Goan culture has been shaped mainly by the Hindu and Catholic
population. People are mostly easy going ( 'sossegado' in Portuguese).
With better connectivity by Air and Rail, there has been an influx of
people from neighbouring states that has led to different cultures. Many
Indians from other states have now come and settled here.
Goan Catholics generally acknowledge their Hindu roots, and carry
traces of a caste-system within their social beliefs. It is recorded
that in many instances the Hindus left one son behind to convert and
thus continue to own and manage the common properties while the rest of
the family preferred to emigrate to neighboring areas along with the
idols representing their Hindu deities.
Over the years large numbers of Catholics have emigrated to the
major commercial cities of Bombay and Pune and from there onward to East
Africa (to the Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique), to
Portugal itself, and towards the end of the 20th century to Canada and
Australia. Many old Goan ancestral properties therefore lie either
abandoned or mired in legal tangles brought about by disagreements
within the widely dispersed inheritors of the property. In recent years,
expat Goans have been returning to their home state, often purchasing
holiday homes along the coast (which are then converted into 'rent back'
apartments, hired out to short-staying tourists by realtors).
The best time of the year to visit Goa is mid-November to mid-February when the weather is comfortable, dry and pleasant.
Goa's state language is Konkani. Most Goans speak Konkani, English, Hindi, and Marathi. Portuguese
is also known by a small segment, especially the elite and earlier
privileged class or the older generation which studied in pre-1961
Portuguese-ruled Goa.
Different languages tend to be used for different purposes in
Goa. Konkani is the most widely spoken. English and Marathi tend to be
most widely read (most newspapers are read in these two languages too).
Catholics largely use Konkani for their prayer services, while
the language for religion is largely Marathi for Hindus. The
administration is largely conducted in English, which is also the
language of publication of the official gazette, and the language mainly
used in the courts.
It can be rather difficult currently to learn Konkani, with options
for learning rather restricted. The language is written in four to five
scripts, in and beyond Goa -- Devanagari (the official script), Roman or
Romi (widely used in Goa), Kannada-script, Malayalam-script and
Perso-Arabic, reportedly used by some Muslim communities further south
along the Indian west coast. Recently, books to learn Konkani in the
Roman script have also been published, making it easier for those not
knowing the Devanagari script (used to write Hindi, Marathi and other
languages) that is the officially-recognized script for Konkani in Goa.
THE LAND OF ARTISTES AND CRAFTSMEN
Goa is a land of crafts and craftsmen, where aesthetic quality finds a
natural expression. Goa has a rich and magnificent tradition of the
classical arts. Over the years, Goans have excelled in poetry, music and
the fine arts.
The exquisitely carved rosewood and teak furniture, the terracotta
figurines, the classic brass items and the unique gold jewellery designs
all speak of an age still valuable in this technology obsessed world.
The folk paintings of Goa have been traced to different places from
ancient temples, churches and palatial manors to humble households. They
mostly depict episodes from the epics - the Mahabharata and the
Ramayana and the Puranas and also scenes from the New Testament.
During the Portuguese colonisation, local craftsmen played a major role
in the development of the exquisite furnishings and decorations used in
residential houses, churches and chapels. This art can still be seen
the Christian Art Museum at Old Goa.
Goans have contributed greatly to the world of music. Many famous names
on the Indian music scene originate from Goa. Famous singers such as
Lata Mangueshkar and Kishori Amonkar in the classical variety and Remo
Fernandes in pop music, are from Goa.
Konkani literature has produced many great names such as Bakibab Borkar
who have contributed to the development of Konkani as a national
language with some superlative writing.
Local craftsmen in Goa produce a wide variety of crafts ranging from
terracotta pottery and figures to superb brass lamps and decorative
items.
A large number of Goans have also played a major role in drama and
Hindi film industry in the neighbouring state of Maharashtra.
Important Dates in history of Konkani Language
1187 First Konkani inscription
1209 Jnaneshwari is written in Konkani
1548 Portuguese destroy all Konkani works
1808 Konkani Bible is published
1932 Portuguese start Konkani school
1987 Konkani recognised as a National language
1187 First Konkani inscription
1209 Jnaneshwari is written in Konkani
1548 Portuguese destroy all Konkani works
1808 Konkani Bible is published
1932 Portuguese start Konkani school
1987 Konkani recognised as a National language
