Overseas Goans celebrate Sao Joao to relive the feeling of Goa

Across the globe – from UK to Qatar to Cayman Islands – Goans are dressing up in colourful clothes, donning floral headgear – kopel – and digging into Goan delicacies for Sao Joao festivities
RELIVING GOA THROUGH TRADITIONS: Sao Joao Splash in UK with Goan DJs and artistes
RELIVING GOA THROUGH TRADITIONS: Sao Joao Splash in UK with Goan DJs and artistesPhoto: Liam Chan/ Impact Events
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You can take a Goan out of Goa but you can never take Goa out of a Goan. This saying holds so much truth for Goans living overseas. And, the Goa in them spills out during football matches, Goan festivals or slightest of provocation to display their Goanness.

Sao Joao, celebrated every year on June 24 in honour of St John the Baptist, is one occasion when Goans living abroad go all-out to drench themselves in Goan tradition and revelries. From dressing up in vibrant and colourful attire, donning the floral headgear called kopel to preparing traditional Goan food, this community, from the tiny western coastal State, across the world gets together to indulge in Sao Joao festivities.

Martin Mascarenhas, of the club - Goan Community in Qatar, organised a Sao Joao bash on the June 20 in the West Asian country, attended by over 150 Goan expatriates.  

"We try to keep the spirit of the festivities very local, just the way we celebrated it in Goa. Our guests came with colourful dresses and head gears – kopels – giving it a vibrant spirit," says Martin.

VIVA SAO JOAO!: The Club - Goan community in Qatar - organised a Sao Joao party that was attended by many Goans.
VIVA SAO JOAO!: The Club - Goan community in Qatar - organised a Sao Joao party that was attended by many Goans. Photo: Armstrong Vaz
RELIVING GOA THROUGH TRADITIONS: Sao Joao Splash in UK with Goan DJs and artistes
Celebrate a traditional Sao Joao in Siolim with a boat parade

UK-based Savito Sequeira was a part of Impact Events and The Brown Cocks Ltd, which organised a Sao Joao party on the June 23 in UK. It featured live music and a line-up of Goan DJs performing some lively music to keep the people entertained. Savito speaks to GT Digital about the success of the event.

"We organised one of the biggest Sao Joao events in the country. We must have received around 1,000-odd guests for the rain dance party. Goans, who are away from family, get a chance to meet each other and relive the good old days together – home away from home," he nostalgically recalls.

RAIN DANCE: Over 1,000 guests were a part of this Sao Joao party in UK
RAIN DANCE: Over 1,000 guests were a part of this Sao Joao party in UKPhoto: Liam Chan

From best kopel prize to best Sao Joao couple – the Sao Joao party kept Goa’s spirit alive and the Goans tapping their feet to Goan numbers.

From the graceful ballroom dance to singing popular Konkani songs including C Alvares' Sao Joao to stuffing themselves up with traditional Choris PaoPulaoChicken Cafrael and Goan sausages, they recreated Goa on the foreign shores.

RELIVING GOA THROUGH TRADITIONS: Sao Joao Splash in UK with Goan DJs and artistes
You haven’t enjoyed Sao Joao, if you didn’t try these traditional sweets

John De Sa, a Goan in Qatar, adds, “We had a few guests from Japan, South Africa, Croatia and Indonesia, who were thrilled to experience our festivities. We had some live music played by Joshua Carlos on the saxophone, Martin played the ghumot and Martin Mascarenhas played the jumble. It was a great feeling to be surrounded by the entire Goan community.”

RECREATING GOA IN CAYMAN ISLANDS: Doing things Goan on foreign shores makes Beisy and her friends less homesick.
RECREATING GOA IN CAYMAN ISLANDS: Doing things Goan on foreign shores makes Beisy and her friends less homesick.Photo: Beisy

Goa’s festivities and traditions have travelled as far as the Cayman Islands. On this remote island, Vivancio and Beisy brought to life Goa as they dressed up in Sao Joao costumes – floral outfits and kopels. “We love when all Goans get together for events like these. It’s good to catch up and relive the memories from back home, says Beisy.

RELIVING GOA THROUGH TRADITIONS: Sao Joao Splash in UK with Goan DJs and artistes
A ward in Goa’s Aldona hangs on to Sao Joao traditions

She reminisced; “From having Patoleos and FilozSopotelChicken XacutiPulaoRecheadoBeef Chilly among other dishes – it all took us back home. When you are away from home, you tend to miss all these tiny things you take for granted. So, having Goan events like these makes me miss Goa a bit less.”

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