Fairs and Festivals in Goa

Goa has scores of festivals celebrated all around the year. The festivals are celebrated through out the year. Most of the Goan festivals are Jatras (feasts) of the local or family deity celebrated at the temple, called Devasthan. There is gala affair in the temple complex with thousands of devotees taking part in the colorful celebrations and the palakhi or palanquin procession.

The long period of Portuguese colonisation, has given unique Goan character to the Hindu festivals and are celebrated in distinctive and stylish elegance. Most of the Hindu, Christian and other religious festivals are celebrated in the same manner as around India, but with a Goan flavour. Mainly celebrated Hindu festivals, by the Goans are Ganesh Chathurti, Gudi Padwa, Diwali, Dassra (Dussehra), Holi, Rakshabandhan, Ramnavmi and Krishnajanmashtami.

Feast of Three King
The best part of the festival is at the end when Three Kings of Magi are chosen from the crowd. They are usually three small kids between the age groups of 8 - 10. The whole crowd gathers around them as they head up the hill in a colorful procession. There is merriment and dancing all the way to the hill top. The three "kings" come from different routes and meet at the hill top amidst a cheering crowd.

Carnival(February/March)
The Carnival is a non-religious festival celebrated all over Goa. On the first day(Fat Saturday), ‘ King Momo’ leads a colourful procession of floats with competing ‘teams’ dressed in flamboyant costumes as they wind through the towns’ main streets. Dances are held in clubs and hotels through the 4 days and traffic comes to a halt on some streets from time to time. Mahashivaratri or Sivaratri is celebrated with feasting and fairs at Siva temples, for example Mangesh, Nagesh, Queula and Shiroda.

Shigmotsav(March)
Shigmotsav Similar to Holi, at full moon, particularly in Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco da Gama and Margao, is accompanied with plenty of music on drums and cymbals. Procession of all Saints in Goa Velha, on the Monday of Holy Week.

Easter(March/April)
Twenty-six life-size effigies of saints, martyrs, popes, kings, queens and cardinals are paraded around Goa Velha on the first Monday of Easter week. This solemn religious event is accompanied by a lively fun fair.

Our Lady of Miracles (Milagros) (April/May)
Mapusa's main church is the venue for a big tamasha, or fair, held sixteen days after Good Friday and connected with the Hindu goddess Lairaya, whose worshippers also flock here to pay their respects.

Igitan Chalne (May)
Local rock, pop and jazz bands strut their stuff at the Kala Academy, Panjim.

Music Festival (May)
Dhoti-clad devotees of Lairaya enter trances and walk over hot coals in fulfilment of thanksgiving vows. This famous fire-walking ritual only takes place in Sirigao, Bichoiim taluka.

Sanjuan (June 24)
The feast day of St John, or Sao Joao (corrupted in Konkani to "Sanjuan"), is celebrated all over Goa, but is particularly important in the coastal villages of Cortalim, Arambol and Terekol (Pernem). Youngsters torch straw dummies of "Judeu", representing St John's baptism (and thus the death of sin). In addition, the day includes processions of revellers in striped pants, and lots of drunken diving into wells to retrieve bottles of/era.

Sangodd
Slap-up sorpotel (roast pig) suppers mark the festa of St Peter, the patron saint of fishers. Boats are tied together to make floating stages on which extravagantly costumed actors and musicians perform traditional dramas for audiences assembled on the river banks. The biggest events take place in the villages of Orda, Saipem and Candolim, Bardez taluka.

Dusshehra (Sept/Oct)
A nine-day Hindu festival (usually with a two-day public holiday) associated with Rama's victory over Havana in the Ramayana, and the goddess Durga's over the buffaloheaded Mahishasura. Celebrations include the construction of large effigies, which are burnt on bonfires with fireworks, and performances of Ram Ltia (the life of Rama) by schoolchildren