Venita Gomes
In Goa, the month of June is all about the monsoons, school beginnings, feasts and festivals. So, let's take a recap of the month gone by.
The month of June began with the festival of Vat Purnima which was celebrated across Goa on June 3, 2023 this year. It was marked by women praying for the well-being and long life of their husbands.
The new academic year officially began on June 5, 2023 in Goa. However, some states deferred the reopening of schools due to the soaring mercury levels.
As the first week of June hadn't yet seen any sign of the rains, farmers were busy preparing their fields for the upcoming monsoon farming activities.
People were seen undertaking last minute pre-monsoon works such as cleaning roof tiles and other home repairs.
In spite the High Wave Alert around mid-June, people could be seen on Goa's beaches, and even venturing into the sea, throwing caution to the wind.
On June 13, people across Goa celebrated the feast of St Anthony, one of Goa's most popular saints. The most famous celebrations were held in Siolim and Chinchinim around mid-June.
On Revolution Day, which is on 18 June annually, there were grand celebrations at Lohia Maidan, in Margao.
MOGA, Goa's mascot for the 37th National Games was launched in the month of June following a lot of fanfare.
The capital city of Goa, Panjim, got another bridge ‘Tapoloka’ Yog Kshetra, on International Day of Yoga as part of the restoration and protection of the coastline of the River Mandovi.
For the first time, the Goa Tourism Department celebrated Sao Joao at Old Goa, taking the local festival to a larger audience. Several villages in Goa celebrate the feast of St John the Baptist with great pomp and gaiety.
The feast of St Peter, the patron saint of Goa's fishing community, was celebrated with the traditional Sangodd festival in the villages of Assolna, Orda (in Candolim) and Divar.
The month of June ended on a muddy note in Goa with one of Marcel's most popular festivals, Chikal Kalo. The annual monsoon mud festival saw a large gathering of spectators, who had come to witness the festival.