from Daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Jun 22: This year, June 24 will be time for a splash in Goa with enthusiastic souls planning to take takes a deep into wells, ponds, lakes and rivers next to them to celebrate annual traditional San Joao festival.

As mythology goes on this day, St John de Baptista took a leap in the mother's womb. The leap was considered as a leap of joy. The festival derives name from the saint.

So, taking a leap in waters, people celebrate this day by jumping into the water sources next available to them.

And as per the characteristic of this tourist state, the agencies and private entrepreneurs are all set to encash on this festival.

The Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC) has lined up various activities to mark the occasion. "We will celebrate this festival on a river cruise Santa Monica, which will have a splash dance and other activities," stated GTDC chairman Fatima D'Sa.

Brass band, dishing out a perfect Goan flavour, would perform on board Santa Monica to entertain the crowd who would have a splash of their lifetime in the water. "Whether rains or sunshine, we will have artificial rains on the cruise.. The festival is a rainy festival, how can we celebrate it with sun shining overhead," D'Sa said.

Though guests would be strictly not (not) permitted to dive in water, the GTDC has employed special divers who would jump into the water adding to the adventure.

The cruise would sail in Mandovi river taking the guests along Chorao and Diwar islands dotting this river.

More on San Joao - Goan Rain Festival

From various sources

File photos of 2004 festival by Cecil Pinto (Courtesy: goa-world)

Panaji: The residents of Goa celebrate "San Joao", an annual rain festival or the Feast of John the Baptist, with great fanfare every year in June.The festival is part of the tradition the Portuguese, who ruled Goa until 1961, have left behind.

Nowhere is this event better celebrated than the picturesque village of Siolim, which seems to come alive on the day from its year-long slumber. It is believed that San Joao revellers from several villages first converged in front of St Anthony's church in Siolim over 150 years ago.

The "San Joao" is usually held on a day which witnesses heavy showers. But rain gods didn't oblige this year and so the festival was observed under bright sunshine and clear skies.That, however, did not dampen the spirits of the revellers. Locals thronged the streets, bedecked in bright, costume clothes and floral headgear. They sang traditional songs and danced to the merry tunes.

Vincent Pinto, a local resident, said, "This San Joao festival used to be held over the last 150 years but the boat festival is done in a very nice way. Nearby villages come with their beautifully decorated boats alongwith their headgears and beautiful costumes. They come to the distributory and we have the function here close to the church."

Some youngsters also turned up dressed as triumphant Brazilian soccer players, complete with jerseys and colourful headgears. However, Pascal D'Costa, another resident, lamented the old charm is mising in today's festivities. "The festival has kind of lost its charm in a way because the youth are actually ignoring certain traditions and forgetting the relevance," he said.

Many believe that the festival reflects the spirit of the state - that of fun and revelry, a festival that has tourist potential. Goa has come of age as far as tourism is concerned. Its balmy beaches and tropical climate attracts thousands of foreign visitors each year. It has now been voted as one of the top 50 tourist destinations the world over.