Hinduism in Goa

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Hinduism is an ancient tradition in Goa. Presently Hindus are about 60% of the population of Goa. Vedic Hindus had settled in the Sapta Konkanas(Western Indian Coast) and formed settlements in and around present day Goa.The Goud Saraswat Brahmins traditionally speak of being brought by Lord Parshuram from Trihotrapur in the east for the performance of Vedic Sacrifices(Yagnyas). They built Agrashalas and Maths and formed the settlements of Sasashti(Salcette/66 settlements),Tiswadi(30 settlements) ,Bardez(12 settlements) and so forth. Vedic Hinduism is found to have lived besides Jainism which was the faith of the Kadambas, a ruling dynasty before they themselves adopted Hinduism.

[edit] History

The arrival of the Portuguese brought Christianity. When the Portuguese found little success in their peaceful drives to convert people they brought forth legislation which was blatantly anti-Hindu.Hindu temples were destroyed,churches built in their places.Hindus were denied any rights.These included rights to hold property,rights of worship and carrying on their rituals including the right to cremate their dead. In the 16th century most Hindus fled the Portuguese territories to the territories held by the Hindu rajas of Sonde and the Canara and Malabar Coast where significant communities of Konkani Goan Hindus still survive until today.Very few Hindus continued to exist in the Portuguese held Velha conquistas. With the passage of time and the liberalisation of the Portuguese religious laws, Hindus were finally able to rebuild some of their temples in Old Goa.The capture of the Nova conquistas with its large Hindu populace happened in the 18th century when the religious zealotness of the Portuguese has dampened.Hindus were thus able to rebuild the temples of their Gods in the Nova conquistas albeit in a very inconspicuous manner.The Liberation of Goa saw the return of religious freedom for Hindus and Hinduism flourished in Goa. Currently about 60% of the Goan populace adhere to Hinduism.

[edit] Goan Hinduism

Goan Hinduism has a flavour of its own.Though Goans share most rituals with their Hindu brothers and sisters in the rest of India, their isolation and persecution and their sharing the Goan countryside with Christian Goans has seen a great deal of syncretism in both Hindu and Christian traditions in Goa. Hindu festivals in Goa have a large Christian attendance. Many converted Christians remember their original Family deities and attend the zatras of these deities.Many Christians have also opted to use their Hindu family names alongside their Christian adopted family names. Hindu festivals include a procession wherein the deities are taken from the newly built temples in the Nova conquistas to their original sites in the velha conquistas.There are again attended by many Christians alongside their Hindu counterparts.

While Caste is unfortunately still a major factor in Goa irrespective of Religion, be it amongst Hindus or Christians, many Dalit priests are being incorporated into the ancient Hindu temples and caste orthodoxy is changing, at a slow, but steady speed. The egalitarian Indian constitution has helped in positive discrimination of these downtrodden Hindus to help in their upliftment.

Goan Hindus celebrate the Zatra of Shree Mangesh and Shree Shantadurga besides those of other deities.The festival of Holi is called Shigmo in Goa and celebrated with gaiety. Chavoth or Ganesh Chaturthi as it is called by Goan Hindus is a major festival in Goa.Diwali is celebrated with the lighting of the deepstambs in the temples and with the burning of effigies of the evil demon Narkasur who was vanquished on the day before Diwali by Lord Krishna.

The Goan Hindu community is composed of Saraswat Brahmins,Daivadnya Brahmins,Konkani marathas, Vanis,Kunbis, Gaudas and other smaller communities.

Goan Hindus and Christians have great respect for each others traditions and form a model of interdependence and a tolerant progressive society.