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Goa
is a holiday destination and have lots of festival celebrated in
different parts. The most popular celebrations in Goa are Christmas,
Easter Sunday, Ganesh Chaturthi (Chavoth-Konkani), Diwali, New Year's
Day, Shigmo and the Carnival. However, since the 1960s, the
celebrations of the Shigmo and carnival have shifted to the urban
centres, and in recent times these festivals are seen more as a means
of attracting tourists. Celebrations for all festivals usually last for
a few days and include parties and balls.
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FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS
On 6th January the three villages of Reis Magos, Cansaulim and Chandor
celebrate this festival with reenactment by local boys of the three
kings arriving with gifts for Christ.
JATRA
Jatra (feast)is hindu celebrated festival for their family deity and
many people from other join in the celebration. It is one of the
biggest and important festival of Goa. Biggest Jatra is held at
Shantadurga Temple at Fatropa in Quepem taluka, Bogdgeshwar Temple in
Mapusa taluka, Devki Krishna Ravalnath Temple at Marcela in Ponda
Taluka and many more places of Goa.
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February / March
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FEAST OF OUR LADY OF CANDELARIA
Popular Christian feast of Our Lady of Candelaria held on 2nd February at Pomburpa.
SHIGMOTSAV OR SHIGMO
Shigmo (also known as Shimga) is a festival celebrated in Goa, a state
on the west coast of India. One of the prominent festivals of the Hindu
community in Goa. In recent years, the state government has been
offering its support for public Shigmo parades, made up of traditional
folk and street-dancers and elaborately-built floats depicting scenes
from regional mythology and religious scenes.
Meanwhile, Shigmo festivals also continue in diverse rural parts of
Goa, spanning over a fortnight, with different days earmarked for
celebrations in diverse areas. This festival is celebrated around March
each year, is linked to the lunar-based Hindu calendar (hence its date
according to the Gregorian or solar calendar varies), and comes not far
from the Carnival festival, which is also celebrated before the
Catholic season of Lent.
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CARNIVAL
Goa (which was a portugese colony) has a long tradition of celebrating
"Carnivaal" with colorful masks and floats. The city of Loutulim has
the largest Carnival which sees merry residents gathered on the streets
amid beating of drums and reverberating music. The celebrations run
three days culminating in a carnival parade on fat tuesday. There is
participation of a large number of tourists. Men, women and children
cross dress as the opposite sex and dance through the streets beating
drums and tins. Dance troupes performed skits before throwing water on
each other. After the revelry, song and dance, great food and good wine
come together beautifully. After partying, the crowds enjoy a
delightful Goan cuisine at a buffet dinner.
VASANT PANCHAMI JATRA
Hindu's festival, best celebrated at Shantadurga temple in Queula at
Ponda, in Mangesh temple at Priol, in Mahalsa Temple at Mardol which
are in Ponda This festival is also celebrated in Ajoba Temple at Querim
in Pernem and in Mahalaxmi Temple at Amone in Bicholim
MAHASHIVRATRI JATRA
Hindu's festival, best at Siroda and Ramnath temples both in Pond and
at Sanguem; also good at Harvalem, Kavlem and Mangesh Temples. This
festival celebrates the birth of Lord Shiva.
URS OF SHAH ABDULLAH
Muslim's, death anniversary of saint Urs of Shah Abdullah. On this day
of 17th February Muslims sing lyrical Muslim devotional songs called
quawwalis, often sung through the night at Ponda
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March / April
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RAMANAVAMI
Ramanavami is birthday of Rama an incarnation of Vishnu is celebrated at Partagal Math in Canacona.
PROCESSION OF ALL SAINTS
At Goa Vellha on 5th Monday in Lent. Thirty status of the saints are
brought out from storage and paraded around the neighboring villages.
The main road through Goa Velha generally becomes blocked with the
traffic as people from all over Goa are also drawn to the fair.
GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER
The Easter celebrations are marked by huge church services; the
congregations often overflow into the streets or the services are held
outside to accommodate everyone. Christian families mark the event with
large clean gathering.
FEAST OF JESUS OF NAZARETH
Held in Sindao on the first Sunday after Easter.
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MIRACLES
Held in Mapusa 16 days after Easter. This particular festival is famous
for its common celebration by large numbers of Hindus and Christians.
BEACH BONANZA
From mid-April onwards successive Sundays see Colva Beach becoming the
scene for this small festival featuring live music, dancing and
entertainment.
YOUTH FLEET
Same as Beach Bonanza but on the Calangute beach.
MAHAVIR JAYANTI
Jain festival, celebrated by the strictly vegetarian Jain community.
Marks the birth of Mahavir, the founder of Jainism, and is a public
holiday. Celebrated grandly at Borim in Ponda.
