Aldona
Village
Aldona is located in Goa
Aldona
Aldona
Location of Aldona in Goa
Aldona is located in India
Aldona
Aldona
Aldona (India)
Coordinates: 15°35′23″N 73°52′24″E / 15.58972°N 73.87333°E / 15.58972; 73.87333
CountryIndia
StateGoa
DistrictNorth Goa
Sub-districtBardez
Government
 • BodyPanchayat
Elevation
19 m (62 ft)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total6,320
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
403508
Area code91 0832

Aldona is a village in the Taluka of Bardez in the Indian state of Goa. It is known for producing several prominent Goans.

Geography

Aldona is located at 15°35′23″N 73°52′24″E / 15.58972°N 73.87333°E / 15.58972; 73.87333 at an average elevation of 19 metres (62 ft).[1]

Aldona, as a comunidade-village, comprises around 16 wards. Bodiem and Danua wards are separated from the main village area by the Mapusa river, and come under the neighboring village of Tivim's panchayat. Aldona comunidade's other wards are Quitula, Ranoi, Coimawaddo, Gutcoi, Udoi, Cottarbhat, Santerxette, Panarim, Naikawaddo, Castelwaddo, Carona, Lankdem, Panth, Corjuem and Calvim.[2]

Demographics

As of the 2011 India census,[3] Aldona had a population of 6,320. Males constituted 46% of the population and females 54%. Pin Code of Aldona is 403508 which comes under Goa postal division (Goa-Panaji Region, Maharashtra Circle).[4] The average literacy rate was 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Among the literate, 49% were males and 51% were females. 9% of the population was under 7 years of age.

Aldona is one of the few, if not the only, village which has two comunidades (village communities, or ganvkaria). Following "endless fights for nearly four centuries, culminating in the comunidade's bifurcation into two bodies – Communidade Fraternal of the Brahmins (which included goldsmiths) and the Comunidade de Boa Esperanca of the Chardo (Kshatriya) and Sudra castes."[5]

Government and politics

Aldona is part of Aldona (Goa Assembly constituency) and North Goa (Lok Sabha constituency).

Religion

Aldona is a multi-religious village where residents include mainly Christians, Hindus, and Muslims. In addition to the Catholic Church and several Chapels, there exist temples spread all over the village. The Catholic Church is dedicated to São Tomé (St. Thomas). The Chapels include those in the localities of Carona (St. Rita de Cascia), Quitula (Nosa Senhora de Piedade) and Corjuem (Mãe de Deus).

It has several wards (vadde), which include Quitula, Goncoi, Udoim, Coimavaddo (Voilo and Sokoilo), Carona, Santerxette, Khoirut, Castel Vaddo, Naikavaddo, Panarim, Maina Vaddo, Cottarbat, Soddo, Goddar, Panarim and Ranoi.

The Central part of Aldona is connected to Corjuem by a state-of-the-art cable-stayed bridge held by six cables from either direction.

The current Catholic Patriarch of the East Indies and Archbishop of Goa and Daman, India, Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão is from Aldona (born 20 January 1953 in Santerxette, Aldona, Goa, India)

St. Thomas Church

The façade of St. Thomas Church

The St. Thomas Church remains an awe-inspiring presence in Aldona.[6] It was built in 1596 on a high plateau on the banks of the Mapusa River, a tributary of the Mandovi River.[7] A flight of broad steps cut into a cliff leads to an open plain that surrounds the grand white building.

The Feast of St. Thomas is celebrated each year on the third Saturday following Easter Sunday.

Inside, the Church is ornately decorated with symbolic biblical murals and grand statues. The treasures of the Church are the subject of a village legend. At one time, the statues of the church were strung with jewelry by villagers as thanks for prayers answered. However, it is said that the churches were often robbed of these jewels.

The Church buildings are white-washed in the tradition of Goan churches. The bandstand on the grounds and the cemetery are also white-washed.

The gate of the church graveyard has a sign in Konkani which reads "Aiz Maka, Falea Tuka", prominently displayed at the entrance, which translates into something akin to 'Today for me, tomorrow for you', a poignant reminder of our mortality.

Prominent landmarks

  • Cemetery of the St. Thomas Church, Aldona
  • Aldona comunidade(s): The village community. This comunidade village is believed to be at least 2000 years old.[2]
  • St Thomas Boys High School. Founded in 1923. Currently run by the Fransalian Fathers[5]
  • St. Thomas Girls School - It is run by the Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel.
  • The Statue of educationist Professor Edward Soares erected at the Aldona market triangle.
  • Cable-stayed bridge to Corjuem island[8]
  • Calvim bridge
  • Stone bridge across Aldona backwaters
  • Khorjuvem (Corjuem) fort with four wide ramps
  • Cross marking the spot of the murder of Caitano Soares, en route to Ucassaim.[5]
  • State Bank of India, Aldona branch[9]
  • Bank of Baroda, Aldona branch, Goa[10]
  • HDFC BANK, Aldona branch, Goa[11]
  • CANARA BANK, Aldona branch, Goa[12]

Notable people

St. Thomas Church Aldona

References

  1. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Aldona
  2. 1 2 Pinto, Karina (12 July 2018). "Peace and tranquility in the beautiful village of Aldona". itsgoa.com. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  4. ↑ "Pin Code Aldona, North Goa, Goa Government".
  5. 1 2 3 "Aldona Still standing tall". Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "A page on Church of St. Thomas, Aldona from topsecretplaces.com". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
  7. ↑ "St. Thomas Church - Aldona, Goa - India". St. Thomas Church. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  8. ↑ "GSIDC | Design and construction of Aldona – Corjuem bridge across river Mapusa". www.gsidcltd.com. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  9. ↑ "STATE BANK OF INDIA, Aldona Branch, North Goa, Goa, BankIFSCcode.com". bankifsccode.com. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  10. ↑ "Bank Of Baroda, Aldona Branch, Aldona, Goa". IFSC Directory. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "HDFC BANK, Aldona Branch, Goa, IndiaBanksIFSCCode.com". indiabanksifsccode.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "HDFC BANK, Aldona Branch, Goa, tamilnadu IndiaBanksIFSCCode.com". bankcifnumberinfo.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  13. ↑ "Meet our shepherds".
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