Japanese Garden And

Grandmothers hole Beach

A quick walk or an even quicker drive from Fort Mormugao, crossing the Mormugao Port Trust Colony, and you can reach these twin spots of Japanese Garden and Grandmother's Hole Beach. The ruins of Fortaleza Santa Catarina, atop a hill, host the Japanese Garden, an idyllic place frequented equally by young dating guys and girls and residents of the nearby area.

 Besides the beautiful trees, the garden offers slides and other swings for kids to enjoy. As you walk towards the far end, you set your sight on the almost virgin beach below, strangely titled Grandmother's Hole Beach. A series of steps would lead you all the way down to sand crossing a small arch, where, according to folklore, a grandmother used to sit waiting for her sons to return from the sea. The tiny crescent beach is isolated, except for a few locals and virtually no tourists. If you want a near-solitary beach to yourself in early mornings or for those perfect sunsets, this is a must visit.

MANDO

Goan Folk Art is famous all over the world even many of the Indian film songs are composed on the Goan folk arts, there are various folk arts exists in Goa some of them are getting extinct due various reasons. Mando is one such folk art which is a musical form that evolved during the 19th and 20th century among Goan Catholics of Goa, India. It represents the meeting point of Indian and western musical traditions. The music has elements of both Indian and western culture. The males wear formal coats, showing Portuguese influence, while females wear a unique Indian costume (bazu torop or pano baju). The ceremonial torhop-baz worn during the mando dance was of velvet or silk, red, blue or green in colour, embroidered with gold (rarely with silver) threads. A white or blue shawl was worn. The socks had to be white and the slippers ornamented. This was all graced with a fan, which enhanced the lady’s mood with a secret charm during the dance.Now adays mandos are highlighted with their dance respective of their song. The plural of manddo in Konkani is mande.The major theme of mandos is love, the minor ones being historical narratives, grievance against exploitation and social injustice, and political resistance during the Portuguese presence in Goa. With grace in voice charm in costumes the performances are enhanced.

The mando is mostly a monologue, in the first person singular or plural, except for the historical narratives. In some mandos, however, one person addresses another, who in turn replies. Singing is accompanied by gentle turning sideways to the rhythm, thus creating both a visual and auditory performance. The first mando is thought to have been written down around 1840. However this beautiful form of singing has a tradition which can be traced back much further than that. Although the mando cannot strictly be classified as traditional folk song form; it has been established in Goa for many a year.

MAHAVIR JAYANTI

Mahavir jayanti is observed by Jains as birth anniversary of sage Mahavir. Mahavir, also known as Vardhamana, established core tenets of Jainism. Mahavir was the 24th and the last Jain sage.

Mahavir was born on thirteenth day of the rising moon of Chaitra month (which was Trayodashi Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month). Mahavir was born during 599 B.C. and disappeared in 527 B.C. at the age of 72. Mahavir was born at Kundalagrama which is situated under Vaishali district in Bihar.

Mahavir Jayanti is the most important religious festival celebrated by Jains in India and around the world. The festival is also referred to as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Mahavira, the twenty fourth and the last Tirthankara of Kalyuga, the present time cycle. Mahavir Jayanti is generally celebrated in the month of Chaitra and this year it is celebrated on April 19. Mahavira was born in 599 BCE to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. It’s believed that Trishala, when pregnant had a number of auspicious dreams all of which were interpreted to welcome a great soul who’d either be a world teacher or a world ruler.

It was celebrated this year in margao .

CABO DE RAMA

(Deriving its name from the  Hindu Epic the Ramayana, this ancient fort far predates the Portuguese rule in Goa, making it one of the oldest forts in Goa. Though time and the elements have weathered this proud structure, it still stands today, guarding the mouth of the Sal River and commanding panoramic views of the ocean and the surrounding countryside.)

The fort is located in Cancona, a town in the South of Goa, about 16 km north of Agonda Beach.

This ancient fort has been standing on the bluff overlooking the Cape for centuries. It changed hands many times during its history and was controlled sometimes by the Hindu rulers and sometimes by the Muslim rulers. The Portuguese wrested it from the control of the Raja of Soonda in 1763 and remained in control of it for the rest of the colonial rule of Goa.

When the fort was no longer useful as a military bastion, it was converted into a prison in 1935 and continued to be used in this capacity until 1955.

The fort covers an impress 180,000sq.m. and is built, like most of the other ancient structures of Goa out of laterite rock. When the Portuguese took over the fort, they constructed military barracks, command posts and officers’ quarters. They also equipped it with 21 canons and the embrasures to hold the same.

As was their habit they constructed a church within the walls of the fort. This church, dedicated to St. Anthony, is still in use today. Its cleanly white washed structure makes a vivid contrast with the blackened walls of the fort.The citadel now lies in ruins and only one of the walls is completely preserved. However, the main entrance to the fort has been completely reconstructed and lends an imposing air to the monument. Although this fort cannot be said to be in good repair, it is nevertheless still an impressive and historically significant monument.

Today only the Church is still in regular use and consequently is the best maintained part of the fort. The buildings that were used as a prison are also reasonably habitable and are used as a government outpost, occasionally housing scientists and researchers from the National Institute of Oceanography.

It is notable, however, that there are still a couple of ancient canons which were left behind when the Portuguese abandoned the place, and have been left there ever since. One can walk around the fort walls, taking in the view of the surrounding countryside. From the Western wall, the full panorama of the Arabian Sea lies beneath. There is also a narrow, and steep pathway that can be used to travel from the fort down to the beach below.

he fort gets its name from Lord Rama, hero of the epic Ramayana. It is said that he and his beloved wife Sita took refuge here during the time they were exiled from Ayodhya. Hence the fort and the cape have been named for him. Although not as impressive as some of the other forts, those who prefer to do their sight-seeing with a certain amount of solitude would probably appreciate the peace and quiet that prevails here.

AGUADA FORT

It was a cool windy morning, the roaring sea waves and some ships sailing here and there, the Aguada fort is the place which guarantees this visual treat. This fort was constructed in 1612 as a guard against invasions from the Dutch and the Marathas. This remains to be the only fort that was not conquered by any invaders during the 450 yearlong rule of the Portuguese empire.

"Agua" in Portuguese means water, thus the fort derived its name "Aguada" to denote a place where water is accumulated.

An interesting feature in the precinct of the fort is a 13 metre high lighthouse. This lighthouse, built in 1864 and is the oldest of its kind in Asia, initially used an oil lamp. It was later renovated and modernised in 1976.

This lighthouse was home to a gigantic bell that was retrieved from amongst the ruins of the St. Augustus monastery at Old Goa. However, the bell has now been moved to the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception church at Panaji.

Part of the fort has been converted into the Aguada Jail, which mainly houses those accused of narcotics, sale of drugs and trafficking. This is one of the largest jails in Goa, and since it is very much in use, is closed to members of the public.

 

SAN JOAO

  It is the feast of St John the Baptist on June 24th. On this day young men around Goa jump 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 festivals takes place at the beginning of Monsoon season in Goa and people of all ages jumping into wells, streams and ponds. 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. 
  

 

  
  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. People, especially the newly married or those with a new-born, gather with the dali and gifts containing seasonal fruits like moussrad mango,pineapples,jackfruits and a bottle of feni.People dressed in colourful outfits from several villages meet near a stream front in carnival-coloured boats and floats.   

  It is a day where the people of all age groups get together and spend the entire day singing and dancing at the tunes of the mandos.It is one of the most awaited festivals in Goa.