Goa
Having been the meeting point of races, religions and cultures of East and West over the cebturies, Goa has a multi-hued and distinctive lifestyle quite different from the rest of India.
Liberated by the Indian army from Portguguse colonisation on December 19, 1961, Goa became an Union Territory along with the enclaves of daman and Diu. On May 30th 1987, Goa was conferred statehood and became the 25th state of the indian Republic.
Goa has a timeless charm.....Its uniqueness lies in the fact that whilst creating a delicate synthesis of various cultures, it has retained its inherent soul. Goa certainly is a land of dreams and romance....a timeless world of gentle, hospitable people and unhurried activity.
The magnificent scenic beauty and the architeectural splendours of its temples, chiurches, and old houses, have made Goa a firm favourite with travellers around the world.
But then Goa is much more than just beaches and sea. it has a soul which goes deep into unique history, rich culture and some of the prettiest natural scenery that India has to offer.
The people of Goa are very friendly and extremely happy go lucky. They are fond of the good things in life and are certainly not caught up in the rat race. Though the people of Goa are from different cultural backgrounds, they have come together to create the easy going Goan culture with its emphasis on good living.
The cuisine of goa has an interesting mix of influences from all the cultures that it came into contact with - the Konkan, the Portugese, and the Bahamani Nawabi traditions. There are two seperate traditions in cuisine influenced by the perspective religions of Hinduism and Christianity ; there are some meeting points that present an interesting harmony. Portuguese cooking has a strong and telling influence on Goan Cuisine which should not be forgotten. The fruits of the sea are used lavishly in Goan food - various types of fish, prawns, mussels, oysters, crabs and more.
Over a hundred-kilometer long coastline along the Arabian Sea influences the culture and lifestyle of the people in a big way. Being on the Konkan coast means the Goan cuisine shares the spices grown in the other states on the coast like Maharashtra and Kerala. Some of the lesser-known but equally important influences on Goan cuisine are the Kashmiri, Muslim, and African, aparts from the tribals who lived in the dense, rain-drenched forests of ancient Goa.
Traditional Goan cooking calls for plenty of muscle and time. Grinding is always part of the recipe and the nicer the dish, the longer it takes to make....
but then....... the word "hurry" has never been a part of the Goan vocabulary!
