Grooving at Coconut Grove
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The narrow road, hair-pin turns, old Goan villages, verdant rice fields, women drawing water out of wells and the promenade of coconut trees welcomes the guests at Coconut Grove, The Goan Beach Retreat. Located just 250 metres from Betalbatim Beach, with 36 deluxe rooms and 2 cottages, Coconut Grove is set among swaying palms in the quiet village of Betalbatim in south Goa. The resort's design is a tribute to Goan architecture with visible laterite stones and sloping roofs.

Remy Vaz, assistant  general manager, Coconut Grove, says, "Goa is exceptionally green in the monsoons. Our resort is located far away from the hustle and bustle of the city thus providing a quiet ambience to guests who need timeout from their busy lives. The property is built in old Portuguese style with rooms that are cozy with a clear view of the sea." In the ambience one can find serenity, seclusion and an escape from the stress of city life. Tastefully decorated private lodges allow the guests to relax and take in the beauty of the surroundings. In this intimate environment one can indulge with a drink at the bar or relax by the pool and have fun.

Located 12 kms away from the airport and 6 kms from Margao railway terminus, this beach resort is ideal for honeymooning couples and also a perfect escape for stressed out individuals. The restaurants also offer an excellent choice of Thai, Goan, Continental and Indian cuisine. The resort has special discounts for the monsoon season, with theme parties and cultural festivals.

Monsoon magic in Goa

Traditional feasts high on native revelry, fantastic hotel packages and lush green landscape makes Goa an endearing destination in the rains, writes Sigmund de Souza. As the first showers arrive, small clear-water brooks form along the roadsides, gradually joining traditional drains (called vau in Konkani) on their way to an endless number of gurgling rivulets that lend character to the lush green landscape. In the nearby pond, the green frogs (rana tigrina), who are out only for the rains, sing bass in the all-toad choir, as the wind gets the trees to sway in natural rhythm to this magical music. The Goan Monsoon has arrived!

The monsoon experience in Goa is unparalleled anywhere else in the country. Because, after nature plays its part, the http://www.expresstravelworld.com/200705/gogoa36501 .shtmlregion's culture steps in - an intoxicating blend of native customs and an imbibed Western legacy.

There is something very romantic about the rains in Goa - it's the cool climate, the smell of nature, and the native revelry that causes it. Since the last few years, an ever, increasing number of young tourists, especially honeymooners, have started visiting Goa in the monsoon, standing testimony to this ancient land's rising popularity as a monsoon tourist destination.

If you are in Goa during the monsoon, there are numerous traditional feasts and festivals that more than make up for the absence of colour in the otherwise dull grey skies. One of the most anticipated of these takes place annually on June 24 - São João, the festival of fertility. The festival is a typical example of how native Goan customs were adapted to suit Christian compulsions during the reign of the Portuguese in the land.

On São João day, revelers jump into swelling rivers and overflowing wells in every nook and corner of this state. Alongside, newly-wed grooms visit their wives native village and offer sweets, feni, and other goodies to the revelers, interlaced with prayer rituals seeking Divine blessings for these couples, and for the land in general.

São João celebrations vary in nature from vaddo (ward) to vaddo, and from village (gãu) to village. In Siolim, a canoe parade is organised on the river that culminates below the majestic Church of St Anthony (St Anthony's feast is celebrated on June 13). Thousands of people, including tourists, participate in the revelries of this event.

The feast of St Peter and St Paul is celebrated on June 29 each year with great pomp and splendour in the villages of Candolim, Siolim, Ribandar, and Agassaim. It is interesting to see the subtle differences in the way this feast is celebrated depending on the region where it being held.
St Peter is the patron saint of fishermen. In Saipem-Candolim in North Goa, after the customary offering of prayers to Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Cross, colourfully - attired local fishermen, in the company of professional artists climb onto a floating stage erected atop a row of canoes bound together and start performing plays and songs. This is called the Sangodd, which means bonding together (derived from the tying together of the fishing vessels). Their women and children, who are forbidden from getting on to the floating stage, watch the proceedings from the banks of the river.

The natives (gãunkars) of Goa start celebrating the ancient traditional Harvest Festival (or Konnshechem Fest - the feast of the first ears of corn) from the beginning of August. The gãunkars are members of traditional village institutions called Comunidades. The first celebrations take place on August 6 in the taluka of Bardez in the Comunidades of Serula (which borders the Mandovi river) and Aldona. But perhaps the most colourful and elaborate celebration of the Harvest Festival takes place on August 21 in the village of Taleigao, in the neighbourhood of Goa's capital city of Panjim. The ritual starts in the village and then proceeds to the old city of Goa (Old Goa), where people offer Mass and prayers. The action then moves to the Old Adil Shah Palace (the Old Secretariat building), where the ears of corn, cut from the first seasonal harvest in the village are presented to the Governor of the state.

Historically, the honour of symbolically presenting the first harvest from Tiswadi taluka to the Governor General was bestowed on the natives of Taleigao by the Portuguese rulers. It was in recognition of the help rendered by the Hindu natives of the village to the stranded fleet of Portuguese Admiral, Afonso de Albuquerque, prior to his second and final capture of the City of Goa (then said to be the most beautiful port city in the whole world!) from Adil Shah of Bijapur.

