| Fun, frolic and feni are the
three f-words that rule the roost in Goa. The tiny emerald land
on the west coast of India sandwiched between the borders of
Maharashtra and Karnataka, is a fun-lover`s ultimate destination.
Once a Portuguese colony, Goa still bears vestiges of its
erstwhile colonial masters - in the names of the places, in
the surnames of its people and in its spiritual inclination.
The famous saint, Makhdum Shaikh Ahmed Khattu, a disciple of
Baba Ishq Maghribi of Khattu, settled and died at Sarkhej, about
10 km south-west of Ahmedabad . Construction on a 'dargah' and
mosque were begun in 1446, under Mohammad Shah II, and completed
in the reign of Sultan Qutub-Ud-Din Ahmed Shah.
The 'dargah', the largest of its kind in Gujarat, has a plinth
area of 31.70 m, and is roofed by a large dome. It also has
surrounding rows of 13 pillars on each side. The walls are
broken up into two storeys, and perforated stonework of great
variety fills up the spaces above and below the dividing stones.
The inner central square is partitioned by screen walls, perforated
in steel and metal, with a door in similar workmanship.
The earliest known inhabitants of Goa were the people of Mhar
tribe. Around 4000 BC, a pastoral tribe migrated to Goa who
had the skills needed to tame animals. This is perhaps the
reason why so many names by which Goa has been known contains
the term, Go (cow). Later other tribes like the Asuras, Kol,
Mundaris and Kharwas came and settled in Goa. This was around
3000 BC. 600 years later, the first batch of Aryan set their
feet on the grounds of Goa followed by Sumerians who came
after another 400 years. The Sumerians were a part of well
developed civilisation and hence brought about numerous significant
changes in the culture, lifestyle and thought process of the
people. Some of the important changes made by them are still
seen in Goa.
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