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: : People & Lifestyle : :
Goan People & Lifestyle
Goa's isolation from the rest of India for more than four centuries under the Portuguese rule, its geographical borders in the form of the Sahyadri ranges and the tidal rivers have managed to give the people of Goa a unique and separate identity.

The population of Goa is composed of a Hindu majority of around 65% and a Christian minority of around 30%. Muslims and other religions make up the rest. The interesting part in all these percentages is that, as is the case with most statistical figures, they conceal more than they can ever reveal.

The people from Goa are known as Goans around the world, have a unique lifestyle which reflects the perfect blending of the cultural influences that they have experienced over the centuries.
People of Goa
 
Goan People

Goans are very much proud of their cultural heritage and identity and guard it fiercely. They are very warm and courteous people who believe in making friends with almost everyone.

The best evidence of this is seen in quite a few places of worship in Goa, where both

Hindus and Christians go together. The Damodar temple at Sanguem, the Church of Our Lady of Miracles in Mapusa, the Shantadurga temple at Fatorpa are excellent examples of this unique religious harmony that exists in Goa. Besides these, a number of other festivals in Goa are celebrated by members of both communities with equal fervour.

The Goans deem themselves as a Goan first and a Hindu, Christian or Muslim afterwards. The bonds of language and the Goan identity are strong enough to allow for different religious persuasions.

In contrast to other parts of India, Goans have developed a remarkable degree of tolerance towards each other's religious beliefs, and hence religious fundamentalism is completely unknown in the state.
 
Lifestyle of Goa
Goan Lifestyle

By nature, Goans are warm, friendly, easy going and large hearted. They live life in style and at a leisurely pace. They are passionate about dance, music and art which is in their blood and they love their food and feni.

Goans attitude to life is best described by the word Susegad which means taking life at a

relaxed pace and enjoy it to the full. This unique philosophy of life originates from the Portuguese word Socegado which literally meant quiet.

The people of Goa have taken that to heart, quite wholeheartedly while leading quiet and relaxed lives in their peaceful land.

The Goans inspite fo being susegad or relaxed people they are very hard-working. They toil long and hard in their rice, coconut and cashewnut plantations and reap the bounties of nature. A very large number have migrated all over the world, working hard for their livelihood and sending money back home to their loved ones.