Introduction

   Goa the name is derived from Govearashtra and is the old name for the southern part of Konkan. Nestled between the Sahyadri Ghats to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west, Goa is 64 miles long and 37 miles wide with an area of 1350 square miles. Goa is one of the best places to unwind and take a relaxed vacation.The magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural splendours of its temples, churches and old houses have made Goa a firm favourite with travellers around the world. Goa was liberated by the Indian Army from Portuguese colonisation on December 19, 1961 and became an Union Territory along with the enclaves of Daman and Diu. On May 30, 1987 Goa was conferred statehood and became the 25th state of the Indian Republic. Much of the real Goa is in its interiors, both inside its buildings and in the hinterland away from the coastal area.

People    The people of Goa prefer to call themselves Goans and not Goanese as mentioned in guidebooks and brochures. Goans are very much aware of this unique identity; they are proud of it and guard it fiercely. The population of Goa is composed of a Hindu majority of around 65% and a Christian minority of around 30%. The Hindu community is dominant in the talukas (districts) of Ponda, Bicholim, Pernem, Satari, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona. Fish curry and rice is the staple diet of Goa. Liquor flows freely here, especially 'Feni', a native drink of Goa prepared from coconut sap or cashew fruit. Goans are very proud of their unique identity and guard it fiercely. A very high percentage of Goans settle abroad or go for a career outside India but are known for their love of their homeland. Goans often stick to their customs and lifestyle and believe that Goa is much more than a region. For Goans, Goa is a state of mind that cannot be confined to the geographical boundaries.

Climate

   Goa temperature range from 34 C maximum to 19 C minimum between October and March. Between March and May from 34 C maximum to 27 C minimum. Goa Monsoon is from early June to September with rainfall of 3200 mm. October to March 33 C maximum and a minimum of 27 C.

Economy    The economy of Goa is well supported by numerous methods. Some of the things that boost the economy of Goa are agriculture, business and commerce, electronic and IT industry, fisheries, mining and tourism.Though for its day-to-day needs of agricultural produce like vegetables, etc., Goa is dependent on the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra Goa however yields substantial amounts of paddy, followed by other cereals such as small millets and pulses.TThe Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry was established in 1908 as “Associacao Commercial da India Portuguesa”. It is situated at Goa Chamber Building, Rua de Ormuz, Panaji. It is active in helping Goan industries to face the challenges of a competitive market economy by identifying new markets for local products.

Culture

    Dussehra is a festival that is celebrated in Himachal Pradesh with great fanfare at the temple of Raghunathji in the Kulu valley. During the 10 days celebration the traditional rituals,traditional Natti dances and folksongs are performed by the people of this region. Traders set up stalls at the fair held during this period,to sell woollen shawls and blankets and the traditional footwear,pullan,made from plant fibres and goats' hair.

History          The origin of Goa or Gomantak as it is also known, is lost in the mists of time. In the later Vedic period (c.1000-500 BC), when the Hindu epic Mahabharat was written, Goa has been referred to with the Sanskrit name Gomantak, a word with many meanings, but signifying generally a fertile land. The most famous legend associated with Goa, is that of the mythical sage Parashuram (the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), who several thousand years ago created the entire stretch of Konkan coast by ordering the seas to recede. The sheer inaccessibility of Goa by land has always kept it out of the mainstream of Indian History. On the other hand, its control of the seas and above all the lucrative spice trade made it a much-coveted prize for rival colonial powers. Until a century before the arrival of the Portuguese adventure Vasco Da Gama who landed near Kozhikode in Kerala in 1498, Goa had belonged for over a thousand years to the kingdom of Kadamba.

Temples

    The Temples of Goa are in essence like most Hindu temples in India, based around a deity which is worshipped. The architecture of Goan temples is a little different mostly because of historical reasons. The fundamental design of any Hindu temple is organized around the central shrine or the "Garbagriha" or the "sanctum sanctorum" that houses the main deity. A tower or "Shikara" arises from the main shrine and is traditionally pyramidal shaped. There are usually two or more smaller shrines housing other deities known as "Parivar Devatas" around the entrance to the Garbagriha