GOA'S CUCUMBER FEAST: The 26TH July marks the feast of St. Anne which is celebrated with great pomp and fervor at the majestic Talaulim Church, a masterpiece of Indian baroque architecture located in South Goa. What distinguishes this feast from the others is that is known as the ‘feast of cucumbers' or "Tovashyachem fest'. Women desirous of having a male child offer cucumbers to the patron saint. Besides cucumbers, spoons and moongbeans (udid) are also offered by young unmarried girls and bachelors in the hope of being blessed with a life-partner. St. Anne the mother of Mary was childless for many years before Mary was born, hence the devotion to her.

SAO JOAO FEAST IN GOA: The traditional St. John the Baptist feast or Sao Joao Feast as it is traditionally known in Goa was celebrated on June 24 with the traditional Koppel (head gear made of seasonal fruits and flowers) and jumping in wells, in a symbolic ritual of baptism. Traditionally grooms to be or newly wed young men jump in the well with a bottle of feni (local brew) who are then joined in by the other men folk. On this occasion, villagers also break coconuts and distribute the kernel to all present, along with other traditional sweets. One of the highlights of the feast are the traditional floats atop beautifully decorated canoes or boats which wind their way down the Siolim River.