Jorge Paulino da Piedade Sequeira, a priest from the area, wrote a book titled Raia e Camorlim.

Para a História das Aldeias, (Raia and Camorlim: About the History of the Villages), published by the Xaverian Press at Pilar in 1972.

[3] According to former Indian Union minister Eduardo Faleiro, Raia "derives its name from Agni Mukha Roy, one of the earlier Kadamba kings who established his headquarters in this village.

Jorge Sequeira to suggest that, in the past, the village was known variously as Rayanagara, Rajapur and Rayapur, and with the decline of the Kadamba dynasty it became known simply as Raya and then Raia.

[5] Raia (with Margao, Verna, Curtorim, Loutolim, Benaulim, Betalbatim, Colva, Cortalim, Quelossim, Nagoa and Sancoale-Dabolim) was among 12 villages of Salcete represented at the Camara Geral do Concelho, or the general assembly of Communidades at the sub-district or taluka level.

Over time, Comunidades lost their original character and turned into mere societies of gaunkars who had membership based on accident of birth.

Non-gaunkars who came subsequently and also contributed to the development of the village had no say in the Comunidades, with many gaunkars living outside the area from which they are entitled to jono.

[4] After conversions to Christianity, locals helped build a church dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows ( Nossa Senhora das Neves ).

The Society of Jesus (SJ) is based at The Pedro Arrupe Institute, St Xavier Street, Damon, Raia, Goa.

[8] Raia hosts a harvest feast, locally called the Konsache Fest in Konkani, which is celebrated on 5 August every year.

Raia, together with the nearby villages of Curtorim and Loutolim, was home to, and the nursery of, many of the Mando (plural mandde) form of prominent Goan Konkani song.

Nostalgia has been called "a restaurant that has made its name by serving authentic Portuguese cuisine",[12] In other parts of the village, small but noted bakeries also draw customers.

[14] Andrew Pereira argues that Raia was among the villages most badly hit in Goa due to the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic.