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Goan Catholics () are an ethno-religious community adhering to the Latin Church of the Catholic Church from the Goa state, in the southern part of the Konkan region along the west coast of India. They are Konkani people and speak the Konkani language.
Missionary activities followed soon after the Portuguese conquest of Goa. Pope Nicholas V had enacted the Papal bull of Romanus Pontifex in AD 1455, according to which the Padroado in the East Indies, was granted to the Portuguese crown.
Their culture is an amalgam of Konkani language and Portuguese cultures, with the latter having a more important role because Goa, Daman and Diu had been ruled by Portugal from AD 1510–1961. The notion of Goan identity as a distinct culture among other Luso-Asians or Luso-Indian cultures was forged into India after the annexation of Goa and Damaon in 1961.
The Goan Catholic diaspora is concentrated in the Persian Gulf countries; the Lusophone world, especially Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, and Zanzibar; the European Union countries; and the Anglophone world, especially the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Clifford Pereira (2025). 9780984630745, Center for International and Global Studies, Lindenwood University Press. ISBN 9780984630745
Some upper class Catholic families in Goa spoke Portuguese as their primary language prior to 1961.
Portugal took control of Goa in 1510. The Portuguese soon consolidated their power by imposing their own government and culture through intermarriage and converting the majority of the local population to Catholicism. Many pre-Portuguese Hindu traditions were adapted or retained by the Goan Catholics. This included a variation of the Indian caste system, although it was not practiced rigidly. Throughout the Portuguese Empire a large part of civic administration (e.g. registration of births, marriages and deaths, schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanages, etc.) was initially maintained by the Catholic religious orders. Under Portuguese nationality law, Goans born before 19 December 1961 in the then Portuguese territory of Goa are entitled to Portuguese citizenship. As per the law of Portugal ( Jus sanguinis), this is extended up to two generations, that is to their children and grandchildren.
Due to the distance from Portugal, Goans (like the people of Macau and Timor) had a high level of autonomy, although still a part of Portugal. Goans moved for work to other parts of the Portuguese Empire, and hence it is possible to find people of Goan descent in the Americas, Africa, Europe, as well as other parts of Asia.
A large-scale emigration of Goan Catholics to Bombay (now Mumbai) began in the 1800s, because of better economic opportunities. At that time Bombay was under the British rule and there existed another established Luso-Indian Catholic community; the Bombay East Indians, who were residents of Portuguese Bombay prior to it being granted to the British East India Company in the 17th century. Since the Goan Catholic and East Indian Catholic communities were converted to Christianity by the Portuguese, the British referred to them as "Portuguese Christians". They congregated in the same churches, attended many of the same religious functions, and shared Portuguese surnames and culture. The British favoured the Goan Christians in administrative jobs, due to their proficiency in western language and culture. [1]
In 1534 the Diocese of Goa was created from the Diocese of Funchal to serve as a common diocese for the western coast of India, including Goa and the area in and around Bombay.
The Portuguese built many churches; the most notable are Basilica of Bom Jesus ( Basílica of Child Jesus) built during the sixteenth century—a UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to the Infant Jesus.The church also holds the embalmed body of St. Francis Xavier.—and the Se Cathedral, the largest church in Asia dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria, the construction of which was started in 1562 during the reign of King Dom Sebastião and completed in 1619. It was in 1640. The Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church ( Nossa Senhora da Imaculada Conceição Igreja) was built in 1540. The Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi ( Igreja e Convento de São Francisco de Assis), Church of Lady of Rosary ( Igreja da Senhora do Rosário), Church of St. Augustine ( Igreja de Santo Agostinho), and St. Michael's Church, Anjuna ( Igreja São Miguel em Anjuna), built in 1613, were also erected during the Portuguese reign.
From the 19th century, Catholic Goans started emigrating to British-run cities in India, especially to Mumbai and Bangalore in the 1920s and 1930s. They also started migrating to Lusosphere, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
According to the 1909 statistics in the Catholic Encyclopedia, the total Catholic population was 293,628 out of a total population 365,291 (80.33%).
On 1 May 1928, the Archdiocese of Goa was renamed and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Goa and Daman ( Goa e Damão). It is the oldest diocese in terms of activity in the East, with its origins linked to the arrival of the Portuguese on the Malabar Coast. The Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa and Daman also uses the title of Primate of the Indies or Primate of the East and honorifically receives the title of Patriarch of the East Indies.
After British India gained independence in 1947, the Portuguese government refused to accept Nehru's demand that they hand over Goa to India. On 18 December 1961 India moved in with troops and after intense warfare, the Portuguese administration was forced to surrender. On 30 May 1987 Goa was elevated as India's 25th state.
According to the 2011 census, Christians formed 26.01% of Goa's total population.
Goan Catholics are also found abroad, either as Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin (NRIs), with some people born abroad. They are found in Arab states of the Persian Gulf in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. Some have migrated to the Anglophone world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand. In 1954 there were around 1,000,000 Goan Catholics in India and 1,800,000 Goan Catholics outside Goa. Before the First Gulf War (1990–1991) there were probably around 150,000 Goans outside India. There are 100,000 Goan Catholics in Portugal. A large number are found in Karachi, Pakistan. Recent emigrants are found in Germany and Austria.
In 1999 the Goan Overseas Association, the Canorient Christian Association, and other Goan associations estimated that there were around 23,000 Goan Catholics in Canada, out of which 13,000 were in Ontario. During 1954 it was estimated that there were 20,000 Goan Catholics in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, while 30,000 were living in Pakistan, out of which 10,000 were settled in Karachi. In 1931 it was estimated that there were around 1,772 Goan Catholics in Tanzania of which 700 were in Dar es Salaam. In Uganda during 1931, there were around 1,124 Goan Catholics, out of which 500 were settled in its capital of Kampala. Prior to the 1960s it was estimated that there were around 5,000 Goan Catholics in Nairobi, Kenya. By the 20th century there were around 6,000 Goan Catholics in London, while in 2001, 9,000 were present in Swindon, United Kingdom.
Patoleo (sweet steamed in turmeric leaves consisting of a filling of coconut and Coconut sugar) are prepared on the Feasts of San Juanv ( São João) on 24 June, Maria da Assunção on 15 August, and Konnsachem fest (harvest festival) which occurs across Goa during the month of August.
| Balthu | Balthasar | Baltasar | ‘Bel’ is my King | Male |
| Pedru | Peter | Pedro | Rock | Male |
| Kaitan | Gaetano | Caetano | man from ‘Gaeta’ | Male |
| Juanv | John | João | God is gracious | Male |
| Bosteanv | Sebastian | Sebastião | Revered | Male |
| Lorso | Lawrence | Lourenço | man from ‘Laurentum’ | Male |
| Mori | Mary | Maria | Beloved | Female |
| Joki | Joachim | Joaquim | raised by ‘Yahweh’ | Male |
| Rakel | Rachel | Raquel | Ewe or one with purity | Female |
| Anton | Anthony | António | Flower | Male |
| Jebel | Elizabeth | Isabel | My God is my oath | Female |
| Zuze | Joseph | José | The Lord will add | Male |
| Source: Msgr. S. R. Dalgado's “ Grammar of Konkani Language” | ||||
Konkani is an Indo-Aryan language belonging to the Indo-European family of languages, which is spoken predominantly on the west coast of India. According to this dialect is largely derived from Maharashtri Prakrit and is similar to Bengali language in terms of pronunciation. This dialect has a significant infusion of Marathi language and Kannada language loanwords. The Ethnologue identifies this dialect as the "Goan" dialect. The Goan Catholic dialect is written in the Roman script.
Portuguese influence can be seen in the dialect's lexicon and syntax. 1,800 Portuguese lexical items are found in the Goan Catholic dialect. The syntactic patterns adopted from Portuguese include mostly word order patterns, such as the placement of the direct and the indirect object and of the adverb after the verb, the placement of the predicate noun after the copula, and the placement of the relative or reduced relative clause after the head noun. There are, however, some transformations as well among these patterns. Such syntactic modification is most evident in this particular dialect. It is observed only in the written word and in formal speech such as . In recent times, more and more periodicals have abandoned the Portuguese syntactic patterns. The dialect is significantly different from the dialect spoken by the Hindu Goans not only with respect to Portuguese influence, but also with respect to grammatical and lexical characteristics.
In 2018, Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao launched the Povitr Pustok, a Konkani Bible app, a mobile phone application software with the entire Konkani Bible text.
