Although Hindus outnumber Catholics by 70-30, there are more skirts and pants than saris, and its people display a sense of liberality and civility which you'll be hard pressed to find elsewhere in India. Goa is perhaps the only place in India where shorts and tank tops and skimpy outfits are not frowned upon anywhere except at religious locations. This former Portuguese enclave located on the western coast of India has enjoyed a prominent bookmark in the travellers diary since the early days of the 1960's, when it became a favorite place for 'hippies', thanks to cheap accommodation availability and freely availability of drugs, and the fascination of roaming like Adam and Eve, stark naked on the beach - both of which are banned. Travellers in Goa feel at home, 'hang out' around, be mellow or tipsy or wear local tribal outfits, but the once upon a time hippies have now been replaced by backpackers, ogled eyed Indian tourists scampering about the place in hope to see naked westerners on the beach, and a large number of foreign charter tourists, perhaps escaping the winter in Europe, on a 2 week holiday jaunt to this beautiful haven. But in reality, Goans are hardworking, full of song, dance and merriment.
Tourism is the main money-spinner and the majority of the population is engaged in related business.
Another marked difference is the prevalence of alcohol. Beer is cheap, and six thousand or more bars around the state are licensed to serve it, along with the more traditional tipples of feni, the local hootch, and toddy, a derivative of palm sap. Being the highest literate state in the union territory of India, Goa has come along way now from just being a beach haven. Apart for its distinctiveness, progress in fields of Education, Information Technology and Industry have scaled to new heights and all round development. But still a lot needs to be done as bureaucracy is seen as the major hindrance towards all round development of the state.