G.B. International ::- India Tours ::- Goa
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FAIR AND FESTIVALS OF GOA
It is a pleasant surprise to many visitors to Goa that the state has as many
Hindu festivals although it is better well-known Christian ones. The medley goes
to reflect the underlying fusion of two streams of powerful cultures.
Mahashivratri:
- A celebration in honor of Lord Shiva held at all the principal
Siva temples, such as the Rudreshwar, Mangueshi, Nagueshi, Sri Mahadev – Bhumika
and other temples. Ratha-Saptami festival takes place in February at the
Mallikarjuna Temple. Maruti-Zatra at Sri Mahalakshmi Temple is important, as
Mahalakshmi is the presiding deity of Panaji, Goa’s capital city. Mahalsa Jatra
or Vijayarathotsav (Chariot Festival) is celebrated at Mahalsa Temple of Mohini
in Ponda.
Goa Carnival: -
February heralds the carnival at Goa. For three days and nights
the streets come alive with color. Held in mid February the weeklong event is a
time for lively processions, floats, the strumming of guitars, graceful dances
and of non-stop festivity. One of the more famous of the Indian Carnivals, the
Goa Festival, is a complete sell out as far as toruism is concerned.Among the many and various colourful feasts and festivals that are celebrated in
Goa, the Goa Carnival is the most popular event.The 'Carnival’ is exclusive and unique to Goa, and was introduced by the
Portuguese who ruled over Goa for over five hundred years.
Although, Christians primarily celebrate the three-day festival, it has also
absorbed Hindu tradition revelry, western dance forms, and turned into a
pageantry of sorts. Though it started as a celebration enjoyed only by the local
population, it has today crossed the state frontiers and attracts thousands of
people from all over the country.
The carnival is held in February for three days and nights, when the legendary
king Momo riules over the state and the streets come alive with music and color.
Then begins the weeklong event, which is a time of unbridled festivity and
merry-making, which has been celebrated since the 18th Century.
The carnival is supposed to be a feasting-drinking-merrymaking orgy just before
the austere 40 days of Lent. Huge parades are organized throughout the state
with bands, dances and floats out all night on the streets, and grand balls held
in the evenings. The carnival concludes with the famous red-and-black dance held
by the Club National in Panajim on the final day.
Among the several and varied colorful feasts and festivals that are celebrated
in Goa, the Goa Carnival is the most eagerly awaited event.
The word Carnival (Carnival in Portuguese) is derived from a Latin word meaning
‘to take away meat’ and is an expression of the 40-day period of fasting of
Lent, during which abstinence from meat is a rule.
The carnival is not to be seen anywhere else in India and is in decline even in
Goa during the last few years of Portuguese rule. Its revival with the
Liberation of Goa, and a boost to its tourism was therefore welcome. From being
almost on the brink of decline, this three day festival of gay abandon and
riotous revelry now attracts thousands of tourists to Goa from all over India
every year!
The origins and nature of the carnival can be traced to the hedonistic feasts of
ancient Rome and Greece. These carnivals started in the Spanish and Portuguese
colonies, and became popular for their singing, dancing and drinking. The
carnival is presided over by King Momo, who on the opening day orders his
subjects to party. Hotel bookings must be done in advance for carnival as the
festival attracts thousands of tourists
Shigmotsav or Shigmo: - is a grand five-day festival of colors, celebrated
distinctively in the villages, corresponding with Holi or Spring Festival.
Celebrated for one-week up to the full-moon day in March, Shigmo is universally
celebrated in Goa, but especially at Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco-da-Gama and Margao.
Ghodemodni: - or parade of the horse riders is a part of Shigmo and is found in
Fatorpa and Bicholim. Hypnotic and rhythmic music of drums and shistles
accompany the martial dance, which parades down the main street, imitating
horses and their riders.
Rombat takes place on the second and third day of Shigmo. It is a procession of
men in traditional dress carrying banners and umbrellas, dancing to the music of
drums. Young boys wave green twigs, signifying the arrival of spring.
Drama: - Festivals form an important part of Shigmo with most villages staging
plays during the festival week.
Holi is celebrated as Gulal or Rangapanchami at Sri Damodar Temple in Zambaulin.
The three-day festival of Gade at Mahadev Bhumika temple attracts huge crowds.
Kalas Utsav: - is celebrated on a major scale every alternate year at Sri
Morjaee Temple in Pernem. Visitors from Maharashtra and Karnataka attend the
seven-day festivities, which are socio-religious occasions.
Ram Navami
or the birthday of Lord Rama is celebrated at Ramnath Temple
Chaitra Purnima: - is celebrated at Sri Mahalakshmi Temple at Panaji, and during
the nine days preceding the full moon, at Sri Vithal Temple in Sanquelim. It is
also widely celebrated at Nagueshi, Chandranath, Cudnem and Mashem in Canacona
Mirg: - is on 6th June. It is the start of the monsoon season. The Christian
Mirg is aS day earlier. If the rains fail, prayers are offered to the Catholic
saints born this month – St. Anthony, St. John the Baptist and St. Peter and St.
Paul. In Goa there is a happy mingling of festivals and feast days for the
common good of all
Gokul: - Ashtami or Janamashtami is the Birthday of Lord Krishna. This marks the
beginning of Goa’s harvest festival. At Narve village in Bicholim, people gather
for pilgrimage from far and wide
Ganesh Chaturthi: - is the Birthday of Lord Ganesh, the most important deity in
the Konkan, and is celebrated all over Goa. Thousands return to Goa for this
festival, which is associated with a good harvest.
Novidade: - In every village, the first offering is made to the church and the
paddy specially blessed. No farmer, whether Hindu or Christian, will harvest his
rice crop before it is offered in a ceremony called ‘Novidade’ in which the
parish priest himself harvests a sheaf of rice and returns with it to the
Church. Local people accompany him with music, fire-works and jubilation. It is
a true feast day for all. Women folk of Goa’s earliest tribal settlers perform a
dance called Bhandup in the second half of the month.
Navaratri or the nine nights festival associated with Lord Rama’s defeat of
Ravana, demon-king of Lanka, represents the grand festival of Dussehra. Dussehra
is celebrated by devotees of the Mother Goddess as her festival. The Sri
Bhagavati Temple in Pernem conducts a fortnight’s festivities on the occasion.
Special celebrations for Navaratra Utsav are held at Shantadurga, Nagueshi,
Mahalakshmi and Ramnath Temples at Ponda and at Kalika Devi Temples in Kasarpal.
The Dhangar Dance is a dance of worship performed during this festival.
The Kirtan Mahotsasv or religious music festival takes place at Quepem in
September and is an all-night celebration.
Deepawali: - is the great festival of lights. It is universally celebrated in
Goa, in homes, on the streets, in shops and, of course, in religious places.
Kejagiri Purnima
could fall early in Aghrana. It is the full moon following Dussehra and at
Mardol in Ponda there are special celebrations to mark this auspicious day.
Mali Purnima is the major festival at Sri Devaki Krishna Temple at Marcel.
The Zatra of Shri Shantadurga takes place at Dhargali in Pernem. The deity is
taken out of the temple in a colorful procession for the day. The annual zatra
of Shri Shantadurga at Kunkoliemkarin at Fatorpa in Quepem also falls in this
month. Thousands flock to attend the festival from afar.
Datta Jayanti is celebrated as the annual festival at Shri Datta Temple at
Dattawadi, Sanquelim.