Traditionally, as in other Indian communities, arranged marriages were the norm.Gomes 1987, p. 126 Pre-marriage traditions include Soirik (),Bhatt & Bhargava 2006, p. 213 Utor (),Gomes 1987, pp. 128, 411 Mudi (Engagement),Gajarani 2004, p. 94 Amontron (wedding invitation), Porcond (bridal shower),da costa 2004, p. 157 Chuddo (glass bangles) ceremony wherein the bride's forearms are adorned with colourful glass bangles of green, yellow, and red which are symbolic of fertility and married life,Bhatt & Bhargava 2006, p. 214Michigan State University 1983, p. 160da Silva Gracias 1996, p. 56 Saddo (red or pink dress) ceremony of cutting and sewing the bridal dress,Bhatt & Bhargava 2006, p. 215Gomes 1987, p. 137 the bridegroom's Hair-cutting ritual,Gajarani 2004, p. 97–98 and Bhuim jevon (a ritual meal in honour of the ancestors)Thapar 2004, p. 1032 or Bhikream jevon (a meal for the poor or beggars).Gomes 1087, p. 140De Sousa 2007, p. 57 Dennem () is sent to the groom's house the day before the wedding.da Silva Gracias 1996, p. 62
The Ros (anointing) ceremony held on the evening before the wedding involves the parents, relatives, and friends blessing the soon-to-be-wed couple before they begin their married life.
Traditions post the reception include Hatant dinvcheak (handing over) the bride solemnly by the father or the guardian of the bride to the groom's family,de Braganza Pereira 2008, p. Marriage Shim (boundary) ritual which involves crossing an imaginary boundary created by pouring liquor on the ground as the Vor (bridal party) prepare to leave for the groom's house. After the ritual, one or two relatives from the bride's side formally invite the newlyweds to the bride's home for a celebration the next day. This is known as Apovnnem (invitation) in Konkani and the occasion is called Portovnnem (ceremonial return).Gajrani 2004, pp. 99–100
In addition to common Christian festivals like Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter, the community celebrates many other festivals of religious and historical significance. The Zagor (nocturnal vigil in Konkani), mainly celebrated in Siolim, in Bardez taluka, is a festival highlighted by dance, drama and music. The Feast of Saint Francis Xavier, one of the major festivals of the Goan Catholics, is celebrated on 3 December annually to honour the saint's death. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary ( Monti Saibinichem Fest in Konkani, Feast of Our Lady of the Mount) on 8 September is a major festival, especially in Chinchinim. Milagres Saibinichem Fest is the feast of Our Lady of Miracles, celebrated at St. Jerome Church (Mapusa). Contrary to popular belief, Goa Carnival is a commercial festival in Goa. Its current form (King Momo, floats, etc.) was created only in 1965 to attract tourists.
In the early period of Portuguese rule, Goan Catholic women were married in whites saris ( hol) and changed into a red dress or sari, known as saddo, at home. Women of the upper strata wore the Fota-Kimao after the Church ceremony. Fota was a blouse made of red velvet and satin with a black border and embroidered with gold thread. Accessories used along with the fota included a variety of jewellery worn on the head, ears, neck, and arms. The fator was an ornament that consisted of a green stone between two corals held by double chains. Together with the fator, women wore a set of five intricate chains known as contti, and other chains. Women wore bangles known as nille with matching carap on their ears. They also wore few small chains from the ear to the head, combs made of gold ( dantoni), silver, or tortoise shell, and rings on every finger. During the later period of Portuguese rule, women got married in Western clothes. The Cordao (wedding necklace) was a necklace with two black-beaded chains reminiscent of the Hindu Mangalsutra, interspersed with roughly twenty gold coins, which formed a gold pendant, often in the shape of Jesus or the cross. A widow had to wear black clothes for the rest of her life and was not allowed to wear ornaments.
The mass was celebrated in Latin; the Homily was delivered to the congregation in Konkani.
The Chardos (the Konkani word for ) were converts from the Kshatriya (military/ royal class) caste, and included members from the Vaishya Vani caste (merchant class). Those Vaishyas who were not incorporated into the Chardo caste were called Gauddos, and formed the fourth group. The artisan converts formed the third-biggest group and were known as Sudirs (labour class). The or "Untouchables" who converted to Christianity became Mahars and Chamars, who formed the fifth group. They were later merged to the Sudirs. The Christian converts of the aboriginal stock known as Gavddis were termed Kunbi. Although they still observe the caste system, they consider it the unhappiest heritage of their pre-Christian past.
