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PANAJI: The residents of Goa celebrate "San Joao", an annual rain festival or the Feast of John the Baptist, with great fanfare every year in June.The festival is part of the tradition the Portuguese, who ruled Goa until 1961, have left behind. Nowhere is this event better celebrated than the picturesque village of Siolim, which seems to come alive on the day from its year-long slumber. It is believed that San Joao revellers from several villages first converged in front of St. Anthony's church in Siolim over 150 years ago. The "San Joao" is usually held on a day which witnesses heavy showers. But rain gods didn't oblige this year and so the festival was observed under bright sunshine and clear skies.That, however, did not dampen the spirits of the revellers. Locals thronged the streets, bedecked in bright, costume clothes and floral headgear. They sang traditional songs and danced to the merry tunes. Vincent Pinto, a local resident, said, "This San Joao festival used to be held over the last 150 years but the boat festival is done in a very nice way. Nearby villages come with their beautifully decorated boats alongwith their headgears and beautiful costumes. They come to the distributory and we have the function here close to the church." Some youngsters also turned up dressed as triumphant Brazilian soccer players, complete with jerseys and colourful headgears. However, Pascal D'Costa, another resident, lamented the old charm is mising in today's festivities. "The festival has kind of lost its charm in a way because the youth are actually ignoring certain traditions and forgetting the relevance," he said. Many believe that the festival reflects the spirit of the state - that of fun and revelry, a festival that has tourist potential. Goa has come of age as far as tourism is concerned. Its balmy beaches and tropical climate attracts thousands of foreign visitors each year. It has now been voted as one of the top 50 tourist destinations the world over. -ANI |
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