MARGAO: The feast of St John the Baptist was celebrated with great devotion in the morning at the churches with the nativity of the saint worshiped. This was followed by the revelry that started in most places near noon.

In most villages in Salcete and even Margao, youth went around carrying the piddo (coconut palm) and wore a kopel (crown decorated with myriad flowers).

They beat the piddo on the ground shouting “San Joao” and also sang various songs related to the festival. The tradition of people jumping in wells was not witnessed on a largescale but the Benaulim youth did gather at around noon to jump in the water body next to the bandh leading to the church.

Large crowds were present at the Sao Joao celebrations organised by the two parish councils of Benaulim and Chandor as the youth from Benaulim prepared the site for the celebrations in morning.

Benaulim had a kopel making and fancy dress competitions for the villagers wherein most youth participated. Later in the day, a rain dance was organized at a square shaped structure which was fitted with showers and sprayers.

At Chandor, a huge crowd witnessed the celebration organised by the church as the somudais (small Christian communities) participated in various contests. 

The members of each somudai took part in the march past.

One somudai danced its way during the march while another performed the kotti fugdi dance with young girls draping the kunbi saree. Each somudai was given a white umbrella and told to paint the same within an hour.

The traditional mollam competition was held at Chandor, wherein different types of mollams were prepared by weaving palm leaves. Besides this, a patolleo (a sweet dish) competition was also organised.

The Church-organised San Joao programme at Chandor was an instant hit that the celebration organised by Guirdolim Xavierites which was to begin at 3:30 pm failed to start till 6 pm.

Colmorod and Ratvado residents had their own San Joao celebration which was unique. Around 15 ladies were present at 11.30 am to prepare the patolleo, holle and cook lunch where pork, beef, pulao and other dishes were prepared for the entire ward including the children who would return from their schools.