Aldona Grochal

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 at an average elevation of .

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.

Demographics

, 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). 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."

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 St. Thomas Church remains an awe-inspiring presence in Aldona. It was built in 1596 on a high plateau on the banks of the Mapusa River, a tributary of the Mandovi River. A flight of broad steps cut into a cliff lead to an open plain that surrounds the grand white building.
The Feast of St. Thomas is celebrated each year on the second Saturday following Easter.

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 jewellery 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 in 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

* St. Thomas Church
* 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.
* St Thomas High School. Founded in 1923. Currently run by the Fransalian Fathers
* Statue for educationist Professor Edward Soares erected at the Aldona market triangle.
* Cable-stayed bridge to Corjuem island
* 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.
* State Bank of India, Aldona branch
* Bank of Baroda, Aldona branch, Goa
* HDFC BANK, Aldona branch, Goa
* CANARA BANK, Indian bank, Tamil Nadu

Notable people

* Alfred Rose, singer, tiatrist, melody king of Goa.
* Filipe Neri Ferrão, current archbishop of Goa and Daman.
* Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi (2013–present).
* Joseph Coutts, archbishop of Karachi, since 2012.
* Fr. Gaspar Fernandes, O.F.M. Cap., Catholic capuchin priest serving in the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia
* Bernardo Elvino de Sousa, author of ''The Last Prabhu'', a book on genetics and history of Goa and Aldona.
*Alban Couto, IAS officer - first Development Commissioner of Goa after liberation.

Gallery

File:St. Thomas Church Aldona, grounds and band stand.JPG, St. Thomas Church
File:Interior of St. Thomas Church Aldona , Goa.JPG, The interior of St. Thomas Church
File:Graveyard gate of St. Thomas Church Aldona.JPG, St. Thomas Church Cemetery
File:One of the many beautiful frescos that adorn the interior of St Thomas Church, Aldona.JPG, One of the many frescos that adorn the interior of St. Thomas Church
File:St.Thomas Parish Center , Aldona, Goa.JPG, St. Thomas Parish Centre
File:Cable Bridge Corjuem.JPG, The cable bridge connecting Aldona and Corjuem
File:View of Aldona and Mapusa River tributary of the Mandovi River.JPG, A view of St. Thomas Church and the Mapusa River tributary of the Mandovi River
File:Mae De Deus Chapel , Corjuem.JPG, Mãe de Deus (Mother of God) Chapel in Corjuem
File:Mapusa11.JPG, Mapusa river in Aldona Goa
File:Chapel-Aldona.JPG, A chapel in Aldona Goa
File:Sluice gate in aldona.JPG, Sluice gate in Aldona Goa for fishing
File:1-IMG 4566.JPG, Aldona Goa
File:Chapel and lake view.JPG, Aldona, Goa
File:Approach to St Thomas l.JPG, Approach road to St. Thomas church
File:Breadmaking.JPG, Bread making in Aldona Goa
File:Breadmaking11.JPG, Bread making in Aldona Goa
File:Breadmaking122.JPG, Bread freshly out
File:Village bus at Aldona, Goa, India. Photo Frederick Noronha.jpg, Village bus at Aldona
File:Cemetery at Aldona village in Goa. Photo Frederick Noronha.jpg, St. Thomas Church Cemetery
File:St. Thomas Church, Aldona.jpg, St. Thomas Church Aldona
File:St. Thomas Church, Aldona View.jpg, alt=St. Thomas Church Aldona, St. Thomas Church Aldona

References

{{Authority control

Villages in North Goa district