Aldona

Aldona
Village
Aldona
Location of Aldona in Goa
Aldona
Aldona (India)
Coordinates: 15°35′23″N 73°52′24″E / 15.58972°N 73.87333°E / 15.58972; 73.87333Coordinates: 15°35′23″N 73°52′24″E / 15.58972°N 73.87333°E / 15.58972; 73.87333
Country India
State Goa
District North Goa
Sub-district Bardez
Elevation 19 m (62 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 6,320
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 403508
Area code(s) 91 0832

Aldona is a village in Bardez, Goa.

Geography

Aldona is located at 15°35′23″N 73°52′24″E / 15.58972°N 73.87333°E / 15.58972; 73.87333 at an average elevation of 19 metres (62 ft).[1]

Demographics

As of the 2011 India census,[2] Aldona had a population of 6,320. Males constituted 46% of the population and females 54%. The average literacy rate was 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5 per cent; 49% of males and 51% of females were literate. 9% of the population was under 7 years of age.

Religion

The church is dedicated to São Tomé (St. Thomas). The parish chapels include those in the localities of Carona (Sta. 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 Socoilo), Carona, Santerxette, Castel Vaddo, Naikavaddo, Panarim, Maina Vaddo, Cottarbat 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 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.[3] 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 and lead to an open plain that surrounds the grand white building.

Inside, the Church is ornately decorated by 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. But Churches were often robbed of these jewels.

The Church buildings are white-washed in the tradition of Goan churches. The band stand in the grounds and the cemetery are also white-washed and all together evoke a feeling of awe.

The gate of the Church graveyard has a sign in Konkani "Aiz Maka Falea Tuka" which translates into something akin 'Me Today You Tomorrow' , a poignant reminder of our mortality.

Notable people

  • Alfred Rose — singer, tiatrist, melody king of Goa
  • Filipe Neri Ferrão — current Archbishop of Goa and Daman
  • 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.

[4]

References

  1. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Aldona
  2. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  3. ↑ "A page on Church of St. Thomas, Aldona from topsecretplaces.com". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
  4. ↑ http://www.sacredheartchurchbahrain.org/index.php/priests
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