Santa Cruz, Goa


Santa Cruz or Calaphur is a village-suburb of the Goan state capital of Panjim.

Largest, population

Santa Cruz is the largest village in Goa with a population of 21,000 people different religions and also who trace their origins to different parts of India.

Location

Geographically, it is situated in the North Goa district in the Sub-District of Ilhas de Goa or Tiswadi taluka or sub-district.
Santa Cruz is bounded north with Rio de Ourem. Its neighbouring villages are Merces village which stretches from the north-east to the east, Bambolim which stretches from east to the south and Taleigao which stretches from the south to the west. Panjim, the capital city of the state of Goa located on the largest of the islands, is to its northwest.

Village geography

This village is sub-divided into 11 wards, each of which has its own individuality within the village. These include Bandh Vaddo , Bondir, Cabesa Ward, Primeiro Bairro, Segundo Bairro.
St. Cruz is also the name of a constituency of the Goa Legislative Assembly and is currently represented by Congress politician Antonio Fernandes of the Indian National Congress party. It was formerly represented by Atanasio Monserrate also known as "Babush" Monserrate, and Victoria Fernandes. At one stage, this was the electoral constituency of the prominent Goan politician Dr. Jack de Sequeira.
Following is a list of the politicians who represented the constituency:
YearLegislatorParty
1963Jack de SequeiraUnited Goans Party
1967Jack de SequeiraUnited Goans Party
1972Jack de SequeiraUnited Goans Party
1977Erasmo de SequeiraJanata Party
1980Michael FernandesIndian National Congress
1984Francisco BrancoIndependent
1989Victor GonsalvesIndian National Congress
1994Victoria FernandesIndependent
1999Victoria FernandesIndian National Congress
2002Victoria FernandesIndian National Congress
2007Victoria FernandesIndian National Congress
2012Atanasio MonserrateIndian National Congress
2017Antonio FernandesIndian National Congress

Places of interest

Santa Cruz has several places of interest. Among these are, Almacho Khuris, Char Khambe, Saint Anthony's Chapel, and its disappearing salt pans which form a part of the reclaimed waterlogged khazan lands that are also used for aquaculture, pisciculture and agriculture.

Almacho Khuris

Santa Cruz shares a border, in the northwest, with Taleigao village, and has an unusual story of how a boundary dispute was settled. The Taleigaokars kasti/cashti in place. Goa is a land of tambdi mathi and tambdi kasti. On the very location, tradition says, stands the “Almacho Khuris” which faces the Santa Cruz Church, Ilhas, Goa. The concrete Almacho Khuris monument about 10’ tall commemorates the boundary disputes triumph and tragedy after Christianity replaced traditional symbols. Hence, every Calaporkar villager is referred to as “Bhenddak Kiddo.” The Almacho Khuris is a historic border dispute monument which lies on a bandh between villages of Santa Cruz and Taleigao.

Char Khambe

The Four Pillars or the 'Char Khambe', as they are called in the Konkani language, are painted white, and are located in the khazan lands on the old Santa Cruz–Panjim roads in the marshy area of the Rio de Ourem. This road is now named as Vasantrao Dempo Marg. During Portuguese rule, freedom fighters gathered here and held meetings and discussions, making it a very important landmark in Goa. It was built in 1896.
The khazans—which refer to low-lying land situated near creeks or river side which is normally below high tide level—is situated on the St Cruz stretch. The area is surrounded by rice paddy fields on both the sides. It is one of the busiest roads in Panjim. With the hustle bustle all day long, the four pillars about 15' tall each, two on each side of the road may appear to be just another structure. Physically, the site act as a buffer between the hectic urban environment of city of Panjim and the serene village environs of Santa Cruz. The place, is part of the unique Goan landscape, is very fragile and irreplaceable in nature and any thoughtless human intervention can cause drastic and irreparable consequential damage in the long run. The site is a low-lying tidal flood plain and is part of the natural drainage pattern during the rainy season on account of the surrounding topography.
The marshy wetland is a host to mangrove vegetation which plays a definite role in the maintenance of vital ecological balance. The place is also a popular habitat to a wide variety of local and migratory birds and is a bird-watcher's delight. It is quite common to find researchers and bird lovers from distant countries here, with their trained cameras. This place finds mention on the Internet along with the Karmali lake, Chorao, Mayem lake and others in Goa.
But for the locals here, they aren't just structures. There are sluice gates at this structure, which controlled the flow of marine water for the salt pans, which are on the south. The north area is an estuary with plenty of flora and fauna. This area is believed by some locals to be haunted, with the haunting at its peak on full moon nights. According to the commuters who have travelled via the stretch, there is an eerie feeling that prevails at the spot. They have also claimed to have sighted some apparitions in the nights. Locals say that the area is jinxed and cursed and this is one reason for the numerous accidents taking place here. Others sightings reportedly include those of a lady dressed in a white saree and supposedly asking for a lift. People also claim of hearing cries and have even had a sudden breaking down of bikes as soon as they reach the Char Khambe.
A unique organizational structure called comunidade, headed by a hereditary descendant, is involved in governing villages and regulating the agricultural activities in Goan villages. Each village constitutes a comunidade and has its own rules depending on the local customs. This is one of the oldest administrative setup, which is in existence for the past thousand years and has been recognised by the Constitution. In the past, the comunidade was responsible for reclaiming the waterlogged lands along the coasts and making them suitable for agricultural activities, aquaculture, pisciculture and salt production.

Religious institutions

In post-colonial days, people all from different religions and also from different parts of India have inhabited and called Santa Cruz their home. It is amazing how people of different religions do give importance to each other's festivals and exchange greetings.

Church of Santa Cruz,

The Igreja de Santa Cruz is one of the several churches in Ilhas de Goa which was built in 1547. It is also the only church in the town, serving one of the largest parishes in Goa. The Santa Cruz parish celebrates the parish feast of the Holy Cross which falls on the Sunday between 2 and 8 May every year and the feast of Our Lady of Rosary which takes place on the fourth Sunday of every January. Both these feasts are preceded by a novena, special church services run for a period of nine days in the church. Other important festive occasion are the yearly paddy harvest festival which is held on 24 August every year, a popular festival full of pomp where a church priest blesses the new crop produced.

Chapel of Saint Anthony's

Mosques

Temples

The Hindus have their spiritual festival such as, Ganesh Chaturthi, Hindu Diwalli and Shigmo. Lord Ganesh is widely worshipped as the God of education, knowledge, wisdom, wealth and destroyer of evils and obstacles.

Notable people