Sunday 26 June 2016

24 JUN 2016 SAO JOAO FESTIVAL

5.Sao Joao Feast of St John the Baptist
Main Attraction: New married couples are usual on the spotlight during Sao Joao Feast of St John the Baptist.
sao joao
chillgoa.com
Feast of St John the Baptist or Sao Joao is celebrated on June 24 every year. This celebration brings a lot of fun and enjoyment. Sao Joao’s celebration has continued for about 175 years now and associated with it is the feast of St John the Baptist’s interesting legend. As per the Holy Bible’s story, the feast originated when Mother Mary, who was bearing Jesus then, visited Elizabeth, St John the Baptist’s mother while he was in his mother’s womb. This occasion made him bound with joy. In River Jordan later, Jesus Christ was christened by St John the Baptist. Sao Jao is mostly celebrated in north Goa.Some coastal area villages such as Anjuna, Calangute, Bardez taluka’s Siolim and Vagator grandly celebrate the Sao Joao Feast. Other places like Fernandes Vaddo, Marna, Siolim’s Igrej waddo and Gaunsavaddo are also a part of the celebration.
Some other traditions are also associated with the feast of St John the Baptist, which people follow throughout the years. Youngsters’ procession is held, where they go from door to door, and collect gifts, liquor and fruits. They then offer their prayers and collectibles at a water body in their town. New brides and marriageable girls are blessed and they throw flowers, vegetables and seasonal fruit in the water body to fulfil their wishes. Many other youths then jump in the ponds and wells to collect them. The environment reverberates with -Sao Joao, Sao Joao, Viva Sao Joa’s –sounds.
Viva Sao Joao
Summer is gone and the rains come along and if that is a reason enough to jump around in the water, then the feast of st. John the baptist could be it. One of the famous christian feasts in the state, the feast of St.John the baptist is celebrated on the 24th of June by young men all over Goa jumping into well to retrieve gifts thrown in by villagers.

History has it that the bible speaks of john the baptist leaping for joy in his mothers, Elizabeth’s womb when she was visited by mary who had just conceived jesus. San joao or St. john the Baptist baptized jesus 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.

sao joao in siolim goa
Kids wearing a crown made of flowers and leaves, these form the highlight of Soa Joao


The traditions followed are so fascinating that one cannot help but participate in it. On this day, people of all ages jump into well, streams and ponds. This is done generally in the spirit after imbibing Goa’s famous liquor ‘feni’ and singing ‘viva sao joao’. Youngster’s procession is held where they go from door to door and collect liquor and fruits. They then offer their prayers and collectibles in a water body in their town. New brides and marriageable girls are blessed and they throw flowers, vegetables and seasonal fruits in the water to fullfil their wishes. Many other youths then jump into the water to collect them.

The highlight of the day is the ‘sangodd’, a decorated floating platform, on which people parade singing mandos and religiuos hymns. The sangodds are uniquely decorated and members of that sangodd wear a uniform dress to distinguish themselves from the groups. This is also a time to celebrate one’s spirit of adventure. So, on this day there are a number of competitions that youngsters participate in. some of the beings the siolim boat parade, prizes for headgears, décorand costumes. People wear headgears or crowns made up of tender coconut leaves or flowers known as ‘copel’ and lively music is played on the ghumot (goan musical percussion instrument) and kansallem (cymbals).

fruits arranged for st. john the baptist feast in Goa
Fruits arranged in homes to celebrate the feast of St. John the Baptist in Goa



In the village of benaulim- south goa, which has the church of Saint John the Baptist, there is a 9 day novena before the feast day. On the feats day itself there are football matches, singing and dancing apart from the gastronomical delights of traditional goan food which includes sorpotel and sannas, feijoadas, sausage pullao among other foods and plenty of feni to go around and camaraderie to top it all off. People gather together to have fun and enjoy good company.

locals celebrate sao joao by playing fork music
Locals celebrating Sao Joao (the feast of St. John the baptist) by playing local instruments and dancing to Goan fork music.


Sao joao, like any other goan festival has the captivating spirit and merriment, colour and tradition. It is celebrated with such pomp and gaeity. There is so much good energy travelling around with all the happiness and laughters. It is truly something hard to miss when you are around in Goa! And for youngsters who think all this is such a bore, there is always parties that they can attend!


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