Aldona (or Aldonã) is a village that lies in the

Bardez ''Bardez'' or ''Bardes'' ( IPA: ) is a ''taluka'' of the North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. Etymology The name is credited to the Saraswat Brahmin immigrants who emigrated to the Konkan via Magadha plains in northern India. B ...

taluka A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluk, or taluka () is a local unit of administrative division in India and Pakistan. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administrative ...

of the Indian coastal state of

Goa Goa (; ; ) is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is bound by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the ...

. It is known for producing several prominent

Goans Goans ( Romi Konkani: , ) is the demonym used to describe the people native to Goa, India, formerly part of Portuguese India (''Estado Português da Índia''). They form an ethno-linguistic group resulting from the assimilation of Indo-Aryan, ...

personalities.

Geography

Aldona is located at at an average elevation of . Aldona, as a

comunidade The Comunidades of Goa are a form of land association developed in Goa, India, where land-ownership is collectively held, but controlled by the male descendants of those who claimed to be the founders of the village, who in turn mostly belonged to ...

-village, comprises around 16 wards. Bodiem and Danua wards are separated from the main village area by the

Mapusa Mapusa () is a city in North Goa, India. It is situated 13 km north of the state capital of Panaji. The city is the headquarters of Bardez taluka. It is located on the main highway NH-17, linking Mumbai to Kochi. During Portuguese Indi ...

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) Aldona is one of the 40 Goa Legislative Assembly constituencies of the state of Goa in southern India. Aldona is also one of the 20 constituencies falling under North Goa Lok Sabha constituency. Members of the Legislative Assembly Election ...

and

North Goa (Lok Sabha constituency) North Goa Lok Sabha constituency (formerly, Panaji Lok Sabha constituency) is one of the two Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies in Goa state in western India along with South Goa. Assembly segments Presently, North Goa Lok Sabha parliamen ...

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 The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

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 The Titular Patriarch of the East Indies (; for Titular Patriarchate of the East Indies) in the Catholic hierarchy is the title of the Archbishop of Goa and Daman in India; another of his titles is the Primate of the East. Unlike the patriarch ...

and Archbishop of Goa and Daman, India,

Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão Filipe is a common first name in Portuguese-speaking countries. It is a Portuguese and Galician spelling of the name Philip (aka Phillip) (the name is spelled Felipe in Spanish and in archaic Portuguese orthography). Famous Filipes Royalty Ther ...

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 Mapusa River (Rio de Mapuça) is one of the main tributaries of the River Mandovi in Goa, India. The river originates from the jungles of Dumacem and Amthane, meanders eastward and then southward before it drains itself in the Mandovi river ...

, a tributary of the

Mandovi River The Mandovi (International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ) or Mahadayi (International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ), formerly known as the Rio de Goa, is a river described as the lifeline of the Indian state of Goa. The Mandovi and the Zuari River, Zua ...

. 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. The church's website is updated with the latest info along with a virtual tour of the churc
Aldona Church Website

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. * St Thomas Boys High School. Founded in 1923. Currently run by the Fransalian Fathers

- 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 * 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 Ucassaim is a village in Bardez, in the west coastal region of Goa. It is located close to Mapusa town and is known as the home for some prominent persons from the area. Ucassaim was once is known as ''Mistirincho Ganv'', (Musicians' Village) be ...

Notable people

* Alfred Rose, singer, tiatrist, melody king of Goa *

Anil Joseph Thomas Couto Anil Joseph Thomas Couto is the serving archbishop of the Archdiocese of Delhi. Early life He was born on 22 September 1954 in Pomburpa, Goa, to Mr. Avito Piedade Jose Couto and Mrs. Ernestina Isabel Lobo e Couto. Joseph Coutts, Archbis ...

, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi (2013–present) *

Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão Filipe is a common first name in Portuguese-speaking countries. It is a Portuguese and Galician spelling of the name Philip (aka Phillip) (the name is spelled Felipe in Spanish and in archaic Portuguese orthography). Famous Filipes Royalty Ther ...

, the current Archbishop of Goa and Daman *

Isabel de Santa Rita Vás Maria Isabel de Santa Rita Vás is an Indian author, playwright, theatre director and teacher. She is the founder of the Mustard Seed Art Company (an amateur theatre group from Goa) and has been associated from its inception with the Positive P ...

, author, playwright, theatre director and teacher *

Joseph Coutts Joseph Coutts (born 21 July 1945) is a Pakistani prelate of the Catholic Church, who served as Archbishop of Karachi from 2012 to 2021. He served as Bishop of Faisalabad from 1998 to 2012. Pope Francis made Coutts a cardinal on 28 June 20 ...

, archbishop of Karachi, since 2012

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, St. Thomas Church Aldona

References

{{Authority control Villages in North Goa district