“Man: a being in search of meaning.”
Plato
A Great Way to Know the Goan Roots – The Big Foot Museum
Weeks and weeks of Goan history and I still wondered about the history of the people. This is when I walked into yet another less explored place. And, I figured what a great way to know the Goan roots was – The Big Foot museum at Loutolim. It may appear to some as a place for children to wander around, but this small place holds a visual treat to delight even the oldest amongst us. The Ancestral Goa project is the brainchild of artist Maendra Alvares, who conceptualised it in 1993.
What once was a rocky bed of nothingness took shape as the sculpture of Mira Bai, one of India’s more famous saints. It is the recipient of many awards for being the “longest laterite sculpture” in India. From here, Ancestral Goa grew to include an eye-catching tableau of Goan rural life.
A colourful walk through the lifelike sculptures accompanied by a guide and audio played at each location, brings an authentic feel of Goan life. A wonderful theme park that takes around an hour to tour but leaves you richer in experience. An experience of the cultural weave that is beyond religion and celebrates a shared history.
Picture Gallery of the Big Foot Museum
Entry to the museum appears like a castle with the sculpture of Goan Band welcoming you in. The insides though are like a rural house replete with a hand-operated fan and old palanquin.
A home-operated feni factory is fascinating, so are scenes around the village pond. The entire park depicts different professions, rituals, and attires of the local population as is.
Another interesting thing to see at this museum is the large footprint of ‘Big Foot’; a legend repeated so many times over the centuries that it is part of Goan folklore now. A holy place within the complex, locals pray here for good luck by lighting candles at this small shrine.
The Ancestral Goa Big Foot museum is a culmination of the cultural journey that I started many weeks ago. Looking at Goa beyond the beaches and club scenes, I have brought you a glimpse of Goa’s rich history with its forts, nature trails, and heritage and a great way to know the Goan roots – The Big Foot Museum
