Azad Maidan

Azad Maidan is a historic public square and martyrs' memorial located on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Panaji, Goa, opposite the Goa Police headquarters. Originally known as Praça de Sete Janelas during Portuguese rule, it now commemorates 67 freedom fighters who died during the Goa liberation movement. The site features a domed pavilion housing the mortal remains of nationalist Tristão de Bragança Cunha and serves as a venue for civic gatherings, cultural events, and national day observances.

Visitors can expect to see a central domed memorial structure dedicated to Goa's freedom fighters, surrounded by a fenced grassy ground with a concrete stage used for government and cultural functions. The square is situated in the heart of Panaji near the Mandovi River jetty and police headquarters. Informational pillars list the names of 67 martyrs, and the site is maintained as a clean, accessible public space where locals gather for protests, meetings, and commemorative ceremonies.

Originally established as Largo Afonso de Albuquerque in 1843 with a statue of the Portuguese general, the square was renamed Azad Maidan after Goa's annexation in 1961. The Albuquerque statue was removed and relocated to the Archaeological Survey of India Museum at Old Goa. A martyrs' memorial was unveiled on March 23, 1973, by Lieutenant General Kunhiraman Palat Candeth, who led the 1961 liberation operation. The site has served as a focal point for Goa's independence movement and continues to host national commemorative events.

Azad Maidan functions as a vital civic space for democratic expression where Goans gather to voice opinions and discuss public issues. It serves as the primary venue for official national day celebrations, martyr's day observances, and cultural festivals such as the Serendipity Arts Festival. The memorial embodies collective memory of Goa's freedom struggle and represents the transition from Portuguese colonial rule to Indian statehood.