Alexis Castelino
Daijiworld Media Network - Doha
 
Doha, Jun 28: The members of Goan Welfare Association (GWA) celebrated the popular Sao Joao festival in Doha on Thursday June 23 at Al Andalus that continued till the wee hours in the morning of June 24.
 
GWA’s president Simon D'Silva in his welcome speech briefly explained the importance of this festival and the traditional way it is celebrated back in Goa.

He thanked all the members and associates for the generous support that has contributed in the success of the association in all the events that it has organized, specially the cultural team that put in great efforts.
 
Simon D’Silva introduced the chief guest for the evening Fr Ronnie Serrao, who came all the way from Chicago, USA to attend this special occasion celebrated for the first time in Qatar.
 
Fr Ronnie, the former parish priest of Loliem church thanked the people of Qatar for extending their support to him in the year 2005 and briefly explained the tradition of Sao Joao festival celebration.
 
‘Sao Joao’ is the feast of St John The Baptist. He explained that the jumping act symbolizes St John The Baptist’s leaping in his mother Elizabeth’s womb when visited by Mary who was expecting Jesus.
 
Thus the festival came to be known as the feast of Saint John the Baptist, where jumping with joy’, specially in water bodies was the highlight.
 
The Sao Joao festival is most pompously celebrated in Goa amongst the Catholic community and is dedicated to St John the Baptist which is celebrated on June 24 every year. This occasion marks the celebration by the local youth in the Villages of Goa who normally jump into wells according to the existing tradition of Sao Joao festival.

They consume plenty of fruits on this occasion and are virtually unstoppable when they indulge in revelry. Specially in Salcete taluka, different types of folk dances or Mandos are held which are popularly known as Sangodds. Fruits and other eatables are exchanged between friends and relatives.

It is a real treat to watch the local youth with crowns of leaves and varied fruits on their heads going out in processions and jumping into wells to have fun. Later, they enjoy a lavish feast of meat and seafood marking the end of the festival. The rainy season is a perfect foil for the Sao Joao festival as most of the people enjoy it more when its raining heavily.
 
Following Fr Ronnie’s address, the young and old wearing the traditional ‘Leaves Crown’ (KOPEL) then plunged into the pool.
 
The evening continued with DJ music, games for kids, snacks and sumptuous buffet. Cajetan Rodrigues, director of events proposed the vote of thanks.

The managing committee members, Simon D’Silva, president, Martin Mascarenhas, vice-president, Hazel Rodrigues, general secretary, Allan Desouza, finance controller/advisor, Cajetan Rodrigues, diretor events, Glorio Fernandes, coordinator events, Tania Rodrigues, director cultural, Effey Noronha, secretary cultural, Paul Fernandes, director PR and social, Deepshika Barretto, secretary PR and Social, Edgar Fernandes – director sports, Pravin Noronha, secretary sports were present.