A little about Goa

Going to Goa was definitely one of the more interesting experiences we've had while we've been here in India. As I said in my previous blog post, Goa is very different from the rest of India. While most of India (as well as Bangladesh and Pakistan) were under British control, Goa was predominantly under Portuguese control. That influence has profoundly affected Goa to this day.

One of the first things that we noticed when we came into Goa was the prevalence of churches. It's been the first time in about six weeks that we've seen any churches, and the presence of crosses dotting the landscape made Goa feel distinctly un-Indian. The Portuguese first colonized Goa in the 16th century and missionary activity by the likes of Jesuits like Francis Xavier began soon thereafter. As part of their evangelism, the Portuguese instituted the Inquisition, destroying Hindu temples and replacing them with Catholic churches, effectively establishing Catholicism as the dominant religion.

The Portuguese influence also extended to the cuisine. We've found Goan food to be significantly different from food elsewhere--with a focus on more coconut, palm vinegar, and far more seafood. Also prevalant is alcohol--alcohol is regularly on the menu, and is much cheaper than it is back in Pune due to the lower taxes and looser culture.

In all, the culture of Goa makes it feel like a different country. Clothing is more relaxed, tourists are more prevalant, and the pace of life is slower. Goa is separated from the rest of India by uninhabitable alluvial plains and mountains, which perhaps explains the discrepancy between cultures, and also the fact that Goa didn't become part of India until 1961, almost 15 years after the rest of India declared independence. Goa remained a Portuguese colony until the Indian government invaded Goa and absorbed it into the rest of India. Despite the Indian takeover, Goa remains somewhat of an enclave, harboring a unique culture that has been a welcome break from the pace of Pune.