San Joao, a traditional Goan feast, is renowned for its vibrant spirit of festivity, tradition and colour. This annual festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and energy, particularly in Siolim, where people from various villages come together dressed in colourful attire to gather near a stream on carnival-themed boats and floats.
The Sao Joao Festival in North Goa is celebrated annually on around 24th June, just 6 months before the birthday of Jesus on 25th December. This year it is planned to celebrate between 22/06/2023 - 23/06/2023.
Viva Sao Joao in Goa: All You Need to Know
The Sao Joao festival in Goa captivates with its splendid celebration of deep-rooted traditions and profound beliefs. It is a time when the streets come alive with joyous parades, accompanied by the resonating melodies of Mando and sacred hymns. Stand in awe as participants in the Sangodd ceremony stand out proudly in their unique uniforms, distinguishing their group amidst the revelry. During this festive occasion, the adventurous spirit within us all is awakened, with an array of thrilling competitions designed to showcase the talents of the vibrant youth.
Our comprehensive guide is your key to unlocking the Sao Joao festival's historical significance, uncovering delectable culinary delights, and discovering the ideal accommodations to complement your journey of cultural immersion.
About Sao Joao Festival
The Sao Joao festival in Goa is a distinctive Catholic celebration that pays homage to St. John the Baptist in a remarkable way. Devotees participate by joyfully leaping into and swimming in domestic drinking water wells, symbolizing their tribute. This extraordinary festival, observed on the 24th of June at the onset of the monsoon season, showcases young men diving into wells to retrieve gifts tossed by the villagers. It is a cherished tradition that attracts participants of all ages, who eagerly embrace the thrill of jumping into wells, ponds, and streams during the festivities.
While the Sao Joao festival is not uniformly celebrated throughout Goa, it embraces diverse expressions across different regions. In Soilom, a village located in North Goa's Bardez taluka, exuberant boat races paint a vivid picture of the festivities. However, the celebrations take on a more somber tone in the southern parts of the state. Nonetheless, it is in Siolim, Anjuna, Candolim, Calangute, and Assagao where Sao Joao is truly commemorated with unparalleled fervor and enthusiasm. Explore the dynamic spirit of this vibrant festival as these communities come alive with colorful traditions, jubilant gatherings, and an infectious sense of celebration.
Historical Significance Of Sao Joao Festival
The history of San Joao in Siolim can be traced back to nearly 150 years ago when devotees of San Joao from villages such as Chapora, Zhor, Badem in Assagao and Siolim would make an annual pilgrimage by boat to the chapel of Sao Joao in Periera Vaddo, Siolim, to pay homage and participate in the customary dali.
The Sao Joao festival in Goa 2022 is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, who, according to Christian scriptures, leapt with joy at his mother, Elizabeth’s womb, when she was told of the birth of Christ. John, the Baptist, later went on to baptise Jesus in the river Jordan. The well is considered to be a representation of Elizabeth’s womb and a jump into it a sign of joy for the birth of Christ.
The feast of Catholic priest Saint John the Baptist is celebrated six months before Christmas, that is December 25, which is marked as the birthday of Jesus Christ.
What To Eat At Sao Joao Festival
Feni (a spirit produced exclusively in Goa), overflows during the occasion. People, especially newly married couples or those with a new-born gather with a dali and gifts containing seasonal fruits like moussrad mango (a Goan variety of mango), pineapples, jackfruits and a bottle of feni.
It’s also common to find that Goan delicacy called Patoleo in the bride’s basket. This is a sweet made with finely ground rice flour paste which is applied to fragrant leaves that can be as large as a banana leaf. The two sides of the leaf are stuck together after a yummy mixture of freshly scraped coconut and jaggery is filled in the center – the whole leaf and the filling is then steam cooked in a large copper vessel. Sannaas – rice cakes, are another delicacy that you’ll find in the basket.
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Suggested Read: Monsoon Festivals to Witness in Goa in 2023
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