Pernem
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pernem is a northmost administrative region or district in north Goa. It is also the name of the town of Pernem, which is its headquarters. It has a Municipal Council. Geographically, Pernem is surrounded by Bicholim taluka on East, Arabian Sea on West, Bardez taluka on south and Sawantwadi taluka (Maharashtra State) on north.
Pernem is counted as belonging to one of the two Goan sub-regions, the Novas Conquistas, or New Conquests. It was taken over, lost and finally regained from the Rajas of Sawantwadi, a state on Goa's northern border that allied sometimes with the Portuguese and sometimes with the Marathas. (The Kingdom of Sawantwadi was integrated into the district of Ratnagiri after 1947 and is now part of the district of Sindhudurg). Later, it was largely belonged to Deshprabhu family as an estate. After Liberation of Goa by Indian Armed Forces from Portuguese, it became part of Union Territory of Goa.
The m at the end of the name is a Portuguese addition and is silent. The name in Konkani and Marathi is Pedne, and inhabitants are called Pednecar in Konkani and Pedneker in Marathi (giving the spoken forms). The surname Pednekar used by Konkanasthas indicates origins in Pernem.
The Konkan Railway passes through Pernem, and there is a stop called Pernem Road at a distance of about 4 km east from the town. The proposed Mopa International Airport is situated at Mopa in Pernem Taluka. National Highway 17 (NH-17), which connects Mumbai (Bombay) and Goa, passes through Pernem (bypassed at Malpem)
Pedne hosts a very popular annual fair on Kojagiri poornima at Shri Bhagavati Temple premises.
Pernem has contributed immensely to the cultural and literary scene of Goa.