Another festival that is an off-shoot of the Harvest Festival celebrations, but which has risen in prominence in recent years, is the festival of 'Bonderam' (festival of flags), which takes place in Piedade, on the picturesque island of Divar, on the first Sunday after August 24. The celebration here features a colourful parade of floats and a street dance (yes, in the rain!) and has attained the proportions of a major tourism festival in the state.

A unique feature of this festival are the mock fights between groups of youngsters, attacking each other with pop guns (fottash) created from bamboo stems using Teflam or Assalle (two varieties of local berries) seeds for pellets. When fired, the guns produce a loud 'bang'.

The four-month long monsoon season culminates, in a sense, with the celebration of the Hindu festival of Chovoth or Ganesh Chaturthi. Goan Hindus install idols of Lord Ganesha in their homes for periods ranging from one and a half days to seven days. The statue of Lord Ganesha is installed for up to 21 days at the city manddaps. A wide assortment of traditional sweets and delicacies are distributed by Hindu families to all their neighbours, including Christians and Muslims. Daily firework displays and the performance of Fugddeo (a narrative song and dance form) mark the colourful celebrations in Goan homes. This festival of Chovoth or Ganesh Chaturthi is the Hindu equivalent of the festival of Christmas in Goa.

If you are trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the monsoon is a great time to be in Goa. The lush green surroundings and very soothing temperatures are matched by the equally pleasant and friendly locals. They'll sit and chat with you, tell you stories about their land, and even invite you to an enjoyable game of carrom!

If nothing else, merely sitting on the seashore, enjoying the spray of the surf in your face, as the balmy breeze sparks a tingling sensation in your body, is more therapeutic to body, mind and soul, than the most fancy treatment any spa can offer you.

European Drug Cartels Target Goa

CANACONA, May 13: Property prices in coastal Goa have seen an unprecedented boom with real estate giants from across the world, including the Russian drug mafia, making a beeline for a sliver of land here. "Tourists from Russia, especially those staying in Goa on long visas, are coming under increasing scrutiny after allegations that east European drug cartels are attempting to turn Goa into a base for their activities," said a home ministry official. [Tony Martin, oHerald]

Dabolim to be world class airport

MAPUSA: The Union Minister for Civil Aviation and NCP general secretary Praful Patel promised to give Goa a secular government and called upon the people to elect Congress and NCP candidates. The Central minister said that the Centre has decided to make Dabolim airport a world class airport with direct travel from Goa to other countries of the world. "Land acquisition issue had been resolved and Rs.500-crore would be spent on developing the airport," Patel said. [GT]

GoCelebrate offer from GoAir

PANJIM: GoAir announced its special GoCelebrate Offer, a unique offering that allows customers to plan and book tickets to celebrate the upcoming festive season beginning July to September 2007 for tickets priced as low as Rs.225, for short haul flights between Mumbai-Goa, Ahmedabad-Delhi and Rs.525 for long haul flights like Mumbai-Delhi, Mumbai-Jaipur, Bengalooru-Mumbai, Mumbai-Chennai. The offer will be valid from May 21 to May 25, 2007, for travel between July to September 2007, and passengers can log on to the GoaAir website www.goair.in to avail of the offer. [H]

Fire officials rescue Colvale resident from 70-ft deep well

MAPUSA, May 10: Mr Satyanan Jardhan Parab (21), a resident of Colvale, was rescued from a 70-feet deep well by the fire officials from Mapusa, today. [NT]

SELAULIM PIPELINE BURSTS YET AGAIN

SANGUEM: The breakdown prone Selaulim water main ruptured yet again yesterday with enormously large amounts of water gushing out at Uguem and disrupting water supply to large areas in the vicinity. According to officials, the welding on the joints of the pipeline gave way. Fortunately, no major damage was done to property or humans despite the high pressure with which the water was gushing out. [GT]

Luizinho wants to make Navelim model city

MARGAO, May 17: The Education Minister, Mr Luizinho Faleiro, yesterday said that his motto was to achieve all-round development of Navelim besides making it Goa’a model city. [NT]

DEMPO DOES GOA PROUD

PANJIM: Dempo are the champions of the 11th ONGC National Football League for the second time in the club's history. Dempo has 33 points with 17 matches while Mahindra United has 27 points from the same number of matches. Armando Colaco's side emerged as NFL champions after other title contenders Mahindra United slipped to East Bengal in Kolkata, thereby giving the Goan side 5 points lead over second placed JCT, with a game to go. Now it's a toss up between Mahindra United, East Bengal, JCT and Churchill Brothers for the second position with the final round of matches yet to be played. [GT]

TSKK BOOK RELEASES

PORVORIM: Recently Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK), Porvorim released 11th issue of SÔD Research bulletin and "Hansat Gayat Nachat" at the public function held at TSKK premises. The "Sod" issue contains research articles such as Vixoyanchi porospor pod’dhot, Konknni Bhaxikancho Her Bhaxikam kodden so’bond ani vevhar in Konknni, Thomas Stephens, The vehicles of vision, A short history of Konknni in Goa in the Roman Script from 1556, The suppression of Konknni in Goa and Facts related to Konknni in English. "Hansat Gayat Nachat" is booklet of Konknni nursery rhymes in Roman script. This booklet contains the nursery rhymes from the Two volumes of nursery rhymes CDs of TSKK. Both these books are available at TSKK office at Porvorim. [GoaNewsClips]