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May / June
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IGITUN CHALNE
Occurring in May this is one of the most distinctive festivals in Goa
and is specific to the temple of Sirigao in Bicholim Taluka. Igituna
Chalne literally means fire-walking and the high point of the festival
which occurs at night when devotees of goddess Lairaya walk across a
pit of burning coal to prove their devotion.
FESTIVAL OF ST. ANTHONY
Held on 13th June The feast of St.Anthony Portugal's national saint is
celebrated in Goa. This festival has taken on a particular local
significance. If the monsoon has not arrived by the time of the feast
day a statue of the saint is lowered into the family well for the
arrival of the rain.
FEAST OF ST.JOHN THE BAPTIST
Held on 24th June. St.Anthony's feast day marks the onset of the rains,
the Feast of St.John is a thanks giving for the arrival of the monsoon.
The most obvious manifestation of the rains is the fact that the wells
start to fill up again and to mark the event young men of the community
jump into the water. Since each well owner by tradition has to supply
feni to the swimmers the feast day is marked by increasingly high
spirits.
FEAST OF SAINT PETER & SAINT PAUL
Held on 29th June. Another celebration of the monsoon, this time by the
fishing community particularly in Bardez taluka. The fishermen tie
their boats together to form rafts which serve as makeshift stages.
After a church service in the morning and a large feast the festival of
Sangodd is held. Tiatrs, folk dances and music are performed before an
audience who watch from the banks of the river.
GOA STATEHOOD DAY
Celebrated on 30th of May, State holiday to celebrate Goa becoming the
25th state of Indian Union on May 30, 1987.
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August
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FEAST OF ST. LAWRENCE
The feast day is to celebrate the end of monsoon and the reopening of the Mandove to river traffic.
GOKUL ASHTAMI
The celebration of Krishna's birthday. In some Krishna temples the
deity is symbolically placed in a cradle.
BONDERAM
Celebrated on the island of Divar on the fourth Saturday of August. The
festival consists of processions and mock battles which commemorate the
disputes which took place over property on the island.
NAVIDADES
Held on 24th August. The offering of the first sheaves of rice to the head of state.
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August / September
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GANESH CHATURTHI
The Hindu festival is celebrated throughout the state and commemorates
the birth of Ganesh. The festival can last for two and a half days.
Clay models of Ganesh are taken in procession around the areas of the
temples before being immersed in water. A period of fasting is observed.
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September / October
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FAMA SE MENINO JESUS
The feast is held at Colva on the second Monday of October and
celebrates the 'miraculous' favor granted by the Menino Jesus which
resides within the Church of Our Lady of Mercy in Colva.
DUSSEHRA/DHAROTSAV
Hindu's festival, this is extremely popular ten-day long festival
begins on the first day of the Hindu month of Ashvina. The festival
celebrates the triumph of good over evil and culminates in the burning
of the effigy of the demon king, Ravana. In Goa, the main puja of this
festival is performed at the place of work. Machinery, tool, vehicles
etc., are cleaned and garlanded with flowers and worshipped.
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October / November
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DIWALI (DEEPAVALI)
This Hindu festival also known as the Festival of Lights is second in
importance only to Ganesh Chaturthi and marks the victory of Good over
Evil. Symbolically lamps are lit morning and evening within the homes
of the worshippers.
GOVARDHANA PUJA
Hindu festival dedicated to those holiest animals the cow.
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
Celebrated on the 3rd Wednesday of November in Navelim's Church.
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November / December
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MARATHI DRAMA FESTIVAL
Takes place at Kala Academy from November to December.
FOOD AND CULTURE FESTIVAL
A five day festival held on any one of the beaches in November or
December to highlight Goan cuisine and entertainment.
KONKANI DRAMA FESTIVAL
Held at Kala Academy during November and December.
TIATR FESTIVAL
Held at Kala academy during November
FEAST OF ST.FRANCIS XAVIER
The feast is celebrated in Old Goa on 3rd December with processions and
services. The feast of the patron saint of Goa is celebrated on the day
he died in 1552. Preceding the feast, nine days of Novenas are held,
attended by pilgrims from all over the world. Stalls selling
sweetmeats, toys, clothing etc., line the streets.
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Held on or around 8th December in Panaji and Margao accompanied by a large fair.
CHRISTMAS DAY
Christmas is celebrated as a holiday throughout Goa and India. Goa's
Catholics flock to midnight mass services traditionally called Missa de
Galo or Cock Crow as they go on well into early hours of the morning.
Christmas Day is marked with large family gatherings and feasting.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Jubilant celebrations on the 31st of December, in the form of all-night
street parties and beach parties anticipate the good things the New
Year will bring.
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