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Goa Liberation Day is observed annually in India on December 19. If you were wondering why December was such a busy month in the “Union Territory of Goa,” Sunburn isn’t only the answer. The Goa Liberation Day celebrates the liberation of Goa from Portuguese dominion on 19th December 1961. It is seen as a momentous day, as it terminated an age-old rule that was eventually exploitative and dissatisfying. The Liberation of Goa from the Portuguese domain was quite a momentous occasion in the already chequered Goan history.
History of Goa Liberation Day
Even though the British dominion left India in 1947, Goa remained under the control of the Portuguese, who refused to give up control of the Goa state despite several requests from India. The struggle for the liberation of Goa was two-fold: from within Goa and from outside Goa (led by the Indian Government). In late 1961, the Indian Government started to deploy the armed forces after several attempts at peaceful negotiations. However, it is also believed that the Portuguese army possessed supersonic interceptors, which could destroy the strength of the Indian armed forces. Hence, the Indian Airforce requested that the strength of the ground force be reinforced. On December 17, 1961, nearly 30,000 Indian ground troops with the Indian Air Force and Navy invaded the 3,000 members of the ill-prepared Portuguese army. The entire operation, named “Operation Vijay,” was completed with minimal bloodshed. At last, Portuguese Governor-General Vassalo Da Silva gave up control of Goa on late 18th December 1961. On December 19, 1961, Goa finally became a part of India, and thus the day is celebrated on December 19. On the same day, some Portuguese-controlled areas like Daman and Diu were also retrieved.
Other celebrations on December 19
December 19 is also celebrated as
How to celebrate the day
Every year, people in Goa celebrate Goa Liberation Day with great excitement. The torchlight procession will take off from three different locations and will med together at Azad Maidan, where the people of Goa will gather to pay tribute to the martyrs who lost their lives while fighting for the liberation of Goa. After this, the celebrations will take off with several cultural activities all around Goa. From traditional dances by school girls to fairs, the parties will be conducted until late evening. Post pictures and share your celebrations on social media by using the hashtag #GoaLiberationDay.
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