The Konkani hymn Asli Mata Dukhest, which was translated into Konkani from the Latin language hymn Stabat Mater, is sung during Lent. Jocachim Miranda, a Goan Catholic priest, composed Riglo Jezu Molliant (Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemene) during his Canara mission. Diptivonti, Sulokinni, an eighteenth-century Konkani hymn, was performed at a concert held in the Holy Spirit Church, Margao, Goa. Other hymns composed by Goan Catholics include Dona Barrete's Papeanchi Saratinni (Sinners Repent), Carlos Jrindade Dias' Sam Jose Bogta Bagvionta, and Fr. Pascal Baylon Dias' San Francisco Xaveria. Konkani pop music became popular after Indian Independence. Chris Perry and Lorna Cordeiro are known for the Bebdo (Drunkard) in 1976 and Pisso (Mad) in the 1970s, while Frank Fernand's Konkani ballad Claudia from 1966 is popular.
The Mando, a contemporary form of dance music, evolved in Salcette in the first half of the nineteenth century out of wedding music, specifically the Ovi. The songs in this style are serene and sedate, generally a monologue in the Bramhin Konkani dialects of the South Goan villages of Loutolim, Raia, Curtorim, and Benaulim. They are traditionally sung during the Shim (bridal departure) ceremony. Early composers of the Mando were Ligorio de Costa of Courtarim (1851–1919) and Carlos Trindade Dias. Deknni is a ballet form. One woman starts the dance and is later accompanied by other dancers. The Mussoll (pestle dance), believed to be first performed by the Kshatriyas of Chandor, commemorates the victory of King Harihara II (son of King Bukka I of the Vijaynagar Empire) over the Chola Empire at Chandrapur fortification in the fourteenth century. Other dances are the Portuguese Corridinho and Marcha. Dulpod is dance music with a quick rhythm and themes from everyday Goan life. Fell is a music genre performed by men and women during the Goa Carnival. Other dances performed at the Goan Carnival are Fulwali, Nistekaram, Vauradi, and Kunbi. The Ghumot is a musical instrument played, especially during weddings, and is used while performing a Mando. The instrument has the form of an earthen pot that is open at both sides. One end is covered with the skin of some wild animal, and the other is left open.
Konkani Plays, known as ‘ Tiatr’ (theatre), a form of classic stage performance with live singing and acting, were written and staged in Goa. The form evolved in the 20th century with pioneer such as Jao Agostinho Fernandes (1871–1941). Tiatr's themes include melodramas about family and domestic life, with each lyricist offering his own explanation for life's varied problems. Tiatrists include Prince Jacob and Roseferns, and in the past M. Boyer, C. Alvares, and Alfred Rose. On 17 April 1892 the first tiatr Italian Bhurgo by Lucasinho Ribeiro was staged in Mumbai. In 2007, the Government of Goa started the Tiatr Academy to facilitate the development of the Tiart. The tradition Of Voviyo, ancient folk songs that were sung by women during a Ros, began prior to 1510 A.D. The tradition had to be discarded due to Portuguese prosecution, and the songs now live in the form of archives. The few which still prevail are recited to this day at weddings, expressing lofty sentiments that give vent to the feelings of the people about the marriage partners and their families and invoke the blessing of God on them.
Goan Catholics have also played an important role in Bollywood songs. (See Goans in Hindi film music composition)
| Vincent Alvares | Medical practitioner and Chemist of John V of Portugal |
| Adeodato Barreto | Poet and writer |
| Abade Faria | Priest and hypnotist |
| Teresa Albuquerque | Historian |
| Alfred Rose | Singer, Tiatrist |
| Jaime Valfredo Rangel | Founder of Tipografia Rangel, pioneer of media and tiatr |
| Bruno Coutinho | Footballer |
| Charles Correa | Architect |
| Evarist Pinto | Archbishop of Karachi |
| Francisco Luís Gomes | Physician, politician, writer, historian, and economist |
| Ivan Dias | Archbishop of Bombay from 8 November 1996 – 20 May 2006, Prefect of Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Rome |
| Keith Vaz | British Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Leicester East |
| Valerie Vaz | British Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Walsall South |
| Oswald Gracias | Cardinal, Archbishop of Mumbai |
| Lorna Cordeiro | Singer and |
| José Gerson da Cunha | Physician, orientalist, historian and numismatist |
| Froilano de Mello | Microbiologist, medical scientist, professor, author and independent MP in the Portuguese parliament |
| Wallis Mathias | Cricketer |
| Anthony Mascarenhas | Journalist |
| Jerry Pinto | Writer |
| Patricia Rozario | Soprano |
| Joseph Vaz | Missionary, Patron Saint of Sri Lanka |
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