Aldona - kuchewar

Aldona is a Village in the Taluka of Bardez in the State of Goa. It is known for producing several prominent Goans.

Geography
Demographics
Religion
St. Thomas Church
Prominent landmarks
Notable people
Gallery
References

Geography

Aldona is located at 15°35′23″N 73°52′24″Eat an average elevation of 19 metres (62 ft).

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

As of the 2011 India census, 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’sbifurcation into two bodies – Communidade Fraternal of the Brahmins (which included goldsmiths) and the Comunidade de Boa Esperanca of the Chardo (Kshatriya) and Sudra castes.”

Religion

Aldona is a multi-religious village where residents include mainly Christians, Hindus, and Muslims. In addition to a number of Catholic churches, there exist temples spread all over the village. The main Catholic church is dedicated to São Tomé (St. Thomas). The Parish 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 vadde (wards), which include Quitula, Goncoi, Udoim, Coimavaddo (Voilo and Sokoilo), Carona, Santerxette, Khoirut, Castel Vaddo, Naikavaddo, Panarim, Maina Vaddo, Cottarbat, Soddo, Goddar, Panarim and Ranoi.

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 facade of St. Thomas Church

The Church of St. Thomas 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 ‘Me Today, You Tomorrow’, a poignant reminder of our mortality.

Prominent landmarks

Panoramic image of the Corjuem Fort

Church of St Thomas
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

Notable people

The late Alban Couto, former adviser to the Governor of Goa, and senior government bureaucrat, at his study in Aldona, 2009.

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-date).
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
Bernard Pereira. Soccer Player. Indian Olympian. Represented Orkay Mills.
Arthur Pereira. Soccer Player. Indian Olympian. Represented Orkay Mills.
Alban Couto, IAS officer first Development Commissioner of Goa After Liberation.
Bernardo Elvino de Sousa, author of The Last Prabhu, a book on genetics and history of Goa and Aldona.
Brendon Soares, renowned pastry chef at Harrods of London.
Bernard de Aldona – late singer-songwriter.
Antonio Francisco Fernandes (Francis):1st senior citizen from Aldona to win the 2nd(800m) and 3rd place (1500m) in running at the National level.