São João Festival in Goa

São João is an annual Catholic religious festival celebrated on 24th June in Goa, India. According to tradition, after attending Mass, young Goan Catholic men leap into and swim in local wells, streams, and ponds as a tribute to Saint John the Baptist.

People wear kopels – or crowns – made of flowers and a creeper known locally as sanjuachi vaal (transl. creeper of São João). The creeper is found growing in wells during the early monsoons. It also has small red flowers that add to the beauty of the kopel. Some believe that the creeper was worn by Saint John himself.

While the general perception is that the festival is only celebrated by jumping into wells, Catholics also pray on this occasion for a good monsoon.

In recent times, the festival has gained popularity among tourists. The festival has also been commercialized, with pool parties and resort celebrations included as part of celebrations.