- Navelim
-
Navelim — city — Coordinates 15°15′N 73°55′E / 15.25°N 73.92°ECoordinates: 15°15′N 73°55′E / 15.25°N 73.92°E Country India State Goa District(s) South Goa Population 11,014 (2001[update]) Time zone IST (UTC+05:30) Area
• 1 metre (3.3 ft)
Navelim ( Konkani नावेली,Naveli)is a census town in South Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. It is located outside the city of Margao.
Contents
Geography
Navelim is located at 15°15′N 73°55′E / 15.25°N 73.92°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 1 metres (3 feet).
Navelim
Coordinates UTM : CS88 Geographical coordinates in decimal degrees (WGS84) Latitude : 15.250 Longitude : 73.917 KML Export for Google Earth Google maps view of Navelim
Geographical coordinates in degrees minutes seconds (WGS84) Latitude : 15 15' 00 Longitude : 73 55' 00
History
Annexed by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Goa is famously the most Christian of Indian states. Christianity is not in fact the majority religion - only about a third of Goans are Christians.
Navelim's church was first built by the Jesuits in the 1590s; the present, Portuguese-style whitewashed structure was constructed later on when the older building became too small. The reconstruction was apparently financed by a local merchant "Barreto" who was saved from bankruptcy through the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary.
According to legend, this church was built in mud similar to the other churches in Salcete Taluka, in the year 1594 to 1598. The builders were Jesuits and it was financed by the villagers. The first parish priest of Navelim Church was a French Jesuit Fr. John Sena. (Mitras Lusitanas no Oriente)
As time passed, the church became small for the growing population. Later on, it was reconstructed with laterite stones on a larger scale by a rich Goan merchant, whose name is not given.
This merchant, according to legend , while passing through the main road running in front of the above church, received the message that he would lose a substantial amount of money in his business. As soon as he received this message, he entered the church and started praying to Our Lady of Rosary, requesting her to relieve him from this catastrophe. If his prayers were answered, he promised to reconstruct the original church, on a larger scale. As a result of his intercession to Our Lady of Rosary, he recovered not only what he had lost, but realised double the amount. He then financed the entire reconstruction, not only of the church but he also renewed the statue of our Lady of Rosary. Information on further reconstruction of Navelim church, if any, are not known.
NAVELIM FEAST
The celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Rosary begins every third Wednesday in November. This devotion of Our Lady comprises an extensive celebration which begins with traditional processions and novenas.
Each year the family selected to celebrate the feast paints the church on the outside fifteen days before the feast. The inside of the church is also beautifully decorated and the outside is covered with fairy lights. Most of the houses and streets in the village are lit up with colourful lights during the celebrations.
Every four years, the statue of Our Lady of Rosary is brought down from the altar and a procession takes Her to Holy Rosary School where mass is held in the playground. During this one day consecration of Our Lady, children from the school act out scenes from the Bible and the playground is filled with crowds of villagers.
On the third Wednesday in November at 3:00 a.m., a candlelight procession carries a beautifully decorated statue of Our Lady towards the church. Everyday for the following nine days, the Novena prayers begin between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. On the tenth day masses begin at 5:00 a.m. and the celebration of the feast continues for the next three days.
In the evenings, a grand fireworks display is sponsored by the family selected to celebrate the feast that year. Throughout the day and night there are Konkani concerts. In addition there are dances held in the evenings which are well attended. The Navelim villagers invite families and friends for a celebration at their homes and they usually visit each others homes carrying trays of traditional Goan sweets.
NAVELIM FAIR According to legend, in earliest times, this fair consisted mainly of three or four sheds and lasted only for a day, because there was superstition that on the same night of the feast day, there was a gathering of devils in the area in front of the church.
DR. FRANCISCO SALVADOR GOMES, father of Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes, who was the administrator of Salcete, encouraged some of the owners of the sheds to extend the fair for three days. This was done, and fair gained in prominence so that today it is the most popular fair in Goa (Ultramor of 12-11-1869 no. 554 & Ultramor of 10-11-1900 year 42).
Today the fair comprises stalls selling toys, food and clothing. There are booth for games as well as a Fun Fair with merry-go-rounds and Ferris wheels. In addition, there are furniture stalls as well as stalls selling animals for farming such as goats, cows and buffaloes.
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Navelim had a population of 11,014. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Navelim has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 70%. In Navelim, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Landmarks
Navelim is rapidly expanding to become Margao's fastest growing suburban areas. Other landmarks include the railway station and the infamous Sky Bus. It has the Annual Festes De Leques
Sports
It has a football ground. It was constructed with the financial support of the people of navelim abroad and living in navelim.
Navelim is the soccer capital not only of Salcete but of Southern Goa. The Our Lady Of Enfermous Sports Club Football ground situated at Sinquetim is one of the best ground in Goa. Finals of Imperial Cup and other tournaments have been played on this ground. Navelim has the largest concentration of Catholics in Goa - over 20,000
Navelim is famous for its political, academic and spiritual talents. Some of the famous descendants of Navelim are:
Francisco Luís Gomes - statesman and linguist represented Goa in the Portuguese Parliament in Lisbon
His Eminence the late Valerian Cardinal Gracias (originally from Sinquetim), Archbishop of Bombay was the first Indian Prince of the Catholic Church.
F.X. Fernandes de Lord, from Navelim is the only one and first Goan who help of wind.
Navelim is one of the largest villages in Goa. Some of the name of Navelim vaddos are - Aquem, Belem, Buttica, Coldem, Colmoroda, Danddo, Dialgona, Dongorim, Firgulem, Fradilem, Mandopa, Modi, Ratvaddo, Rawanfond, Sinquetim, Sirvodem, Telaulim.
Schools and Colleges
Rosary College of Commerce and Arts is one of the most famous colleges in Goa. Beside's arts and commerce it also offers other courses like BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration), BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications), M.Com etc. Rosary higher secondary, Rosary school, Perpetual succor convent are also located in that area.
References
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Navelim
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
External links
- The Goa Jesuit Province of the Society of Jesus - The Jesuits in Goa
Categories:- Cities and towns in South Goa district
- Comunidades of Goa
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
