Oxel — Mediated Wiki

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Oxel | native_name = | native_name_lang = | other_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = village | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | pushpin_map = India Goa#India | pushpin_label_position = right | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Goa, India##Location in India | coordinates = {{coord|15.633|N|73.774|E|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Goa | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = North Goa | established_title =  | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | government_type = | governing_body = | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_rank = | area_total_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = | population_as_of = | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = Oxelkars | population_footnotes = | demographics_type1 = Languages | demographics1_title1 = Official | demographics1_info1 = Konkani | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type =  | postal_code = 403517 | registration_plate = GA | website = {{URL|villagepanchayatoxel.in/}} | footnotes = }}

'''Oxel''' is a village in Bardez sub-district, North Goa, India. The nearest airport is Mopa Airport and railway station is at Tivim. Oxel has been described as a "picturesque village" and is located in North Goa's Bardez sub-district or taluka.<ref name="toi">{{Cite web|date=24 September 2012 |agency=TNN |title=It's always spring time in Oxel |publisher=Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Its-always-spring-time-in-Oxel/articleshow/16521194.cms |access-date=2020-11-04 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> Oxel is a small, green and water-surrounded village. It is located approximately {{cvt|25|km}} away from the State capital Panjim or Panaji. Its ''panchayat'' puts down its area to around {{cvt|2.8|sqkm}}.<ref name="vp">{{Cite web|title=Village Panchayat Oxel|url=https://villagepanchayatoxel.in/|access-date=2020-11-04|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Location== It is surrounded by the villages of Siolim on the west, Camurlim to its east, a hilly region on its south and the River Chapora to its north.<ref name="toi" /> Neighbouring villages include Sodiem. The Chapora river bank has a beautiful island set amidst the river with mangroves and thousands of birds living in the area.<ref name="vp" />

==Village size and population== According to the 2011 official Goa Census, Oxel spreads over 340.58 hectares, and has a population of 633 households.<ref name="Census">{{Cite book |title=Census of India, 2011: Goa. Series 31, Part XIIB. District Census Handbook, North Goa. Village and Town-wise Primary Census Abstracts |publisher=Census of India: Directorate of Census Operations, Goa |year=2014 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3001_PART_B_DCHB_NORTH%20GOA.pdf |pages=102}}</ref> This comprises 2,794 people, of whom 1,329 are male and 1,465 are female.<ref name="Census" /> The under-six population comprises 197 children, of whom 94 are male and 103 are female.<ref name="Census" />

In the area, the primary occupation is agriculture, with villagers involved in cultivating paddy (rice), cashew, coconut, mango, ''kokum'' or ''bin'na'' (Garcinia indica), vegetable and such crops. Some villagers are also fishermen, plying their canoes on the River Chapora.<ref name="vp" />

==Uniqueness== The village has six springs, considered medicinal, in the Arradi-Khoirat stretch on the road between Dongor Marg (Siolim) to Oxel. The Khoirat spring is set amidst lush greenery behind the Holy Cross chapel. In the monsoons, the spring falls some 40 metres, appearing like a small waterfall. Some visitors have been criticised for leaving garbage behind in the area.<ref name="toi" /> Some three springs are now in a state of acute neglect.<ref name="toi" />

The area has ''khazan'' (low-lying, reclaimed riverside) lands and a sluice-gate, ancient technology which controls the flow of water into these areas and are known locally as a ''manos''.<ref name="vp" />

==Religion, shrines==

In the area are a church, chapels, and temples. The village celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Sea Church (at Aradi Oxel) on 1st Sunday of May, the feast of Sao Joao on June 24 and the ''Sangodd'' on June 29 annually. In addition to these local festivals, the traditional Christian festivals that form part of the religious calendar globally are also observed.<ref name="vp" />

Temple festivals include the ''vardhapan diwas'' (foundation day), ''zatra'' (annual festival), Navratri utsav, Dhalotsav, shigmotsav, Tarang at Xetrapal temple (Devulwada), Kalika Panchayatan Temple (Bhati) and Mahakalika Kumbleshwar Temple (Gublavaddo). A seven-day Bhajani Saptaha at the Brahman Temple, Ram Navami at the Ram Temple Ramwada, the nine-days Bhavani Utsav at the Bhavani Temple Chouki, Divajotsav at Kamaladevi Temple, Parannath Temple are other festivals observed.<ref name="vp" />

==''Panchayat'' office== The Oxel village ''panchayat'' (local administration) is located at Gublavaddo, and is open from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 5.30 pm on week-days.<ref name="vp" /> The Oxel ''Panchayat'' covers an area of seven wards, which form part of the Siolim (Goa Assembly constituency) and the North Goa (Lok Sabha constituency).<ref name="vp" />

==''Oxelkars''== People from the village are called ''Oxelkars''.<ref name="toi" /> The former MLA (member of the legislative assembly), Dayanand Mandrekar, was from the Oxel area.<ref name="toi" />

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:Villages in North Goa district