Once upon a time in Goa

SET SAIL FOR DREAMS

In the 1960s and 70s, when the wind of change was sweeping across the globe, disillusioned by two wars and economic crisis, a band of young dreamers set sail in search of true meaning of life.

SUMMER WINE

Soon, they landed on Goa's sunny shores, where they could run on the white sands of its beaches as the tangerine sun glowed in the sky. They felt a flicker of happiness and unravelling of purpose within themselves.  

A NEW WORLD

The world of materialistic comforts, rules, prejudices and power, they had left behind, receded into past. They got down to build a new one – of which they had heard in John Lenon’s song Imagine.

A COLONY OF HIPPIES

They told the world about the paradise they had created. Soon, more joined in. In the post-Portuguese-colony Goa, a hippie colony was being formed, where established rules were demolished.   

A PLACE IN THE SUN

They began settling on stretches along the coastline of North Goa, merging the rhythm of their life with that of other Goan residents. Most of their dwellings came up around Arambol’s sweet water lake.  

MOONLIGHT DANCE

Their silvery full-moon rave parties became famous. They introduced psytrance music to Goa and borrowed its soulful tunes.

MUNDANE LIVING

They wanted to escape mundane but it soon caught up with them. Somebody had to put money on the table. And so, they went out to make a living by working with fishermen and doing other odd jobs.

FADE INTO SUNSET

As reality set in, it all began to fray at the edges. By the turn of 20th century, their world began to fade. Their legacy lives on in the flea markets, shacks and the susegad life of Goa.    

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