Fairs and Festivals in Goa

With the majority of the population being Hindu, 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.

Local Festivals of Goa

Shigmotsav or Shigmo: This is a grand five-day festival of colours, celebrated distinctively in the villages, corresponding with Holi or Spring Festival. Held 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.

Kalas Utsav
Kalas Utsav is celebrated on a major scale every alternate year at Sri Morjaee Temple in Pernem. People from Maharashtra and Karnataka also attend the seven-day socio-religious event held here.

Novidade: The farmers, Hindu or Christian give their first offering to the church before harvesting their rice crop. The offering takes place at the time of 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. Women folk of Goa's earliest tribal settlers perform a dance called Bhandup in the second half of the month.

Zatra of Shri Shantadurga
The Zatra of Shri Shantadurga is held 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 distant lands.

Bonderam Festival
The feast of Bonderam is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of August every year at Divar Island, 12-km from Panjim. On this day, the quaint land of Divar, away from the hustle and bustle of Panjim, is agog with excitement. Melodious music drifts from the village to mainland Old Goa - once the hub of Portuguese Goa - even before the crack of dawn on the Saturday. At noon people begin trickling into the village. By the evening the trickle is a deluge. An expectant crowd assembles along either side of the main through fare of the village. The tempo is set by lands and lasses wielding "fotashes" engaging themselves in mock battles. The gaily colored floats accompanied by colorfully dressed youngsters make a pretty picture.

Goa Carnival
Carnival in Goa is a non-stop 3-day festival of color, song and music, creating a healthy entertainment for all, young and old. The soothing climate, full of fun- 'n' -frolic, which the Carnival generates, is much longed for. It does not matter whether one enjoys or see others enjoying. There is enthusiasm and happiness all around.