Church of the Holy Spirit
Margao, South Goa  · Easy Activity

The Holy Spirit Church was built on the site of the original Sri Damodar temple that was destroyed by the Portuguese and the deity was moved to Zambaulim. The Church of Holy Spirit was first built in 1564 by Jesuit missionaries who arrived in India mainly from Europe. It was the first church to be ever built in Margao but was destroyed during the Muslim invasion in 1571. It was then rebuilt in 1675.

The church is the best examples of the Indian Baroque style. The exterior of the church is brilliantly white washed with towers on both sides and a central dome structure. The interiors are finely carved from floor to ceilings. The altars dedicated to Immaculate Conception of Mary, St. Peter and St. Michael are heavily ornamented. The church also has a gorgeous pipe organ. The church can be entered from the side entrance to the north. The church has huge cross dates from the late 17th century.

Many Old Portuguese mansions are built in front of the church around a square called Church Square or Largo de Igrega. Before modern construction spread southward this area was the center of the town and comprises of Margao’s Latin Quarter. The feast day of the church is on June 10. The feast is scheduled prior to the monsoon and involves people coming from all over Goa to buy their provisions of dry fish, household items, spices, furniture and many other products. There is an abundance of bright orange ‘sweet-meet’ stalls that line the street. People from all over Goa and visitors come in large numbers to the feast.