A celebration promising delicious food, singing, dancing and “merriment” is coming to Swindon for the first year.

Sao Joao festival is traditionally celebrated in Goa by jumping into bodies of water. It will be celebrated for the first time in Swindon’s Queens Park.

The day is a tribute to Saint John the Baptist, who is said to have leapt with joy at the sound of Mary’s voice - hence the literal leaping for joy into water.

Councillor Domingos Seby Dias, who led the event’s organisaiton, said: “For a first-time visitor to Goa, its celebrations can seem a bit peculiar especially when villagers plunge into wells, streams and ponds while ‘Viva São João’ rings out across the crowd.

He explained: “The story goes that John the Baptist, while still in his mother, St Elizabeth’s womb, leapt with joy at the sound of his aunt Mary’s voice, while she was pregnant with baby Jesus. To celebrate this, Goans leap into wells to signify the sanctification of St John.”

The Swindon celebration will not have any plunging, with water balloons instead playing the watery role.

However, it will include many other features typically seen at the festival. 

Cllr Domingos said: “No festival is complete without a hearty meal and São João is no different. 

“While popular fruits such as jackfruits, bananas and pineapples are offered by every house, you can also taste some traditional Goan specialities such as sorpotel and sannas or choriso, Goan pork sausage.”

Also common is patoleo, a sweet made with finely ground rice covered with a mixture of freshly scraped coconut and jaggery in the centre, steamed in a large turmeric leaf.

There will be live music, traditionally accompanied by the ghumot and kansallem (percussion instruments) so “there is never a dull moment”.

The event will also include game stalls, face painting and children and family entertainment.

Sao Joao is particularly celebrated by newly-weds. Cllr Domingos explained: “It is traditional that newly-weds’ husbands are first to plunge into the wells to fetch a bottle of feni (local liquor) thereby beginning the merriment.”

With Swindon’s prominent Goan community, Domingos hopes the celebration can bring the community together and give everyone a taste of Goan culture.

He thanked South Swindon Parish Council and Mayor Imtiyaz Shaikh among others for their support creating the event, which he has been trying to put on for a number of years.

The event will be at Queen’s Park from 11am to 6pm on Saturday, June 22. Entrance is free.