About Sao Joao Feast Of St John The Baptist |
| Event | Sao Joao Feast of St John the Baptist |
| Location | Panjim |
| State | Goa |
| Category | Feast and festival |
| Date | Jun 24, 2024 |
| Main Attraction | New married couples are usual on the spotlight during Sao Joao Feast of St John the Baptist. |
| Overview/History | Feast of St John the Baptist or Sao Joao is celebrated on June 24 every year. This celebration brings a lot of fun and enjoyment. Sao Joao's celebration has continued for about 175 years now and associated with it is the feast of St John the Baptist's interesting legend. As per the Holy Bible's story, the feast originated when Mother Mary, who was bearing Jesus then, visited Elizabeth, St John the Baptist's mother while he was in his mother's womb. This occasion made him bound with joy. In River Jordan later, Jesus Christ was christened by St John the Baptist. Sao Jao is mostly celebrated in north Goa. Some coastal area villages such as Anjuna, Calangute, Bardez taluka's Siolim and Vagator grandly celebrate the Sao Joao Feast. Other places like Fernandes Vaddo, Marna, Siolim's Igrej waddo and Gaunsavaddo are also a part of the celebration. |
| Celebration | Some other traditions are also associated with the feast of St John the Baptist, which people follow throughout the years. Youngsters' procession is held, where they go from door to door, and collect gifts, liquor and fruits. They then offer their prayers and collectibles at a water body in their town. New brides and marriageable girls are blessed and they throw flowers, vegetables and seasonal fruit in the water body to fulfil their wishes. Many other youths then jump in the ponds and wells to collect them. The environment reverberates with ?Sao Joao, Sao Joao, Viva Sao Joa's? sound. The water body in question is considered Elizabeth's womb and it is said that young people jump in the ponds and wells to sense the ecstasy John felt in Jesus Christ's presence, when he was in his mother's womb. |
