Margao
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Margão Madugão |
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|---|---|
| City | |
Margão City Square
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|
 Margão
Margão
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| Coordinates: 15°16′25″N 73°57′29″E / 15.27361°N 73.95806°ECoordinates: 15°16′25″N 73°57′29″E / 15.27361°N 73.95806°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Goa |
| District | South Goa |
| Sub-district | Salcete |
| Government | |
| • Chairperson | Dr. Babita Prabhudesai |
| • Vice-chairperson | Dorris Texeira |
| Area | |
| • City | 15.10 km2 (5.83 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 22.1 km2 (8.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • City | 87,650 |
| • Metro | 106,484 |
| Demonym(s) | Madgaonkar (मडगांवकार) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 403601/2 |
| Telephone code | 0832 |
| Vehicle registration | GA-02-, GA-08- |
| Website | MMCMargao.gov.in |
Margão (pronounced [mɔɽɡãːw]) is the second largest city by population, and the commercial and cultural capital of the Indian state of Goa. It is the administrative headquarters of Salcete taluka and South Goa district. By road, Margão is located approximately 33 kilometres (21 mi) from the capital Panjim, and 27 kilometres (17 mi) from Vasco da Gama.
Margão is the Portuguese spelling with Madugão being used in Konkani. The city's commercial market became attached to it and was hence called maud-gao or the market town of Goa, and since then the town has grown towards the east.
Margão in pre-Portuguese times was one of the important settlements in Salcete and known as Matha Grama (the village of Mathas) as it was a temple town with nine Mathas in temple schools. Its replacement in 1579 was destroyed by raiders along with the seminary that had been built alongside it. The present church was built in 1675.
The initial settlement of Margão grew from the site of the ancient Damodar Temple. The original temple was demolished and the temple tank was filled up to be replaced by the Holy Spirit church and church grounds. The deity Damodar (a form of Lord Shiva) was carried across the Zuari Agranashini river to the Novas Conquistas in which the Sonde rulers resided. While the western side of the Holy Spirit Church developed as a market place, the settlement grew on the eastern side, that is, the Borda region, with the church at its core and extended outwards.
The Holy Spirit Church main square is defined on one side by the church with its baroque architecture and the parochial house, and on the other side by the palatial mansions of affluent elite Catholics, positioned in a row. The Associação das Communidades (Communities Association) building and the school being the odd exceptions which add to its character and sense of scale. They have a maximum height of two stories, and balcões balconies and varandas (verandas) facing the square. Parallel to the church square is the commercial street (old market). There is also a landscaped area next to the church called Praça da Alegria (Joy Square). The church feast is celebrated before the monsoons, it is a time when many residents make pre-monsoon purchases to stock up for a prolonged rainy season.
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Wikipedia