Formerly a Portuguese colony, Goa today is considered to be the most westernized state of India. The years of Portuguese influence have given Goa its own unique charm. Its hippie goan culture has made it into the most popular vacation destination amongst the tourists and travelers of all age groups. The beautiful state of Goa has its own magnetic charm, and its roots can be traced back to its culture.

We all love the culture in Goa, right from the food they serve, to the open-mindedness of the people of Goa. The language they speak, the architecture of their buildings, their heritage, and the ethnicity together build up the unique vibe of Goa. Let’s dive deep into the Goan culture to understand what makes Goa the best!

The Ethnicity

The Ethnicity

Goa is a combination of Indian and Portuguese cultures, which together makes up a different ethnicity of the entire state. It is a multi-ethnic state with a majority of Hindu and Christian people. Most of the Goan people speak Konkani, and are equally fluent in Hindi and English since most of their livelihoods depend on tourism here. The people in Goa are quite happy-go-lucky people who never hesitate to lend a helping hand. They are very hospitable and tend to live in the moment. Even though most of the Goans were converted to Christians, they are very open, and remain united as Goans. The culture of Goa can be described as a blend of their people, festivals, art and music. The western influence has always made Goans more progressive than the rest of the country!

The Traditions

The Traditions

Goa has a history of being ruled by different empires, which has made its tradition in the 21st century unique in itself. The people in Goa do not follow any customs or traditions blindly, and are open to choose their religion on their own. And along with that, they are also open enough to respect other religious practices. This nature of the Goans is truly remarkable and can certainly be considered as a role model for the rest of the nation!

The Festivals

The Festivals

The multi-ethnicity of the Goan culture never affected the religious festivals and beliefs of the people. The Goans comprise of Christians, Catholics, Hindus and Muslims, and they all celebrate their major festivals in harmony. Right from Ganesh Chaturthi to Feast of St. Francis Xavier, the Goans observe a diversity in their festivals as well.

The Sport

The Sport

The Goan people are an active bunch. It might partly be due to the constant hustle and bustle in their daily lives, combined with the lazy beach atmosphere. Talk about football and the people here may go ballistic. They just love the game too much. Cricket is another sport played by the young crowd here on the streets. And, of course, there are water sports and beach volleyball. All in all, the different sports and their craze in Goa is a sight worth watiching.

The People

The People

The Goans living in small villages live their lives lavishly, from what they earn during the peak tourist season. They have a quality of enjoying their lives to fullest, without being inadvertently greedy. The Goans have not let the modern times affect their rich cultural heritage. Celebrating livelihood and various religious festivals with scrumptious food and delightful music has always been the way Goans live.

The Architecture

The Architecture

The beautiful constructions of the Goan infrastructure have always been in the limelight. Because of the Portuguese influence, the Churches and even the forts in Goa are beautifully constructed. Some structures like the Arvalem caves or the Budbud Tali lake have a charm of their own. Even the new churches built in Goa are influenced by the Portuguese style. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, Church of St. Francis of Assisi and other such churches are worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. Whatever remains of the forts are left in Goa, are well maintained and preserved, and of course open for tourists all year long.

The diversity in the cultures, traditions and ethnicity of Goa is all overshadowed by the open mindset of the Goans. Even though it is the smallest state in the whole country, it is setting an example for the rest of the cosmopolitan cities. All of these contribute to the amazing charm of Goa, and probably that’s why people love Goa the most. If you’re planning a trip to Goa, we can help you further to plan and explore Goa like never before.