11 Famous Festivals In Goa

 It's high time we realize that Sunburn is history but Goa always has so much to offer, so be a part of these 15 festivals of Goa and celebrate like a Goan. We've got them all covered for you from traditional festivals like Goa Carnival, Sao Joao to Goa Art & Literary Festival. Book your tickets wisely now keeping the best season in mind:

 

Main Traditional Goa Festivals

1.Gudi Padhwa

Gudi Padhwa or Samvatsar Padvo festival is a very famous South Indian Festival - also known as the Hindu New Year Day. It is celebrated every year in the month of March or April. The real celebration includs folk dancers performances which take places in Gaondongri, Sanguem & Sattari. People of Goa cook vegetarian dishes like Sanna, Kheer, Poori, Puran Polic, Shrikhand & Sweet Potato. Women also make rangolis on their main entrance. It's also known as the day when Brahma recreated the world after massive destruction. Gudi Padhwa is definitely a tradition festival that you need to be a part of so next time make sure you visit Goa in April.

Venue: Everywhere in Goa
Festival time: Saturday, 6 April 2019
Main attraction: Cultural Dance performances - warlike folk dance

2. Goa Carnival

This is the most famous festival and is being celebrated since the 18th century. It was started by the Portuguese who ruled the state for more than 5 centuries. The celebration is an expression of the 40-day period of fasting of Lent, during which abstinence from meat is a rule until Easter. The carnival has colorful parades and enactment of mythologies. It's vibrant colors in the costumes, dances, and flags make it the most happening fest of Goa.

Venue: Panjim, Mapusa, Margoa and Vasco da Gama
Fetival time: The next carnival will happen from 10th February'18 to 13th February'18
Main Attraction: It culminates at Panjim with the famous Red-and-Black dance.

 

3.Shigmo

Shigmo is a religious festival with a social core. It's known as Holi in the rest of India. Shigmo parades consists of traditional folk dances and traditional music where depict scenes from mythology. It's celebrated in the rural parts of Goa spanning over a fortnight. It is linked to the lunar calence hence it's date varies according to Gregorian Calendar.

Venue: Everywhere in Goa
Festival time: 21st March 2019
Main attraction: Festival of colours, Traditional dances, accompanied by traditional instruments, mythological scenes, traditional singing

 

 

4. Holi

Holi Festival, or the “Festival of Colours”, happens around February/March time, traditionally marking the beginning of the spring harvest. On the eve of Holi, large bonfires are lit and people sing and dance around it, signifying the burning of the demoness Holika, and the victory of good over evil. The festival itself is celebrated by throwing brightly coloured paint and powder all over one other whilst enjoying music and dancing. You’ll find that the temples in the south of Goa celebrate Holi with the most enthusiasm.

 

 

5. Dahi Handi

A big festival and team sport across India, Dahi Handi is known as Krishna Janmashtami in the other parts of the country - it is celebrated to address the birth of Lord Krishna. The celebrations started with Vrindavan where Lord Krishna was brough up but the festival became popular in Goa as well. The festival is reenacted in Goa as the locals hang clay pots full of yogurt at a great height and later groups of men and boys make human pyramids to break them. It's one of those Goa festivals that's worth a sight if your city fails to capture the real beauty of Dahi Handi.

Venue: Everywhere in Goa
Festival time: 24th August 2019
Main attraction: Team Sport, Human Pyraminds breaking clay pots filled with yogurt, Traditional singing and music on the streets

7. Ganesh Chaturthi

This festival in Goa is symbolized by the work of life-like clay idols of Lord Ganesha. It is celebrated for two days and can also go up to 21 days. People decorate their houses and conduct pujas where the priest clad in saffron dhoti and shawl involves life into the idol through chanting of mantras. One should definitely visit the Hanuman Temple at Altinho and also witness the artistic installations of Lord Ganesh in Panjim.

Venue: Everywhere in Goa
Festival time: 2nd September 2019
Main attraction: Magnificient Idols & Life-Like Clay Sculptures of Lord Ganesha, Decorating Houses, Tasting Modaks

7.Zatra Of Different Temples

Zatra is a also a Konkani term for pilgrimage festivals celebrated at Hindu Temples in Goa. During Zatra, The murtis of Hindu dieties are taken out on a special procession in a Palanquin or a chariot. It occurs after Diwali and continues until Shigmo. Devotees flock from different corners together to carry forward this procession.

Venue: Hindu Temples In Goa
Festival time: All Zatras happens after Diwali in October and continues until the Shigmo or Holi festival in March.
Main attraction: Special procession of Idols, chariot procession on four days, Crowds of devotees flock together to be part of this procession

 

8.Tulsi Lagna

Families all over from Goa gather together to celebrate Tulsi Lagna where they paint a fresh coat tulsi vrindavans and deck them up with flowers. Lamps & Candles are lit adding to the festive spirit. It's basically a cermonial marraige of the Tulsi plant to Vishnu/Shaligram (Hindu God). It marks the beginning of the wedding season and end of the monsoon season.

Venue: Everywhere in Goa
Festival time: 9th November
Main attraction: Signifies beginning of the wedding season in Hinduisim, Delish Wedding Feats, Festival of lights

 

9. St Francis Xavier Feast

Celebrated in the month of December, this feast is celebrated every year in Old Goa at the Basilica of Bom Jesus. Preceding the feast of 9 days of Novenas are held and attended by pilgrims from all over the world. There is a fair too where vendors sell sweetmeats, toys, and clothing. The body of St Francis Xavier lies in a silver casket in the Church of Bom Jesus in Goa. St Xavier was a great Catholic missionary, who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Asia. It's definitely one of the most famous festivals of Goa that you can't miss out on if you're visiting Goa in December.

Venue: Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa
Festival time: 25th November to 3rd December
Main attraction:  Ceremonies to honor his death are performed on December 3, the day he was buried.

10.Diwali

One of the most important Hindu festivals, Diwali is celebrated for five days during the autumn months in Goa. Signifying the triumph of good over evil, hope over despair, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance, on the evening of Diwali lamps are lit, paper lanterns are hung and sweets are given to friends and family. Houses and temples are also bathed in colourful lights to celebrate the event. Typically, prior to the evening’s celebrations, cleaning and renovating occurs, and then people will dress up in their best outfits.

11.Christmas

Known for its excellent beaches and legendary nightlife, perhaps Goa is the best place to celebrate Christmas in India. With its Portuguese legacy and Catholic population, Christmas in Goa is celebrated with a gripping fervour. The celebrations, decorations and the carols everywhere an unforgettable ode to the eyes. The best part about Christmas in Goa is the cold evening breeze that gets the friends, families and communities together to celebrate the festival of goodwill and prosperity.

The churches and homes are decorated with beautiful lights and poinsettia flowers friends get together for a sumptuous meal. Children sing Christmas carol late into the night and brightening up the lives of every home around. People of all ages line up at the churches to take part in a midnight mass. Christmas is very famous in this tropical land and it attracts thousands of tourists from different part of the country and abroad to its shore who come to witness this festival in Goa in all its colours.

Source:https://magicpin.in/blog/festivals-goa/ 

         Source: https://www.goaexperience.co.uk/blog/top-5-festivals-and-events-you-can-find-in-goa