Goa, one of India's smallest states with an area of 3,702 sq km is cradled in the Sahayadri range in the Western Ghats. It is India's most superior beach resort with superb beaches at least a million years old.

Goa, one of India's smallest states with an area of 3,702 sq km is cradled in the Sahayadri range in the Western Ghats. It is India's most superior beach resort with superb beaches at least a million years old. Goa's beachnik lifestyle is best experienced during the winter months between October and the end of February. A Portuguese colony till 1961, Goa's Portuguese atmosphere and its lovely beaches make this an interesting region to spend time. Goan culture is a blend of Indian and Iberian: European style central squares and Indian bazaars, white Portuguese churches alongside Hindu temples and villages and hamlets surrounded by green fields of paddy. Goa is rich in folk culture with a delightful blend of vigorous Konkani folk songs and remnants of Portuguese dance and music. Panaji, Margao, Vasco, Mapusa and Ponda are the main towns of Goa. Language and religion Konkani is the official language of Goa which is written in Devanagri script. The other main languages spoken in the state are Marathi, Kannada and Urdu. Gujarati and Hindi are also spoken by a considerable number of population of the state. Hinduism, Christianity and Islam are the three major religions followed in Goa. There were also Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. The people of Goa are among the friendliest. The social outlook of the Goan is different. They love their music and simple musical instruments. The Goans work as musicians in restaurants and hotels and bars across the country and abroad because music comes naturally to the people and becomes part and parcel of their life. The festivals are also musical in nature and a great deal of dance, forms part of the carnivals which are celebrated on special occasions. An extravaganza of music and dance lasting several hours is witnessed by the people of Goa and the tourists who throng the state all the year round. The people of Goa are also excellent cooks and some of them are regular employees of some famous restaurant in India and abroad. Catering, dance and music combined with big business like production and export of iron ore and owning of ocean going ships are facets of the life of the people of Goa. The Hindu tradition is equally strong and the villages and towns of the state reverberate with the sound of temple bells and the drums being beaten at the time of the worship in the morning, noon and evening. Goa is thus a state of Hindus and Christians. Here Konkani language is held in much reverence although Marathi is spoken and understand by many people. Economy Industry. Mining is one of the principal source of Goa's industrial and trade development and offers considerable scope for employment. Mineral resources are an asset of Goa and iron ore is a leading commodity. Other minerals include manganese ore and ferro-manganese ore which are produced and exported, but iron ore occupies the pride of place in Goa's economy. Some of the most productive and important mines are located in the northern and eastern parts of Goa. There are units manufacturing a variety of items like pesticides, fertilizers, tires and tubes, iron ore pellets, foot wear, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, sugar, wheat products, steel rolling, fruits and fish canning, cashew nuts, textiles, brewery products etc. There are handicrafts units mainly engaged in the manufacture of wood, crafts, brass, pottery, handloom, leather and bamboo crafts etc. Agriculture is one of the important economic activities in Goa. Goa has done much to improve and develop its agriculture so that it becomes more productive and the farmers who work on the field get a better return for their labour. Rice along with fish is the staple diet of the people and it is also a principal agricultural crop. The important crops grown are paddy, ragi, maize, jowar, bajra and pulses. Cash crops like coconut, cashew-nut, arecanut, mango, jackfruit, banana, pineapple etc. are also grown in abundance. Sugarcane cultivation has been taken up only recently and a sugar factory has also been set up in Goa. Paddy is the principal crop of Goa. There are two paddy seasons, namely Kharif or sorod and the rabi or vaingan. The monsoon crops are called the kharif or sorod crops and the winter crops are called rabi or vaingan crops. The main sources of irrigation for winter crops are the nallahs, rivers and streams, tanks, wells, canal etc. Crops grown in the Kharif season consist of paddy, ragi (locally called nachani) and some pulses. Crops grown in the rabi season are comprised of paddy, pulses like horse-gram (kulith), black gram (udid), a variety of beans and some vegetables. Cashew is an important crop in Goa. An exhilarating drink called Feni is produced from cashew. It is a kind of gin or vodka. A variety of mangoes are grown in Goa. Some of the famous Mango varieties are mancurade, mussarade, fernandine, xavier, alfonsa, colaco etc. There are two varieties of jackfruit grown here namely kapo (hard) and rasal (soft). The kind of vegetables grown in the Goa are brinjal, lady's fingers, radish, cucumber, pumpkins, drumsticks, breadfruit and different varieties of gourds. Sweet potatoes, chillies, onions are also available. Goa's climate is generally moderate although humidity is high but there are cool months in winter and around October and weather turns good. Goa has a heavy rainfall during the monsoon months. Town - Mirror of the Past >>>
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