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Language
Each time Goa changed rulers, fresh new blood was infused into its society. So apart from the indigenous Goans, the Konkan and Maharashtrians who lived in this coastal region as far back as memory goes, there were Goans of mixed parentage too. The Portuguese married and started a new line as did some of the Muslim invaders. But whatever their origins, Goans are big-hearted, non interfering and tolerant.
Susegado’ – laid-back or chilled out is how one would describe the typical Goan. Open and fun loving, they have music coursing through their veins, and are ever ready to break into song and dance. Virtually every restaurant/ bar/ café boasts a live band, even if it’s no more than a single Spanish guitar! Their laid-back lifestyle is truly enviable. Where else, but in Goa, would you find motorcycle cabs? Or have the fine tradition of a post-lunch siesta that ensures everyone from shopkeepers to vacationers to street dogs curl up for a postprandial snooze.
The Goan people are great defenders of their ecology, and in recent years, have campaigned vigorously to protect their land from the assault of industrial and commercial enterprises that cause pollution or strain their natural resources. You could also do your bit for the environment by following the advice of your hosts regarding conserving fresh water, and also the disposal of plastic mineral water bottles, which is becoming a serious problem.
English, Konkani, Marathi and Portuguese are the languages most commonly used. Portuguese is spoken mostly in the homes of the people of Indo-Portuguese descent. People speak a fair bit of Hindi too.
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Religion
Though Goa has a very large number of churches and it’s often called the Rome of the East, around two-thirds of the population is actually Hindu. Roughly a third of its people are Roman Catholic and there is a small Muslim population.
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Food
Goan cuisine is the end result of the blending of local Konkani and Portuguese food styles. This culinary amalgamation and adaptation has created fiery, coconut based curries and stews using pork (unusual in India) and beef and rich cakes and pastries, as well as an interesting range of port and red and white wines.
You find restaurants of all descriptions everywhere. From elegant old world restaurants and smart in-house restaurants in hotels and resorts to cafes, bars and beachside shacks. If you can handle the pungent spices, do try a plate of the local staple of fish curry and rice, freshly caught and cooked up especially for you, at one of the beach shacks. Most places serve both local specialities and other Indian regional cuisines like Gujarati, Punjabi, south Indian and even an indigenous variety of Continental and Chinese cuisines. But a visit to Goa calls for indulgence in the local cuisine and once you've found the door to Sublime Restaurant in Saligao, there's no more you need to look for. Try the Goan sausages with coriander and a delectable combination of steak and saunce to pep up those taste buds.
There are places that serve authentic international cuisines like Thai, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese and French but they're quite hard to find. One such place is Baba au Rhum, in Arpora specialist in french baguette.
For people who love their food with a bit of zing and zest, Goa is just the place to be. Goa’s famous Pork Vindaloo is the fiery local speciality, cooked in hot red chilli peppers and vinegar – it’s hot and tangy. Other specialities of Goan cuisine are equally well known, and you should sample them -- Xacuti (a chicken or meat dish), Chourisso (spicy Goan sausages), Sorpotel (a pig liver dish) and Prawn Balchao and finish off with the delicious, much relished desserts, Dodol and Bebinca. Fresh seafood is an absolute must with prawns, crabs, mussels and fish cooked in local styles or mouth-watering creations of lobster cooked in wine and cheese.
Hey, you thought we forgot to mention drink; Feni is the word........the local cashew fruit or coconut brew hits all the right spots. For the less adventurous, there are some local ports and red and white wines or the cool, refreshing coconut water drunk straight from the tender green coconut. Alcohol is readily available at a fairly affordable price at all restaurants and even the beach shacks!
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Culture and Crafts
The culture of Goa is an amalgamation of Indian and Portuguese culture. The long Portuguese rule has influenced the culture in more ways than one and many of the Portuguese traditions are reflected in the Goan culture even today.
Dance and music is deeply embedded in the Goan culture. The most popular dance forms in Goa are Fugdi and Dhalo, which are traditional dances, performed only by women. Some dances are specific to an occasion or festival they are performed in. The Dhangar is performed during the Hindu festival of Navaratras and during the Shigmo festival women perform a lamp dance. Goa comes alive in the festive season and it is then that you see the splendid blend of cultures that coexist beautifully over here.
The crafts and arts of Goa also reflect Hindu, Muslim and Christian origins. Handicrafts are mainly made of materials easily available here like- clay, seashells, paper, bamboo, brass, wood, jute, stone and coconut shells amongst others. With the heavy inflow of tourists the handicrafts industry has also witnessed a boom. The Government of Goa has taken additional steps to further the handicrafts industry in Goa and has set up the Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC) that has provided employment to many craftsmen.
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