goa

Portuguese Rule in Goa

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The Portuguese Arrival in Goa (1510) The Portuguese first conquered Goa in 1510. Their control was initially limited to five islands: Goa (also known as Tiswadi), Chorão, Divar, Vamsim, and Jua. Tiswadi alone consisted of thirty villages. These areas later became known as the Old Conquests (Velhas Conquistas). Expansion of the Old Conquests In 1543, … Read more

Nagdo Betal: The Mysterious Naked Guardian of Goa’s Folklore

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My Early Impressions As a child, the name betāla(बेताळ) conjured up one very specific image: the ghostly figure perched on King Vikramaditya’s back from the show Vikram and betāla. Pale, eerie, and whispering riddles, he was the stuff of bedtime chills and blanket-clutching nights. betāla also regularly appeared in the stories and conversations I heard … Read more