Ponda, Goa

Hinduism

There are many Hindu temples in and around Ponda. The temples of Shri Manguesh (Shiva), Shri Nagesh, Shri Ganapati, Shri Ramnath and the Goddesses Shri Shantadurga, Shri Mahalasa, Shri Mahalaxmi are all located nearby.^[4]

Christianity

St. Anne Church, Ponda, Goa is called ‘Santa Ana Igreja em Ponda, Goa’ in Portuguese. The St. Anne Church, Ponda, Goa is popularly called ‘The Ponda Church’ locally in Goa. The original Church of Ponda, dedicated to St. Anne and St Anthony, was founded in 1700. Ponda was then a mission station administered by the Jesuits. The present Ponda Church was built later. The parish of Ponda was entrusted to the pastoral care of members of the Order of Franciscans Minor in 1957. The present parochial residence of the Ponda Church was built in 1967 and the church sanctuary was enlarged and remodeled in 1987.

The church is of Neo-Roman style and is two-storey high. Its Rococo curved apex has cherubs and statue in relief. The facade has a Gable with stained glass oculus. It has finials of urn and spear-and-ball types. It has a belfry at left with horizontal banding and tiled porch up front.^[5]

Chapel (with Chaplain) in the Parish of St. Anne Church, Ponda, Goa

• Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel, Ponda, Goa

Chapels (without chaplains) in the Parish of St. Anne Church, Ponda, Goa

• St. Sebastian Chapel, Durbhat, Ponda, Goa
• St. Rock Chapel, Bandora, Ponda, Goa
• St. Anthony Chapel, Khandepar, Ponda, Goa

Islam

The historic Safa Masjid is a mosque built in 1560 by the Bijapur ruler Ibrahim Adil Shah I about 2  km from the center of Ponda. It is one of two 16th-century Islamic monuments in Goa that survived the Portuguese Inquisition.^{[6][verification needed]}

Jainism

The village Bandivade in Ponda was established by King Sripala. He also built a Jain temple of Neminatha in Ponda.^[7]