Goa Tourism Development Corporation

Sao Joao Festival in Goa

The feast of St John the Baptist on June 24 th is celebrated by young men all over Goa jumping into wells to retrieve gifts thrown in by villagers. This celebration is called Sao Joao, one of the more famous Christian feasts in the state. The Bible speaks of John the Baptist leaping for joy in his mother, Elizabeth's womb when she was visited by Mary who had just conceived Jesus. San Joao or St John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. The jump into the well is to signify the joy felt by John when he sensed the presence of Jesus Christ even while he was in his mother's womb.

The festivals takes place at the beginning of monsoon season in Goa and people of all ages jumping into wells, streams and ponds. This generally after getting into the spirit of the thing by imbibing Goa's famous liquor feni.

Sao Joao, like any other Goan feast has that captivating spirit of merriment, colour and tradition. In Siolim, the village in north Goa's Bardez taluka, colourful boat races are organised on this day. People dressed in colourful outfits from several villages meet near a stream in carnival-coloured boats and floats. It is akin to the Carnival in few ways.

But Sao Joao is not celebrated with the same fervour throughout Goa. It is celebrated with less enthusiasm in South Goa. The display of Sangodd, a decorated floating platform, made by tying two boats or banana tree trunks together, which are then put into nearby streams to float is an important part of the celebrations.

On the feast day, villagers begin the day by taking a plunge in the village wells singing 'San Joao'. The highlight of the day is the Sangodd, on which people parade singing Mandos and religious hymns.

The Sangodds are uniquely decorated and members of that Sangodd wear a uniform dress to distinguish themselves from other groups. This is also a time to celebrate one's spirit of adventure. So, on this day there are a number of competitions where youths get to exhibit their talents.

The celebration of Sao Joao in Bardez ( North Goa) goes back nearly 150 years, when San Joao revelers from Chapora and Zhor villages of Anjuna, Badem in Assagao and Siolim would come up year after year in boats to the chapel of Sao Joao in Pereira Vaddo, Siolim, to pay homage.

The young and old alike sing and dance to the beat of the ghumot and kansallem, with lovely coronets of seasonal flowers on their heads and 'drenched to the bone' with feni. Many then proceed to jump time and time again into the streams, wells and ponds to keep away the cold from getting them.

Sao Joao still retains its traditional flavour and this organisers say is as a result of their refusal to commercialize the event.

So if you are looking for fun, frolic and a wet-carnival like atmosphere then San Joao is definitely the best place to be on the 24th June.

GTDC Sao Joao Fest at Pomburpa





GTDC Sao Joao fest at "Santa Monica"

More News

	Chief Minister inaugurates GTDC Online Reservation System More>>
	TOURISM MINISTER INAUGURATES BUNGEE JUMPING AT COLVA RESIDENCY More>>
	GTDC Chairman inagurated India Travel Mart (ITM), Goa More>>
	Goa Tourism honoured with The Economic Times & TAAI Travel Award More>>
	Department of Tourism & GTDC celebrates World Tourism Day More>>
	Goa Tourism Corporation Training Programme More>>
	Ayurvedic Treatment Centre & Spa opened at Calangute Residency More>>
	Goa Tourism honoured with CNBC AWAAZ TRAVEL AWARD 2009 for the best beach destination More>>
	GTDC at Far-East FICCI Business Delegation More>>
	GTDC Sao Joao makes a huge splash! More>>

TOP