Aldona
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Aldona
Goa • India |
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| District(s) | North Goa |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population | 6,320 (2001) |
Aldona is a village in Bardez, and a census town in the North Goa district in the state of Goa, India.
Its church is dedicated to Sao Tome. The parish chapels include the chapel at Carona (Sta. Rita de Cascia), Corjuem (Mae de Deus) and the one at Quitula.
It has several vadde, including Quitula, Udoim, Coimavaddo, Carona, Santerxette, Naikavaddo, Panarim and Ranoi.
Aldona is connected to Corjuem by a state of the art cable-stayed bridge held by six cables from either direction.
The current Archbishop of Goa and Daman, India, Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão is from Aldona (born January 20, 1953 in Santerxette, Aldona, Goa, India)
[edit] St. Thomas Church
the Church of St. Thomas remains an awe inspiring presence in the village of Aldona (estimated population 7000). It was built in 1596 on a high plateau on the banks of the Mapusa River. A flight of broad steps cut into a cliff and lead to an open plain that surrounds the grand white building.
Inside, the Church is ornately decorated by symbolic biblical murals and grand statues. The treasures of the church are the subject of a village legend. At one time, the statues of the church were strung with jewellery by villagers as thanks for prayers answered. But Churches were often robbed of these jewels.
One night, a band of thieves crossed the river into Aldona to rob the Church. At the base of the hill, a young boy appeared to the band's leader and cautioned him not to proceed. The thieves ignored the boy and entered the Church. As they forced open a chest of valuables, the church bells began to ring. Some of the thieves drowned in the river while trying to escape. The leader and some others were captured. When the leader was taken past the main altar, he identified the statue of St. Thomas as the boy he had seen earlier, who warned him not to rob the Church.
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[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Aldona had a population of 6320. Males constitute 46% of the population and females 54%. Aldona has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 49% of the males and 51% of females literate. 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
