Sao Joao Festival

The feast of St John the Baptist or Sao Joao is celebrated on June 24. People wear colourful ‘kopels’ (a crown of flowers) and jump in the well to the chants of ‘Viva Sao Joao!’. This leap signifies St John’s leap of joy in the womb of his mother Elizabeth on the visit of her cousin the Blessed Virgin Mary. The festival is especially celebrated with much aplomb in the village of Siolim which has a traditional boat festival. There are various cultural functions during the entire day, one of them being ‘kopel’ making competitions.

Planet Goa Team

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