But sunny day fails to dampen celebration
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Even though the rains gave Goa a miss on the occasion of Sao Joao, revellers across the State remained undeterred and celebrated the feast with gusto on a sunny Tuesday.
TIVIM: Hundreds of people from Siolim converged at the Siolim creek to witness the traditional Siolim Sao Joao boat parade festival.
This time, the world cup fever gripped the festival as 10 of the floats on the boats were decorated with World Cup themes.
A host of tiatrists, including Cielo, Peter Roshan, Benzer and Brian, enthralled the audience. Buskha along with her band ‘Johnny Be Good’ also performed at the festival, which was organised by the Siolim San Joao traditional boat festival committee.
Nuvem MLA Mickky Pacheco, who is the chief patron of the Siolim San Joao, was present along with Calangute MLA Michael Lobo. The main attraction this year was the presence of Lara Dutta as a special invitee.
Sao Joao was also celebrated in other parts of Siolim like Marna and Fernandes Waddo. In Marna, revellers jumped into wells and distributed traditional sweets in the evening.
ALDONA: San Joao was also celebrated at Ranoi-Aldona with traditional fervour.
Accompanied by the strains of traditional Mandos and Dulpods, Ranoi celebrated São João at their community well in front of Mãe de Deus Chapel.
Many ward members sporting colourful ‘Kopels’ enthusiastically participated in the celebrations which commenced after offering prayers. Amidst fun and gaiety, the revellers also engaged in community fellowship and partook of traditional sweets and fruits.
MARGAO: Sao Joao was celebrated with traditional pomp and gaiety at Benaulim and Navelim villages. At Benaulim, people celebrated the feast at St John the Baptist Church with religious fervour and gaiety.
St Paul of Pedda-Benaulim hosted the traditional Sao Joao celebrated at Pedda to mark the occasion. Roque Fernandes said this year’s celebrations are centred on the theme save the environment.
At Navelim, residents of Dongorim ward celebrated Sao Joao festivities as per the rich tradition handed out by generations. Sao Joao revellers from the locality and other wards made merry by jumping in the well as per the local tradition. Former Navelim Sarpanch Bishut Themudo said the rich tradition is being celebrated by the people of Dongorim-Navelim which has been handed to them by their ancestors.
Sao Joao was also celebrated at Colmorod ward in the evening. A number of Sao Joao programs were held across Salcete
Countryside to mark the festivities.
