Category: Books & Literature

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Parra, the quaint and age-old village located just outside Mapusa in North Goa, will soon see its story preserved in print with the release of Parra: The Quintessential Goan Village, the first book dedicated entirely to the village. Authored by Cosme Lobo, a former English and Mathematics teacher and a well-known local resident, the book is an attempt to record the memories, traditions and cultural identity of Parra at a time when the countryside is rapidly changing.

Through its winding lanes, age-old fields and lived experiences, the book takes readers on a nostalgic journey into the heart of Parra. Lobo revisits the village’s heritage, traditional lifestyles and landmarks that shaped its identity over generations. He presents a concise history and geography of Parra, Verla and Canca, the three original aldeias collectively known in the past by the acronym ‘PVC’.

Highlighting the spirit of religious harmony, the author writes about the earliest place of worship known as the ‘Deusan’, where people of different faiths continue to gather in reverence of the lord of all creation. He also documents a small dome-shaped chapel dedicated to the Holy Cross, believed to have once been devoted to Brahmadevi Khelbika Laxmi Mata. Despite changes in religious affiliation over time, the site remains a shared space of prayer for both Hindus and Christians.

The book walks readers through Parra’s temples, chapels and the St Anne’s Church, which continue to be central to village life. It pays tribute to the hardworking farmers for whom Parra has long been synonymous with its famous watermelons, while also recalling the toddy-tappers of the past, noted musicians, sports personalities, freedom fighters and community leaders who shaped the village’s destiny.

In more recent times, Parra has gained widespread recognition for its iconic Madanni road lined with coconut palms, now a popular spot for photography. At the end of this road stands the church, often compared to Rome’s Sistine Chapel for its painted ceiling and fresco-lined corridors. The village is also home to one of Goa’s earliest English medium schools, Sacred Heart School, founded in 1912, along with institutions such as the Comunidade, which played a vital role in cooperative farming, planned water bodies and flood prevention through carefully constructed bunds and lanes.

Lobo also documents Parra’s religious institutions, including temples dedicated to Lord Bodgeshwar, Sateri Verlekarin Devi, Shree Nagnath Mahadev Prasanna, Shree Vishwati Vishweshwar Shivshankar and Shree Varad Siddhivinayak Mandir, the latter being well known for its Sarvajanik Ganesh Festival. Cultural traditions such as the singing of Moteti during Lent, Saint John’s festivities marked by well-jumping and gumot playing, and weddings once held under mollam pandals are vividly recalled.

The book also shines a light on present-day trendsetters from Parra, including coconut shell artists, a reviver of the mollam craft, a Hollywood actor and a young woman aircraft pilot. It acknowledges the village’s sporting legacy, noting athletes and players who excelled in football, hockey and athletics, alongside the contributions of freedom fighters and political leaders.

Parra: The Quintessential Goan Village will be released on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, during the Festival of Stars at the Parra Tinto. The foreword is written by Parra parish priest Fr Pedro da Gama, who appreciates Lobo’s dedication to documenting the village’s legacy. The book is published by Goa,1556, marking an important milestone in preserving Parra’s cultural memory for future generations.