Resplendent in all their majesty, depicted midstride or simply sitting – the proud King of the Jungle keeps guard, unseeing, in pairs over all they survey. Perched atop gateposts of old homes in Goa, it is needless to say, they haven’t tired of standing guard for years on end, some possibly for centuries.
Propped up on gateposts that flank the entrances of houses, the sheer size of these lions overawe anyone entering, they also draw awareness towards the house they prevail over. The story behind the sentinels gracing the gateposts around Goa is entwined with the colonial history of the state.
The lion probably came down as a faint echo of the Kadamba era. Being the royal emblem of the dynasty, the lion was seen as an epitome of strength and courage and therefore symbolic of a ‘guard’ to be feared.
In the book ‘Houses of Goa’, Heta Pandit and Annabel Mascarenhas write: “In Goa, the gateposts and gateways crave attention for the architectural features that perform an ambiguous function – that of drawing your attention to the house within and intimidating you from entering without permission.” They then go on to say, “The most distinctive of all Goan gateposts are the ones with animal forms perched on top of the gateposts.”
As I cycle around Goa, exploring winding roads leading to places that have a story to tell, these are just some of the roaring sentinels I have been able to capture as they continue to keep watch and ensure a warm welcome at the gate.
