Captured by : pick 1
As Goa reverberates to the sound of the rain and swings with the whispering winds, Goa Tourism Development Corporation is all set to celebrate Sao Joao on June 24, one of the most popular monsoon festivals in Goa. Sao Joao is the feast dedicated to St. John the Baptist and is celebrated with much fervor and festivity across the State.
Sao Joao is a traditional Goan festival celebrated on June 24 every year. This festival adds to the charm of the monsoons where Goans deck up in colourful costumes, wear fruit and flower laden wreaths called kopel on their heads, move in processions, partake in floats and last but not the least, splash into wells overflowing with rain water.
Sao Joao is the feast of St. John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus who also baptized Jesus in River Jordan. According to the Biblical story, Mary, the Mother of God broke the news to her sister Elizabeth that she was going to have a baby named Jesus. At that time Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist who jumped with joy in Elizabeth’s womb on hearing the news.
Hence Sao Joao marks the event of ‘the leap of joy’ where young men and boys jump into wells and water bodies shouting ‘Viva Sao Joao’.
To mark this occasion, GTDC is set to give tourists a taste of the traditions behind Sao Joao on board the Santa Monica from 10 am to 3 pm.
The five hour celebration will include DJ music, dance performances of the Samba, Salsa and Jive, lime dance, bamboo dance, splash dance, the umbrella song, the Sao Joao festachem pursanv and several competitions like laughter contest, coconut breaking contest, saree drapping contest, Goff and the magic dress change act.
Tickets will be available at all GTDC residencies and at the Santa Monica Jetty
Contact: 2438754, 2437496 , 9881283262, 9881465776
