Big Foot, Goa- A hundred years ago

It was second day in Goa and 2 day plan was for South Goa, North Goa and Old Goa was as follows. Basically North Goa had crowded beaches, fort while south Goa as calm and lonely beaches, lot of temples while Old Goa has only St. Xavier church. These all need definitely 2 full days to visit.

Day 1 (North Goa) – 1 hour cruise with live music in river Mandovi -Fort Aguada-Lunch break- Calangute and Baga beach joint – Vegator and Anjuna beach joint

Day 2 (South Goa and Old Goa) – Ancestral Goa -Shanta Durga temple- Mangueshi Temple-Lunch break- St. Xavier Church – Dona Paula-Colva beach

A miniature Goan village set up to recreate the rural life of old days. It is privately run by an artist called Maendra Jocelino Araujo Alvares. The open-air museum recreates Goan rural life as it was a hundred years ago.

In this model village one can also see different miniature houses that showcase traditional occupation and social classes such as fishermen, Goan artisans, a Music school known as Escola da Musica, farmers, liquors shops, the village market, and a feni distillery.

The main highlight however at Ancestral Goa is the giant 14 meter sculpture of Sant Mirabai carved in 30 days by MJA Alavres the enterprising artist cum museum owner. This has been cited in the Limca book of records for being the longest laterite sculpture in India.

THIS IS NOT AN ORDINARY PICTURE. This sings epic of our 900 years past.When on trip to Goa you will surely visit this ancient model village (called Big Foot -for some reasons). This WELCOMES you as soon as you enter this model village.
This picture is BEST EXAMPLE of “Divide and Rule”. Here we see Indians carrying the Palki as servants. Master is Portughese.
This is one of the very rare countries with such history of slavery for 900 years. We have to come out of this mentality and think as “Nationals”.. Discard those who laud “nationalism”. and spread divisions in society.

Layout – The museum also has fisherman – Victorin, cowshed and haystack. Then comes the Bhatti- Jaki’s distillery where Goa’s famous “Feni” and “Urak” is distilled.

A fan which is swung manually. Those days fans when there was no electricity.

Jaoao House- Farmer house- made of single room and verandah. Roof made of clay tiles, and house made of laterite stones and mud. Floor is smeared with cow dung. Just notice the drum and garments and saree in use.

Name Demo – Employed by landlord to look after land and maintain record

A local fisherman Dameo – displaying fish and wearing “kondo” which is made of cocunut which saves him from rain and sun.

Fisherman sitting next to his oar. Hut is made of cocunut palm. The hut was called “Victorin”.

Production of white salt as small scale industry

Husking of cocunut. They used spear called “kuddo” to husk 800 coconuts a day

Feel like lord- people sitting in “Machilla”

Then the potter – Nandu, Then carperter – Inas and the Shepherd-krish. The Craft Village where craftsmen are busy working on their ware.

Then comes the flower-seller, Basket Weaver, Bangle seller, Gram seller, The Cobbler and Tinto, which is a market place where fresh food products are sold.

Then Anand’s House, Music school of Maestre Cloude, Posro, the general stores or a shop, Taverna , the Country liquor shop made of stone and mud. Then Goan Farmer, Fowl-Path,The Hutch.

India’s Longest Laterite Sculpture

This sant Mirabai sculpture measuring 14 meters by 5 meters was done by Maendra Jocelino Araujo Alvares in just 30 days. The sculpture shows influence of the Gandhara School, The kumkum on the forehead, the armlet, pattli on her wrists and the paisona around her anckles give the sculpture a characteristic Goan appeal.

Then there is a Fruit and Spice Garden, Big foot Art Gallery and a Bookstall and Handicraft Display where bamboo and cane, clay and terracotta, toys, souvenirs etc. are displayed.

The dining hall holding about 70 persons at a time

Epilogue

If not great at least it gives glimpses of life of Goa a hundred years ago. Worth seeing for foreigners and will be worth seeing for Indians also after 100 years. Very well maintained.