Fairs & Festivals of Goa
Hindu Fairs & Festivals
(January/February)
Mahashivratri:
A celebration in the honour of Lord Shiva held at all the principal Shiva templeIs,
it is celebrated in Harvalem, Ramnathi, Kavlem, Mangueshi, Nagueshi, Shiroda,
Brahmapuri. Shirgao, Kasarpal, Fatorpa and Panaji.
Rantha Saptami:
Festival takes place in February at the Mallikarujuna Temple.Maruti-Zatraat
Shri Mahalakshmi Temple is presiding deity of Panaji, Goa's capital city.
Mahalasa Jatra or Vijayarathotsav: (Chariot Festival)
It is celebrated at Mahalasa Temple of Mohini in Ponda.
(February/March)
Shigmotsav:
It is celebrated in all over Goa. Special celebrations at Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco-da-Gama
and Margao. A spring festival celebrated on the full moon day of the month of
Phalgun in March.
It is a grand five day festival of colour, celebrated distinctively in the villages,
corresponding with Holi or Spring Festivals. Shigmo is universally celebrated
in Goa, but specially in Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco Da Gama and Margoa.
Ghodemodni:
Or Parade of the Horse Riders, is part of Shigmo and is found in Fatorpa and
Bicholim. Hypnotic and rhythmic music of drums and Whistles 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
week.
Rangapanchami (Gulal):
It is celebrated in Kasarpal and Zambaulim.
Festival of Gade:
The three day at Mahadev Bhumika Temple attracts huge crowds.
Kalas Utsav:
It 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.
(March/April)
Ramnavami:
It is celebrated in Partagal - Canacona.
Chaitra - Pumirna:
It is celebrated in Borim, Sanquelim, Nagueshi, Chandranath, Cudnem and Mashem
- Canacona. Gokiulashtami: Narve - Bichblim. Ganesh
(April/May)
This is home coming season for many Goan settled away from Goa. It is also the
fruit season and Feni making season. A distinctive Goan aperitif, Feni comes
from cashew apples. In addition it is toddy- tapping season.
(May/June)
Mirg:
Mirg is on 6th June. It is the start of the Monsoon season. The Christian Mirg
is one 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 happy mingling of festivals and feast days for the common good
of all.
(July/August)
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.
(August/September)
Ganesh Chaturthi:
Birthday of Lord Ganesh, the most important deity in the Konkan, and is celebrated
all over Goa. Thousand return to Goa for this festival, which is associated
with good Harvest.
Novidade:
In each village, the first offering is is made to the church and the paddy specially
blessed. No farmer, will harvest his rice crop before it is offered in a ceremony
called 'Novidade' in which the parish priest himself harvests 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 half second half of the month.
Navaratra Utsav:
or the nine nights festivals associated with Lord Rama's Defeat of Ravana, demon
King of Lanka culminates in the grand festival of Dusshera. Dusshera is celebrated
by devotees of the Mother Goddess as her festival. The Sri Bhagavati Temple
is Pernem has 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
dance of worship performed during this festival.
The Kiran Mahotsasv:
Or religious music festival takes place at Quepem in September and is an all
night celebration.
(October/November)
Deepawali:
It is the great festivals of lights . It is universally celebrated in Goa, in
homes, on the streets, in shops and of course, in religious places.
(November/December)
Kejagiri Purnima:
It can fall early in lights. It is the full moon following Dusshera. At Mardol
in Ponda there are special celebrations to mark this auspicious day.
Malni Purnima:
It is the festivals at Sri Devaki Krishna Temple at Marcel.
Zatra:
The deity is taken out of the temple in a colourful 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.
Zatra in all Temples, of special importance being at Mangueshi, Nagueshi, Ramnathi,
Kavlem, Madki, Kundai, Shiroda, Khandepar, Borim, Kapileshwari, Mulgaon, Fatorpa,
Amona, Mashel, Mala-Panaji, Mapusam, Velinga, Karmali, and Calangute.
Datta Jayanti:
It is celebrated as the annual festival at Shri Datta Temple at Dattawadi,Sanquelim.
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