Anjuna is a village in Goa, one of the twelve Brahmin comunidades of Bardez. It was a famous destination for hippies during the sixties and seventies. It currently faces the problems that all of Goa faces: garbage disposal, unauthorized land conversion, usurpation of community land, and a disregard for the rule of law.
Its church, St. Michael's Church, Anjuna, founded in 1595, is dedicated to S. Miguel, and celebrates the feasts of S. Miguel (September 29) and Nossa Senhora Advogada (second week of January). There are three large chapels in the parish: the one to S. Antonio (Praias), to Nossa Senhora de Saude (Mazalvaddo), and to Nossa Senhora de Piedade (Grande Chinvar). The chapel at Vagator became the church of the new parish of Vagator, dedicated to S. Antonio, in the twentieth century.
Anjuna is known throughout North Goa and to travellers from all over the world for its flea market at the Beach (Wednesdays), where one can find anything from Indian souvenirs to Trance music.
Anjuna is also known as the hippie capital of Goa, although its star seems to be fading as tourism takes hold. The drug-based hippie scene of the 1970s was described in Cleo Odzer's 1995 book Goa Freaks: My Hippie Years in India (ISBN 156201059X). But now it has become one of the aging tourist destinations of the state, with too many so-called "Binktakars" posing a threat on the beaches.
Apart from all this, Anjuna has given birth to many well known musicians, medical doctors, and clergy.
One such music group is the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) trio Above & Beyond. Their signature record label, "Anjunabeats", as well as their radio show, "Anjunabeats Worldwide Radio Show," and their sub-label "Anjunadeep" all make reference to Anjuna. In 2009, they also released a track called "Anjunabeach"
Goa Anjuna beach is one of the most popular beaches in Goa. The beauty of the white waves rushing to embrace the pale golden sand on the beach can be witnessed in full form at the Goa Anjuna beach.
Goa Anjuna beach is a perfect haven for the hippies and you will come across some of them who have been staying on this beach for a couple of months. It is in the late 1950s to mid-1960s that Anjuna beach was "discovered" by the hippies. From then on began the trend of moonlit parties which is one occasion the hippies and now the tourists look forward to.
Goa Anjuna beach comes to life with the flea market and the full-moon beach parties at Goa Anjuna beach that continue through out the night. The flea market at Goa Anjuna beach offers a tourist just about anything he desires, right from swim suits to water-sports equipments to second hand bikes to cameras to various trinkets that can taken away as souvenirs to…just about anything. The Anjuna beach flea market is held on Wednesdays and if you are good at bargaining, then you can walk away with good stuff at throw away prices. You will also be able to find a mixture of good Gujarti, Kashmiri and Tibetan handicrafts. Apart from all this, you can also treat yourself to delicious Goan cuisine…right from mouth-watering prawns to heavenly pork vindaloo.
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