What was it about Goa, the former Portuguese colony, that became the smallest Indian state in 1961, that made it into a haven for hippies, freaks, misfits and independent minds from around the world? These rare photos can give you a clue of how paradise looked!
Don’t forget to check our article and photo gallery about Goa in the 1990s here.
ELECTRONIC MUSIC STARTED TO FIND ITS WAY TO GOA AND THESE PARTIES IN THE LATE 80S, AND SO IT BECAME THE CRADLE TO THE MOVEMENT WE KNOW THESE DAYS AS GOA TRANCE
We all heard of Goa Trance parties, we all been to one of their incarnations (we hope so anyway). But it didn’t start with a DJ and electronic music (though you can see the beginning of these in the photos in the end of the article). Goa, The small state in India on the shores of the Indian Ocean was a haven for hippies arriving on the hippie trail overland to India since the early 70s. Many people concluded their journeys on the beaches of Goa. Some of these people just stayed in Goa, either through the year, or coming back for the season and living again for other destinations when Monsoon struck. Full Moon parties were happening in Goa since the mid 1970, with sound systems carried by hands to far away empty (then) beaches, and stages erected for jam bands that played all night long concerts. There were a lot of drugs, a lot of freedom and very few rules. The legendary Anjuna flea market started also in those times.
FULL MOON PARTIES WERE HAPPENING IN GOA SINCE THE MID 1970, WITH SOUND SYSTEMS CARRIED BY HANDS TO FAR AWAY EMPTY (THEN) BEACHES, AND STAGES ERECTED FOR JAM BANDS THAT PLAYED ALL NIGHT LONG CONCERTS.
Electronic music started to find its way to Goa and these parties in the late 80s, and so it became the cradle to the movement we know these days as Goa Trance that emerged in Goa in the 90s (see our article about it here.) later developed into psytrance and all its broad sub-genres, and more important to the psychedelic culture that is manifested till today around the globe when millions of people gather together in small parties and huge festivals to dance together. So go back in time to Goa in the 70s & 80s where and when it all started. Welcome to Paradise!
Goa in the 70s & 80s – photo gallery
Below you can find a series of photos taking you through that decade collected by isratrance.com from around the web. The photos show Goa in the 70s & 80s and are arranged chronologically.
Check the full isratrance.com album here.
