Goa People

The isolation of Goa from the rest of India for more than four centuries under the Portuguese rule, combined with it's geographical borders in the form of the Sahyadri ranges and the tidal rivers have managed to give the people of Goa a unique identity.

Hindus and Christians are the two major communities in Goa. Goa's population consists of 65% Hindus and 30% Christians and the other 5% of Muslims and other religions. The Hindu community covers the talukas (districts) of Ponda, Bicholim, Pernem, Satari, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona. These areas actually form part of the Novas Conquistas, or the New Conquests, made by the Portuguese in the eighteenth century, the last stage of the expansion of their Goan empire.

The decline of the Portuguese military on this phase of their rule has resulted in the decline of the religious ardour for forced conversions by the Portuguese. Hence the population in these newly conquered areas were pretty much left to practise their religion in peace.

The Old Conquests on the other hand, consisting of Salcete, Mormugao, Tiswadi and Bardez bore the brunt of the Portuguese army and the religious zealots. Together, the two arms of the Portuguese empire, managed to destroy temples and converted hundreds of non-Christians in these areas, which are predominantly Christian today.

Fortunately, these bitter memories of the past have done nothing to change the warm, friendly and loving nature of the Goan people. More often than not, Goans consider themselves as Goan first and a Hindu, Christian or Muslim afterwards. The bonds of language and the Goan identity are strong enough to allow for different religious persuasions. The Goans have a great respect to each others faith and religion, and hence religious fundamentalism is completely unknown in the state.

The best evidence of this is seen in quite a few places of worship in Goa, where both Hindus and Christians go together. The Damodar temple at Sanguem, the Church of Our Lady of Miracles in Mapusa, the Shantadurga temple at Fatorpa are excellent examples of this unique religious harmony that exists in Goa. Besides these, a number of other festivals in Goa are celebrated by members of both communities with equal fervour.