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Goa celebrates Sao Joao Festival;
gears up for Bonderam Festival in Aug 2013
The Sao Joao Festival, organised by
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), was celebrated onboard
the Shantadurga cruise boat near Panjim jetty on June 24 this week.
The annual festival is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, a release
stated. The event was attended by Nilesh Cabral, Chairman, GTDC,
along with other senior officials from Goa Tourism.
Guests were welcomed with crowns made of leaves called ‘kopel’. The
occasion was marked by cultural programmes such as live Goan song
and dance performances, and traditional Goan cuisine. As per
tradition, the Festival witnesses young men jumping into wells and
then distributing fruits among villagers wearing the ‘kopel’.
GTDC is now preparing to organise the annual Bonderam Festival,
celebrated on the Island of Divar on the fourth Saturday of August.
It starts with a flag parade from the main Divar junction,
accompanied by a brass band. Once the Festival is declared open, a
fancy dress competition is held, followed by the traditional float
parade and a live band performance by the locally popular music
bands.
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