, Borim, Kapileshwari, Mulgaon, Fatorpa, Amona, Mashel, Mala-Panaji, Mapusam, Velinga, Karmali, and Calangute. The Datta Jayanti is celebrated as the annual festival at Shri Datta Temple at Dattawadi, Sanquelim.
According to Christian January 6 -----

Feast of the Three Kings at Reis Magos, Cuelim (Canasaulim) and Chandor. February 2 ---Feast of our Lady of Chandelaria at Pomburpa. 5th Monday in Lent ----

Procession of all Saint of the Franciscan Third Order (only other besides Rome) at Goa Velha. 1st Sunday after Easter --Feast of Jesus Nazareth at Siridoa. 16 days after Easter Feast of Our Lady of Miracles at Mapusa. 24th June --Feast of Sao Joao (St. John Baplist). 24th August Festivals of Novidades Offering of first sheaves of rice crop to the head of State. 1st Fortnight of October ---Fama De Menino Jesus at Colva. 3rd Wednesday of November --Feast of Our Lady of Rosary at Navelim. 3rd December --Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Patron Saint Goans, at old Goa. This occasion draws thousands of faithful to Goa to participate in the religious event. 8th December --Feast of our Lady of Immaculate Conception at Panaji and Margoa. 25th December --Christmas, all over Goa with the customary Midnight Mass on gatherings and special Christmas Eve and with prayers gathering and special Christmas festivals. A Goan will leave his front door open during the festival as a gestures of generosity toward all who may visit his home.

According to Muslim 17th Zilhaj (February) ---- Urus of Shah Abdullah at Ponda.

Beaches of Goa.