Ashwem beach

Ashwem Beach

Ashwem beach is a very beautiful beach. Yet another name on the list of remote beaches of Goa is the "Ashwem Beach". Its also a little rocky beach. Goan famiies go to Ashvem beach for having their picnics. To the north of Ashwem beach lies the Mandrem Beach and down south is the Morjim beach. This beach has a number of beach shack. It also does have some good accommodation in the form of little resorts. But the most ideal accommodation here is the beach huts made of palm leaves.

Ashwem beach is also the nesting place for the olive ridley turtle which is a rare species. The nesting season is between September to February which also happens to be the peak tourist season of Goa. This beach happens to be my personal favorite, as its situated away from the hustle and bustel, and a great place to relax.

That's myself at the beautiful Ashwem beach

A spectacular sunset at the Ashwem beach

[ click here for more on the ashvem beach]

Goa is Hot Hot Hot - Summer time in Goa

Summer time in Goa

With the temperatures soaring high above 35 Degree Centigrade
and me feeling sooo lazy to go to the sea for a refreshing bath.
Today i just chose to stay indoors and have a refreshing drink "KHUS" with loads of ice

ahhhhhhhhhhh... it was sooo cooling...

Something other than beer to kill the summer heat

Just felt like sharing it with you all

Keep smiling while sweating in Goa

Cheerrrrsssss

Rohan

Christmas in Goa - The Christmas Crib

The Christmas Crib in Goa

The Crib should be a cherished part of the Christmas celebration in every family. It is not only completely religious in significance but also presents to the children in a beautiful way the central event which we commemorate on this great feast. Thus it assumes the character of a religious shrine in the houses of the faithful during Christmas season. Dignified decoration might enhance its attraction and solemnity.

In Goa and around the world Christmas was celebrated with lots of fun and joy.
This Christmas as I visited my relatives and friends to wish them a Merry Christmas,
I have clicked photographs of a cribs which I came across
and I would like to share these photographs with the viewers of my blog.

A crib at Campal

A crib at Campal

A huge crib at Ribandar

A beautiful crib at Merces

A beautiful crib at Merces

Thats a sweet and simple crib at my friends place

This crib may not look beautiful on picture, but it was a very nice mechanical crib made by a Hindu artist in Merces. It had movements, light effects etc.

A beautiful crib

A beautiful crib

A beautiful Sunset as I went around visiting friends for Christmas

A star at Saligao, Goa

A crib by Heralds of Christ

A crib at a house in Campal, Goa

A crib at the Mapusa Muncipal Market Goa

Thats my little Crib

The Crib at the Panjim Church

A live crib, moving around at Porvorim Goa

Life Sized Santa at Panjim Goa

This is the crib that I liked the most, at St. Inez, Panjim Goa

THE ORATORIAN CONVENT WHERE BLESSED FR. JOSEPH VAZ RESIDED AND CHURCH OF THE MIRACULOUS CROSS, OLD GOA, GOA

THE ORATORIAN CONVENT WHERE BLESSED FR. JOSEPH VAZ RESIDED AND THE CHURCH OF THE MIRACULOUS CROSS, OLD GOA, GOA

A couple of kilometers away from the majestic Churches of Old Goa and on top of a little hill is the Oratorian convent and The Miraculous cross church situated. It is here that Blessed Fr. Joseph Vaz resided when in Goa.

Blessed Fr. Joseph Vaz worked for four years (1681 to 1684) in forane of Kanara. He returned to Goa in 1684. On 25th September 1685, at the church of Holdy Cross of Miracles, Old Goa, he joined a community of Goan Priests who were trying to form a religions congregation of its own, He was elected their superior. With them he organised the regions first fully native religions congregation on the lines of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri of Rome and Lisbon, as the "Oratorian Institute of Milagristas of Goa"

From the top of the hill, where the church of The Miraculous Cross is situated, one can have a clear view of the beautiful and majestic churches like the Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral etc situated at Old Goa and it rightly justifies why Goa was called the "Rome of the East". Because of the beautiful view of the full city from here this hill was named the "Boa Vista" which is a Portuguese word which means "Beautiful View".

There is a nicely built but quite narrow tar road that goes up to the "Convento da Cruz dos Milagres" which means "the Convent of the Miraculous Cross". The Miraculous cross installed here was initially situated at the Se Cathedral and was believed to have been growing and later moved here.

The people of Goa have deep faith and belief in this miraculous cross. People of all faiths come and offer prayers here and seek blessings. On the 23rd of every month at 10.00 a.m. Holy mass is celebrated at this church. Hundreds of devotees attend the mass. After the mass is over the devotees line up to seek blessing and veneration of the miraculous cross. Thereafter, "kanji" a dish from rice, (popularly knows as "Pez" in konkani)" which is prepared in large pots and is served in bowls to the hundreds of devotees attending mass.

Taking a walk around one can see the ruins of the Oratortian Convent. The huge broken walls, the broken roof and it shows us lifestyle of the people living there. There is a statue of Blessed Fr. Joseph Vaz installed in the oratory premises. There is also other remains like that of what looks like a bakery that was used for the inmates there.

It would be a good news for the people of Goa if the Archeological Survey of India takes over the premises and work on its conservation because it a part of our Goa's rich culture and Goan heritage.

So the next time you visit Goa, don forget to pay a visit to the Oratorian Convent where blessed Fr. Joseph Vaz Resided and the Church of the Miraculous Cross and seek blessing.

The Miraculous Cross

The alter of the Miraculous Cross Chapel

The statue of Blessed Fr. Joseph Vaz

The statue of Blessed Fr. Joseph Vaz

The statue of Blessed Fr. Joseph Vaz

Mass being celebrated at the Church on 23rd of every month

Devotees waiting in queue for veneration of the miraculous cross

veneration of the Miraculous cross

veneration of the Miraculous cross


veneration of the Miraculous cross

I happened to meet a very very old friend of mine at the Miraculous church with his family

Pots used to prepare Kanji

A lady preparing kanji


Devotees in line for having a bowl of kanji


Devotees in line for having a bowl of kanji

People take kanji, that is being served

People take kanji, that is being served

In ruins : The walls of the Oratorian

In ruins : The walls of the Ooratorian

In ruins : The walls of the oratorian

In ruins : The walls of the oratorian

In ruins : The walls of the oratorian

In ruins : The walls of the oratorian


In ruins : The walls of the oratorian


In ruins : The walls of the oratorian


In ruins : The walls of the oratorian


In ruins : The walls of the oratorian



In ruins : The bakery that was used for those residing there

The view of the Churches of Old Goa - from the top of the Miraculous Church

A chat with a caretaker at the Miraculous church

He states he has been here for the last 15 years.

A view from the widow

The outside view of the Miracalous Church