Goa Velha ,Gaudas

Goa Velha (Konkani: Vhoddlem Gõi/ व्हडलें गोंय) is a census town in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. It should not be confused with the World Heritage Site Velha Goa (English: Old Goa). St. Andrew's church is its parish church. It is well known for its yearly 'procession of saints' (Konkani: Santanchem Pursanv)

HISTORY
The town of Goa Velha stands on the site of the ancient port of "Govapuri" or "Gokapattana", which was founded by the Kadamba dynasty in the 11th century on the banks of the Zuari. Govapuri was one of the main ports first of Kadamba kingdom, and subsequently of the Vijayanagara Empire. In the 15th century, a number of wars were fought between the Deccan sultanates and Vijayanagar for control of the Goa region, as a result of which Govapuri came under the control of the Adilshahs of Bijapur. Govapuri was devastated by the wars. In addition, the Zuari had begun to recede from the port as a result of silting. As a result, the new Adilshahi rulers built a new port city for Goa some distance to the north, on the banks of the Mandovi. The Portuguese eventually made the new city the capital of Portuguese India, and called the old port of Govapuri "Goa Velha" (Portuguese for "Goa the Old"). Goa Velha continued to exist as a small town under Portuguese rule, and in 1961 was incorporated into India along with the rest of Goa.
 

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,  Goa Velha had a population of 5411. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Goa Velha has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 71%. In Goa Velha, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Gaudas and Kunbis (Konkani:गावडें,कुणबी) are aboriginal people residing in the coastal Indian state of Goa. They are of Proto-Australoid stock and are believed to be the original inhabitants ofKonkan. Most of them have been following folk Hinduism,whereas many were baptized to Catholicism by the Portuguese missionaries in last few centuries,while they have still kept their folk tradition and culture alive.They were hierarchically classified as landless laborers.

Subgroups

They are organised into various subgruops such as :

• Velip (Konkani: वेळीप)

• Gauncar (Konkani: गांवकार)

• Zalmi (Konkani: जल्मी)

These groups had their specific roles within their community.They had their own priests and worshiped deities like Santeri or the anthill,Bhauka,Kelbai,Malkajan,Malkumi.Almost all of these deities were Sanskritised either by others or themselves in the course of time.

Current Social status

They are categorised as an Other Backward Class. 

Modern organizations

Gaudas, Kunbis, Velip and another shepherd tribe called the Dhangar, have organised themselves into an aboriginal focussed network, called The Gauda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar Federation or in short GAKUVED. Another Adivasi-rights resource center MAND also works for their betterment.

Shuddhi movement

On 23 February 1928, many Catholic Gaudes were re-converted to Hinduism notwithstanding the opposition of the Church and the Portuguese government. This was carried out by a Hindu religious institution from Mumbai known as Masurashram. The converts were given Hindu names but the Portuguese government put impediments in their way to get legal sanction to their new Hindu names.4851 Catholics from Tiswadi,2174 fromPonda,250 from Bicholim and 329 from Sattari Catholic Gaudes were re-converted to Hinduism after nearly 400 years. The total number of the converts to Hinduism was 7815.

Food and dress

Goan Gauda and Kunbis,and those of them who have migrated to other states use a typical way of draping Sari or Kappad,it is called as denthli in Konkani,this form of draping is created by tying a knot in the fabric below the shoulder and a strip of cloth which crossed the left shoulder was fasten on the back.