Goan Festivals

by Chitra Shigmotsav or Shigmo or Gulalotsav is a 14-day-long spring festival celebrated in Goa in March. It is the biggest spring festival celebrated by the Hindus and is a fusion of carnival and Holi. The festival is celebrated in the Hindu month of Phalguna on the full moon day. Shigmotsav is Goa’s answer to the festival of colours, Holi. The celebration begins by offering prayers to the god and goddess of the village. During this festival, elaborate floats are prepared and parades with street dancers and traditional folk songs are organised. The floats usually display scenes from religious texts and regional mythology. These beautifully lit and artistically-designed floats are taken out in a parade in many places in the state like Panaji, Mapusa, Ponda and Madgao. Folk dances are performed by dance troupes on the road. The streets of Goa turn into cultural centre with music and dance.

         By Vignesha The third day of Diwali in goa is celebrated as Lakshmi puja  and is dedicated to the memory and honor of Lakshmi and ganesha gods. This puja is performed after keeping a long fast. The fast is broken after Lakshmi puja in evening. On that day people clean their houses and decorate their homes with marigold flowers, mango and banana leaves. It is considered to keep kalash covered with unpeeled coconut at both side of  the main entrance of the home. Red cloth is kept at the right hand side on a raised platform and idols of  goddess Lakshmi and lord ganesha is decorated with silk cloth and jewellery.    around the idol it is decorated with flowers and rangoli.and also sweet dish is prepared on this day  Lakshmi puja is performed with full ritual by making puja and after puja sweet dish is served to all the members present for the puja. At night  people also light diyas in their houses as they believe that it can bring luck.

By Pratiksha Siridao celebrate the feast of  Annunciation of our lady of Nazareth, commonly known as the feast of Jesus Nazareth at Siridao on First Sunday of Easter.the feast is popularly known as Pejechem fest, for the tradition of serving Kanji(Pez) to all the devotees who take part in the celebration. Pejechem fest is attended by lot of people from different parts of goa. Pilgrims from all over goa come to this feast to make vows also called as "angvon" or fter fulfillment of vows like,"saiba maka borem kor. Havn tujea paiam kodde ieon pez jevta (People make vow, lord ,please curce me. i will come to your feet and eat pez). Traditionally the Pez is cooked in Seven big pots (Moddkeo) and it should be always cooked by a married woman and not widow. The Pez/Khanji is cooked under the palm enclosure (Matov) and then served to the people with traditional goan bowls locally called as Kholleachem Aidon. There is no limit to have pez, you ca

By sonali Vasco Saptah is the largest celebration of in Vasco ,a town in South Goa . The festival is called Vasco Saptah as Saptah means seven and the celebration continues for a week. It is celebrated a day after Naag Panchami every year to worship Damodar ,a manifestation of Shiva. During the festival , many stalls and fair are put up along the swatantra path.The makeshift shops sell everything from accessories to clothes to food to household items. some of the shops stay put for up to fifteen days.

    By Pratiksha The festival of Dussehra celebrates the victory of good over evil. It takes place on the tenth day after the nine days and nights of Navratri. It is a Hindu festival which is widely celebrated across India,however , it known by different names in different  states. Dussehra in Goa is commonly known as "DASRO" in konkani. This is celebrated as the day that lord Rama,an avatar of  lord Vishnu defeated the demon Ravana who had kidnapped Rama's wife, Sita.  Lord Ram and his brother Lakshman, along with their disciple,the Hanuman travelled to lanka where Ravana's fortress was located.Rama had obtained special knowledge from the goddness Durga about Ravana's vulnerabilities and how to ultimately kill him. the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama took place on the day of Ashvin Shukla Dashami, today known as Dussehra. The day is considered an auspicious day on which to launch new ventures, buy a new vehicle etc. and poojas are done for cars

By sushmita This Festival takes place at the Divar Island. Bonderam refers to flag in Portuguese flags have significance in this festival because they actually helped putting and end of fights and wars among the two sections of the Divar village. This festival is celebrated every year on the 4th saturday of August. 

By sushmita Ram Navami is a spring hindu festival that celebrates the birthday of God Rama. It is also a part of the spring Navratri and falls on the ninth day of the bright half in the hindu calendar month of chaitra. It is minor festival of Hinduism and not a national holiday but an optional restricted holiday in India.

By Vignesha The gudi padwa festival marks the beginning of the hindu new year in Goa. also known as sansar padwa. The festival generally celebrates in march or April month every year. on gudi padwa day people clean their houses and wear new clothes  and also decorates their houses with rangoli designs. People also eat bitter neem tree leaves as it is tradition of hindu. People also make variety of food such as pooris, puranpolis, shrikhand, and kananganchi kheer which is special dish on that day. The Gudi is a special decoration which is used at this time. it consist of a bright yellow or saffron cloth which is tied to the tip of a long bamboo. This is then covered with sugar crystals, neem leaves, and a sprig of mango leaves along with a garland of flowers. the gudi is then attached to the outside of house. door, window but always on the main entrance.  

      By Pratiksha Lairai  Zatra is the most famous zatra celebrated in Goa. In konkani, zatra means Pilgrimage festival celebrated on April 11 every year.the festival is celebrated in honour of Devi Lairai in a small village, Shirgao, which is located in Bicholim .The temple of Goddess Lairai is decorated with Lights and several rituals and poojas are conducted . The festival is also known for the Fire Walking.The celebration begins early morning with performing rituals. most of the devotees wear a different type of dhoti and flower garlands, they also caring a stick , which they make using twisted twigs. devotees dance inside the temple of Lairai caring the stick. The devotees from a circle around the bone fire and once again start dancing through the hot coal.                                                                                                                                                                      

by Sonali Mahashivratri is lord Shiva's favorite day.On this day devotees wake up early in the morning and visit the nearest Shiva temple to offer cold water ,milk and bael leaves on the lingam , a symbol for the worship of lord Shiva ,after properly cleaning it. The worship continues the full day and night. In Goa, Mahashivratri celebration can be best seen at the shiroda and ramnath temples both in Ponda and also at  Sanguem, Harvalem , Kavlem and Mangesh temple.      

By : Darshana Chikal kalo is the most famous fun monsoon festival. It celebrates the games played by lord Krishna with his friends during the monsoon. This festival takes place on 2nd July every year. This festival let's you enjoy a good mud bath in the fields or in the ground. The Marcel village temple grounds are the venue for the celebration of this festival. It is the only temple that has the idol of Devaki & Krishna.The idol has a particular pose with Krishna sitting on Devaki's lap. The celebrations starts with religious Pooja and other rituals. Bhajans are sung and grounds are made slushy for the games. After Pooja & distributions of prasad , the festival continues with traditional games which include games like Vitti dandi(Gilli danda) and Chendu fali(similar to cricket).

By Chitra       Sao Joao Festival is an annual Christian feast that is celebrated as a water festival, started by a baptist St. John. It is an exciting and traditional festival that is celebrated every year on 24th June by the local people of Goa. An old age tradition cum festival, Sao Jao is not less than any carnival that has a high importance among the Catholic community. It is believed that Jesus was christened by St. John in the Jordan river while Mary came to meet St. John’s mother with Jesus in her womb. The tradition is more like a joyous moment that is felicitated with great joy and enthusiasm by jumping into the wells. It is a merry-making event that fills the air of the state with love, zeal and colors that make it a memorable and wonderful event. The major celebrations are held in North Goa where Carnival-Colored boats can be seen floating with people wearing colorful dresses and singing carols.