Sao Joao translates to Saint John the Baptist, a revered saint among the Christian community. Photos Courtesy: Goa Tourism
The festival marks the birth of St. John the Baptist—the prophet who, according to the Bible, leapt with joy in his mother Elizabeth’s womb upon hearing of Jesus’s coming
That very leap is joyfully echoed across Goa as people whether young or old jump into wells, ponds, and streams, symbolising renewal, gratitude, and shared happiness
While the festival is celebrated in a unique way across the state, some places give a whole new meaning to the celebration.
In Siolim, the festival takes on different form as rain-fed rivers become the stage for floating platforms made of banana trunks or boats, decorated with flowers and palm fronds, carrying groups of singing, dancing revellers. Locals in kopels (floral crowns) dance to the beats of the ghumot and kansallem, while mandós and folk songs echo through the air
In many places, a warm welcome is extended to newlywed sons-in-law, who wear kopels and are paraded joyously before taking the leap into a well
Processions often visit homes that have seen new beginnings—be it childbirth, weddings, or new homes—collecting dhalis and sharing blessings before gathering for a grand community celebration by the village well or stream
The beats of the traditional ghumot, folk songs, and the sharing of seasonal fruits and local feni turn these gatherings into spirited festivals of togetherness
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.jpg "In many places, a warm welcome is extended to newlywed sons-in-law, who wear kopels and are paraded joyously before taking the leap into a well")
