PANAJI
Goa is preparing to celebrate one of the most popular monsoon festivals among the Catholic community – Sao Joao, or San Joao as it is pronounced. The feast of St John the Baptist is known for its vibrant and inclusive spirit and is celebrated every year on June 24.
As always, this year’s Sao Joao will feature traditional celebrations passed down through generations. The festival includes music, dance, food, drinks, colourful clothing, floral crowns, and the unique tradition of jumping into wells, ponds, or lakes. This jump symbolises the baptism of St John and the cleansing power of water. However, over time, this sacred ritual appears to have changed, and many people now wonder if it has become commercialised.
All across Goa, men wearing kopel — crowns made of flowers, leaves, fruits, and other natural materials — jump into water bodies. The kopel represents joy, abundance, and prosperity brought by the monsoon. Music and dance are central to the festival, with people greeting each other with “Viva Sao Joao”.
The festival is celebrated across North and South Goa, though the style varies slightly. Villages like Siolim, Saligao, Candolim, Vagator, Anjuna, Assagao, and Chapora in North Goa see energetic parades, music performances, and lively street celebrations. The streets are crowded and filled with cheer. South Goa, on the other hand, is known for more traditional and intimate celebrations in villages like Benaulim, Varca, Colva, Navelim, and Betul. Tourists often join in, and locals usually welcome them warmly.
“Some of the tourists visit Goa only to participate in this fervour, and enjoy the spirit of this festival, unaware of the real meaning behind this jump which is actually a leap of faith,” points out Savio Noronha, a music teacher from Goa, now working in Bengaluru. Savio remembers enjoying Sao Joao as a teenager in Goa and feels disheartened when his friends in Bengaluru want to visit Goa for a version of the festival that no longer feels authentic.
There are people like Marius Fernandes who have tried to preserve the festival’s charm while introducing eco-friendly ways of celebrating. “My Journey with São João in Goa is a lifelong celebration,” shares Marius, who returned to Goa after spending many years abroad. He says his connection with the festival began long ago, driven by his love for Goan culture, music, and the community spirit.
“Over the years, I’ve participated in São João celebrations across different villages—from the backwaters of Socorro to the vibrant rooftops of St Mathias, Divar island and Salvador do Mundo,” shares Marius, who has been actively involved in the festival for over two decades, not just as a participant but as an organiser focused on preserving and evolving its essence.
But Marius went a step further and began organising Sao Joao events that were more inclusive and community-based. “My aim was to make them inclusive, community-driven, and reflective of our heritage, while also giving space to underrepresented groups—women, elders, children, persons with disabilities, and even the diasporic Goan community,” adds Marius, who is now fondly called Festakar by Goans for creating people-centric festivals rooted in joy and community.
“Through the lens of ‘People’s Festivals’, we celebrated Ponsachem Fest (Jackfruit Festival) during Sao Joao wearing flower crowns but also by reviving old Goan games, traditional songs, forgotten recipes, and intergenerational storytelling. I saw São João not just as a party, but as a powerful platform for connection, conservation, and community well-being. My time with São João has not been measured in numbers but in memories, music, laughter, and the bonds we’ve built. Each year, the festival reminds me of the joy of rain, the strength of tradition, and the beauty of bringing people together. São João is not just a festival we celebrate — it is a festival that celebrates us.”
Sao Joao is indeed a reflection of Goa’s rich culture and the way Goans blend history with modernity. In many villages, people join in the celebrations by jumping into water bodies wearing fruit-and-flower kopel, enjoying music and dance, joining parades, and feasting on traditional Goan dishes and drinks.
The festival is important not just for its religious significance, but also for how it strengthens community bonds and showcases Goan heritage. Traditional foods like sannas, fish and other non-vegetarian dishes are commonly prepared.
One special part of the festival is the attention given to newly married couples in the village. New brides and girls of marriageable age are blessed and throw flowers, vegetables, and seasonal fruit into water to make wishes. Young men then dive in to collect them. There’s also a youth procession where youngsters go door to door collecting gifts, fruits, and liquor, which they later offer at a local water body. The air is filled with the sounds of “Sao Joao, Sao Joao, Viva Sao Joao!”
Older Goans who have witnessed earlier versions of the festival often express sadness over its changing nature. What was once a deeply religious celebration is now sometimes reduced to a tourist attraction, even featured on brochures and postcards. Some worry that the celebration has become too loud or risky, occasionally leading to accidents.
This year, let us remember to celebrate Sao Joao with joy — but also with care — and strive to preserve its original spirit.
