Chorao

Chorão
Choddnnem or Chodna
Ilha dos Fidalgos
Island

Location of Chorão (dark blue) in Ilhas ae Goa (light blue)
Chorão
Coordinates: 15°32′50.7″N 73°52′45.8″E / 15.547417°N 73.879389°E / 15.547417; 73.879389Coordinates: 15°32′50.7″N 73°52′45.8″E / 15.547417°N 73.879389°E / 15.547417; 73.879389
Country  India
State Goa
District North Goa
Taluka Ilhas
Named for Island of Noblemen (in Portuguese)
Government
 • Type Panchayat
Elevation 8 m (26 ft)
Population
 • Total 5,345[1]
Demonym(s) Chodankor
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Postcode 403102
Telephone Code 0832

Chorão, also known as Chodna, is an island along the Mandovi River near Ilhas, Goa, India. It is the largest among other 17 islands of Goa. It is located 5 km away from the state capital, the city of Panjim and 10 km away from the city of Mapusa.[2] Even today, one can visit this area and see the distinct churches, graveyards and buildings all with a Portuguese air.

Chorão is accessible by the ferries from Ribandar or Divar Island, is mainly known for its beautiful bird sanctuary. If you arrive here with your own transport it's worth a ride through the countryside to little Chorão village, with its handful of whitewashed village churches and picturesque Portuguese homes.[3]

Etymology

The Islanders call it Chodan or Chodna. The inhabitants of the island are called Chodankar, Chodanekar or Todankar.

It was the Portuguese who called it Chorão. The Portuguese noblemen found the island a pleasurable place to live and hence the name Ilha dos Fidalgos (Island of Noblemen).

The island was historically called Chudamani, meaning "stunning precious stone" in Sanskrit.

History

The Chorão Island also preserves the traces of a very interesting ancient history, Indian Brahmin and Portuguese colonizers. The Island has several old houses, Catholic churches of the 16th century and dozens of newer Hindu temples.[2]

In 1510, this area was one of the first to be conquered by the Portuguese and by 1552, the island of Chorão had a population of just above 3,000. 300 of whom were Christian and by this time, a small church was built. By the end of 1559, over 1,200 had accepted baptism in total. The following year, in 1560, the first bishop from the Jesuit order, Dom João Nunes de Barreto set up residence in Chorão, which eventually became a Noviciate.[4] Most of Chorão's population accepted Roman Catholicism in mid 1560 as a result

When the Portuguese began the evangelizing of Goa, many Hindus chose to relocate their idols to the villages of Naroa and Marcela (both places were in Portuguese dominion at the time). The island was Christianised by the Jesuits as they did the adjoining Islands of Divar and Salcete.

Seminary of Chorão

A seminary called the Real Colégio de Educação de Chorão was established in April 1761. It belonged of the Parish of Our Lady of Graca de Chorão, on Chorão island

Decline

In the 1850s, with the decline of Old Goa, the island of Chorão too fell from grace and was gradually abandoned by the residents. As a result, the Seminary of Chorão village, on Chorão island, went into decline as well and finally had to be shut in 1958. Subsequently, the retables of Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Our Lady of Assumption) Church and the Nossa Senhora do Amparo/Patrocinio (Our Lady of Protection) Chapel of the Seminary of Chorão were shifted to the Saligao Church which had already started in 1953.

Fires

The Chorão seminary institution on Chorão island seems to have had some strange affinity for fire:

Legends and Myths

The island was historically called Chudamani, meaning stunning precious stone in Sanskrit.

There are several legends connected to this place. One of them tells about of the islands emerging from diamonds that were thrown away by Yashoda the mother of Lord Krishna.[2]

It is believed that 10 families of Goud Saraswat Brahmins were amongst the earliest settlers of this island. The island was said to be a place of learning and said to have a University of Sanskrit (though no archaeological evidence supports this theory). It is also thought,that the island had small temples for deities like Ganesh, Mallinath, Devki-Krishna, Santa-purush, Narayan, etc. The main deity Devaki-Krishna and its associated deities of Bhumika Devi, Laxmi Ravalnath, Mallinath, Katyayani, Chodaneshwar and Dhada Shankar were taken to Mayem in Bicholim and then relocated to their present location at Marcel. On Caroi Vaddo of Chorão, on the banks or river Mandovi, there were temples dedicated to goddess Gaja Lakshmi and Ravalnath.

Villages

The Chorão island constituted of three comunidades namely:

Saude is the centre of the island.

Chorão

This village is located on the south of the island.

Village Church

Our Lady of Grace Church

Ambelim

This village is located on the north west of the island.

Village Church

St Bartholomews Church, Chorao

Caraim (Caroi)

This village is located on the north east of the island.

Village Church

Nossa Senhora De Saude Chapel.

Temples

Like in all of Goa, the high immigration rate of Hindus from surrounding states have caused a dramatic change in the demographics, culture and landscape in Chorão. Though immigration was allowed during the secular Salazar regime, it has been put into full gear after the Invasion of Goa by India.

Many temples have been built since the last century. One example is the temple of Shri Devaki Krishna Bhumika Mallinath built on 11 January 1934.

Bird Sanctuary

The Chorão Island is attractive primarily because of its amazing flora and fauna. Here you will see lots of mangroves – the amazing and beautiful forests growing in the water.

Chorão is also home to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, in the western part of the island, on an area of 178 hectares. It is the largest bird sanctuary of Goa is located. The reserve has got its name from the famous Indian ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali and now it proudly bears the name of "Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary". The territory of this National Park is inhabited by migratory and local birds of over 400 species. The crocodiles can also be seen among the aquatic inhabitants of Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.populationofindia.co.in/goa/north-goa-/tiswadi/.chorao
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Chorao Iisland - thegoavilla.com".
  3. ↑ "Chorao Island, India - Lonely Planet". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  4. ↑ Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians, Alan Machado Prabhu, I.J.A. Publications, 1999, p.101
  5. ↑ "Chorao island seminary history | Saligao Serenade". saligaoserenade.com. Retrieved 2015-11-25.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, April 03, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.