Religions in Goa

The two main religions in Goa are Hinduism and Christianity (Roman Catholicism). Islam features third in the list of the major religions in Goa. However, though the majority of people in Goa are Hindu, yet strong Catholic influences are visible everywhere in the art, culture, and society of Goa. This is due to the fact that Goa came under the Portuguese control in the 15th century. The Hindu tradition is equally strong in both the villages and towns. The state reverberates with the sound of temple bells and the drums being beaten at the time of the worship in the morning, noon and evening.

The population of Goa is composed of a Hindu population of around 65% and a Christian population of around 30%. Muslims and other religions make up the rest. The Muslim community is a result of the brief period in the early 14th century when Muslim rulers reigned over the state. There are several other minor Religions in Goa – Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains.

However, the multi-religious fabric of Goan society shines brightly, imbibed with the spirit of “Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava” (Equal Respect for All Religions). There is a coexistence of religious harmony among all the religions in Goa, and irrespective of whether they are Catholic, Hindu or Muslim, many Goans prostrate in symbiotic reverence before the deities of faiths other than the one they profess.