Ramnathi, Goa: On every trip to India, we first visit our ancestral Ramnathi Temple in Ponda, Goa. On the cab ride from the train station, you are taken-in by the lush fields rimmed by coconut trees swaying in the breeze, beautiful bungalows on either side of the road, with folks just hanging out on the porch watching life go by, and cows grazing in the fields. And every time I think to myself, “I could live this life. I just need a small house, over there by the fields.”
We usually spend a few days at the temple guest house (Rs 40/night; approx $1/night) before moving on south along the Konkani coast. Smack across the temple was this beautiful rice field. I couldn't avoid the trees without actually getting into the field, so I tried framing the field with the trees. Enjoy! or as they say in Goa, Devu baren karo!
August 2002, Canon Elan II, 28-135 IS, 200 ASA Velvia Slide, scanned and exposure adjusted
Posts Related to Ramnathi and other temples in Goa:
- Visiting Ramnathi, 2009
- Ramnathi Devasthan, A Konkani Temple, 2005
- Dassara: Celebrating Devi’s Grace
- Flower sellers at the Ramnathi Devasthan
- Goa Snippets, 2004
- Chai Time 2 (at Ramnathi)
- Chat Time (at Ramnathi)
- Mangeshi Devasthan
- Mahalakshmi Devasthan
- Sacred Places: Avalanche of Christian Aid in India
Arun Shanbhag 
I read a kannada book,Swapna Saraswatha.Is is a story of 450 years of Goa and the migration of our saraswat brahmins to south.Very well written and won the sahitya academy award.After that hangover I read all your blog.
Thanks.If you know kannada you will certainly enjoy the book.
Hi Asha,
Thank you for that information. Actually, I was in touch with the author of Swapna Saraswatha to check if he has a translation. Unfortunately he did not. Perhaps I should still get a copy and keep it in hopes my mother or SIL could translate it for me.
And thank you for reading and please let me know if you have any suggestions.
Best Wishes
Arun
i believe nothing has changed in ramnathi till date. the rice field opp the temple remains the same even today..jst visited the temple in January 2011..its beautiful..tranquil..love the snap here..
Thank you Rohini for the update from Goa.
Its good to know. Actually, I just returned from a short trip to Mumbai, but could not visit Ramnathi. Will visit in May-June.
Hope you had a wonderful visit.
Arun
hi how are you? i use to come ramnathi once in a year i like this place,and this is my kuladevu.good articles and photos….jai ho….
Kiran: Thank you for stopping by and saying Hi!
We are currently in Mumbai and just returned from a brief trip to Goa (ramnathi and else), Kumta, Honavar and else!
And yes, an annual visit to Goa is like recharging our batteries for the rest of the year!
and, thank you; Read and Enjoy!
Namaskar!
Ya I came to know from your posts. But I though Dev Barae Karo was only Goan konkani and not Karwar konkani. 🙂
My mom is from Honavar and she speaks your style konkani. Nice knowing you.
oops am so sorry!!!
No Problem.
BTW, I was raised speaking Konkani and we still speak konkani at home! 🙂
Hi Arun,
I am a silent visiter of ur blog. I like to read your posts very much. I am from Goa. Just to let you know – Dev Barae koru is Thank You in Konkani (not enjoy). 🙂
Thank you Varsha for tolerating my writing.
I had used Enjoy as my way of ending, and did not mean it as a translation of “Dev Barae Karo.”
Thank you for visiting.