Goa Local Custom Tips by Janni67

...not to mention the kids :D MISCELLANEOUS Review

There were always more than enough kids wanting to get to the picture. These children are pictured in Pomburpa village.

Later when we were back to Finland and I got the photos developed I thought it would have been a great surprise to send some copies to this village, so that the children and that lady in the previous picture could have had their own copies. Somehow I just never got myself to act instead of just thinking :/

Locals are sooo friendly MISCELLANEOUS Review

At least 12 years ago, when we visited Goa, locals seemed to be delighted when asked if we can take a photo.

Look at this one, we were walking by this lady's house and talking to each other about the beautiful statue on the yard and I wanted to take a photo of it. The lady of the house, who seems very proud of this statue rushed next to it to get to the photo as well :)

Picking up betel nuts MISCELLANEOUS Review

In Pomburpa village a local man showed us how they climb up to the betel nut trees with the help of a rope tied on their ankles.

Betel nuts are also used as a magical charm and amulet thought to protect against the evil eye and ward off demons. Indian cultures have the knowledge of traditional preperation methods for betel nut as a "high art" and specific variations of recipes are often passed on through generations as reveared knowledge.

Betel Nuts MISCELLANEOUS Review

The nuts of this tropical palm tree form the basis of the stimulant betel chew which has a reputation as a panacea and tonic throughout Asia.

Betel nut is also used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat headaches, stomach pains, venereal disease, fever, rheumatism and a number of other complaints.

Kathakali dancers MISCELLANEOUS Review

Kathakali, which literally means "story dance" is a pantomimic dance drama, where the dancing and the acting are being blended together into an inseparatable form. It is a combination of facial expressions and body movements which brings out the thought and emotion of the character.

Kathakali originated in Kerala, South India over 500 years ago. Kathakali performs stories from the Hindu epics The Mahabharatha and the Ramayana.

Kathakali is predominantly a male art and the dancing is mostly of masculine type. The position taken by the actor is angular. He never stands erect while acting, his knees being spread out and his legs forming a rhombus, his hands bent at the elbow and his palms on his hips. (See the picture!) The outer feet are never flat on the ground and still the actor maintains a perfect balance.

The striking make-up and the costume are designed to transform the dancers both mentally and physically into the characters they are to portray. It takes between five to six hours (!!!) for a Kathakali dancer to complete the make-up and costume which heighten each character's personality and extend his / her movement.

Impressive to see! :)

More folk dances... MISCELLANEOUS Review

...dressed in a sari this time.

Traditional Dances MISCELLANEOUS Review

Goan folkdances have a history of several hundred years. Many of them reflect the different lifestyles, cultures and aspirations of different origin, religions and castes of Goan society.

The Portuguese influence is strong, as you can guess from this picture where we are entertained on a cruise at River Mandovi.

Goan cuisine MISCELLANEOUS Review

The cuisine of Goa has an interesting mix of influences from all the cultures that it came into contact with. There are two separate traditions in cuisine influenced by the respective religions of Hinduism and Christianity. One of the most popular dishes, the pork Vindaloo is a result of this beautiful harmony. The Portuguese cooking has a strong and influence on Goan Cuisine and that should not be forgotten. Goan food is simple but one has to bear in mind that most, though not all of it, is chili hot, spicy, and pungent.

A typical Goan would prefer seafood to all other meats and would use a lot of coconut for cooking --we must be Goans in our souls because we use a lot of coconut in cooking at home ;) Beside coconut, rice and fish are the basic components of the typical Goan food platter. Delicacies made from these three items can be expected in nearly every Goan meal. Goans find truly world-class prawns, lobsters, crabs, and jumbo pomfrets along the coastline and use them to make a variety of soups, salads, pickles, curries, and fries. The famous red Goan chilies are also a must for most dishes, as is tamarind. Goa is not particularly known for its vegetarian dishes. While Hindus like lamb and chicken, Christians prefer pork. However, both prefer fish and seafood to any other meat.