Goa, a home away from home for Punjabis 

PANAJI . The Punjabis too came to Goa in large numbers and have made it their home. There are about 10,000 Punjabis living in the state and have adapted well to Goan lifestyle, but unlike others who came here soon after the Liberation, the Punjabis started coming here in 1970s.

Retired defence personnel (who served in Goa while on postings here) are among the large number of Punjabis who have settled in Goa and have ventured into various businesses, while some came here for the sole purpose of getting into business.

A smaller number of Punjabis are working in various concerns (both private as well as public sector besides in government establishments) with some of them occupying top posts.

The second and third generation Punjabis having got educated here prefer to stay put in Goa rather than going back to the motherland of their parents. They, however, visit Punjab on rare occasions like weddings in the families and some religious functions.

To keep connected with their homeland and to carry on the practices they follow there, the Punjabis have formed an organisation called the Punjabi Samaj (Goa), which is based in Margao and headed by Mr Vinod Saini a senior official with a pharmaceutical firm here.

The Punjabis are among the prominent businessmen in the state.

And their presence can be found in different fields of businesses varying from hotels to transportation, etc. A number of them also occupy prominent posts in various government establishments.
 

He went on to add that the Punjabis love Goa so much that they do not want to part their company with this beautiful state and that they have preferred to stay here and make it their permanent home in preference over the land of five rivers.

The Punjabis celebrate the festivals like, Lohri, Baisakhi, etc besides observing the Vaishnodevi Jagran, Gurunanak Jayanti and Guru Govind Singh Jayanti. Langars are also held to mark the occasions.