Many of the Goan ancestors of the present Mangalorean Catholics fled Goa because of the Goa Inquisition introduced by the Portuguese in 1560 aimed to eradicate all Hindu practices from the lives of the native converts. The Inquisition characterised any vestige of Hinduism as heretical. Christian converts were banned from using Hindu names, attending any Hindu ceremonies including weddings, engaging the services of a Hindu doctor or midwife, wearing dhotis or cholis, and planting tulsi (holy basil). Those Christians who were not prepared to give up completely their former Hindu practices were declared heretics and apostates and
