A large number of people participated in the boat parade in Siolim village of Goa's Bardez taluka, marking the beginning of revelry in the 'Sao Joao' festival.
The mascot 'Thambi' is a knight dressed in the traditional Tamil attire Veshti (Dhoti) with a shirt and is seen with folded hands, apparently extending the Tamil greeting 'Vanakkam'.