Goa is a famous hippy destination of the 60’s. It still gets quite a large backpacker crowd. It was originally founded by Portuguese colonists when the rest of India was undergoing British control. To this day there are many Catholics.
30 to 40% Catholic; a legacy of Portuguese rule (from 1493 to 1960)
Goa is a worldwide destination for its NEW YEAR celebration. Imagine the Millennium bomber attack but on a HUGE (500,000 people) mass of tourists, rather than LAX.
I was actually thinking of going there this year, but after the Mumbai attacks and this news, I have decided against it.