25 Garnish Festivals & Culture of Goa you can’t miss out - YouFestive

Goa under a state of India was formed 30th May'1987.  Goa has its own natural beauty of sea, beach, lake, sanctuary, waterfalls etc. Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year because of its white-sand beaches, active nightlife, places of worship. Here we pointed out the 25 major festivity of Goa which celebrated all round the year by lovely people of Goa. 

1. Bonderam Festival

It is celebrated, remembering the age old dispute between tribes dwelling on the island at the times of Portuguese era. 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.

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2. Cashew and Coconut Fest

Cashew was first introduced in India in Goa. As both cashew and coconut contributes to the economy of the state. This event is organized in Goa to boost its tourism.

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3. Chikhal Kalo

Chikhal Kalo means Play in the mud signifies the games played by Lord Krishna during his childhood. The Chikhal Kalo is unique to the vill of Marcel, in the taluka of Ponda. Celebrated on the twelfth day of the fourth month of Ashadh in the Hindu time table, the jubilee is devoted to Krishna in his nonage stage which is Balkrishna. Goan Hindus dressed only in their lower body garments similar as short vests and frolic in the muck (ChiKhal) by playing some traditional Goan games or some sporting games spontaneously. The whole scene takes place in front of the Devaki-Krishna tabernacle in Marcel. The jubilee of ChiKhal Kalo is believed to have been traditionally celebrated in Marcel as a depiction of baby Lord Krishna who loved to play with his musketeers in Vrindavan and in Marcel it's celebrated as a sign of gratefulness to Krishna.

 

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4. Christmas

Christmas is the most prominent festivals of Christians in Goa which is observed to celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus. Christmas is followed by the New Year Celebration.

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5. Dahi Handi

A big festival and team sport across India, Dahi Handi is known as Krishna Janmashtami in the other parts of the country - it is celebrated to address the birth of Lord Krishna. The celebrations started with Vrindavan where Lord Krishna was brough up but the festival became popular in Goa as well. The festival is reenacted in Goa as the locals hang clay pots full of yogurt at a great height and later groups of men and boys make human pyramids to break them. It's one of those Goa festivals that's worth a sight if your city fails to capture the real beauty of Dahi Handi.

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6. Datta Jayanti

To celebrate the birth of Lord Dattajayanti (the first incarnation of Lord Vishnu), this festival is held by the Hindus.

 

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 7. Diwali

Diwali is one of the major festivals of Hindu celebrated in Goa that marks the defeat of Evil Rakshasa Narkasur by Lord Krishna.

 

8. Dussehra

Dussehra is celebrated by every Hindu in Goa with grandeur and enthusiasm.

 

9. Feast of Three Kings

It is celebrated by the people of all the religions. The Three King’s Feast is one of most popular and favorite leaves of Goa citizens and excursionists who are lucky bones to watch this amazing jubilee. The notorious grand vacation is famed every time on January 6th by original Christians as well as by the Hindus in all corridor of Goa, and especially in Cansaulim, Arossim and Quelim resorts. The jubilee is devoted to Three Lords of Magi who came with their gifts to child Jesus the Christ. According to the legend, a boulder on a near hill has two sets of vestiges one for child and one for grown-up. Virgin Mary and the child rested there in order to let their steed quench its thirst. The medications for the vacation are conducted the whole time round and finishes with “ Three Lords” choosing. This event is associated with the storm of instigations and conversations among the original citizens. “ Three Lords” are chosen among the original boys of the age of 8-12 times old, one boy from each village. These boys- lords, dressed in gorgeous plumage and with crowns on their heads, are followed by a graphic various procession. Each of “ Lords” must climb the Remedios Hill, where the Three King’s Church stands and bring their gifts to child Jesus the Christ. In the Church the “ Three Lords” should put their gifts to the bases of the Jesus statue. The whole event is accompanied by loud music and balls. Lots of people are coming to the Hill to watch the procession and the ritual of gifts giving. Amazing show is conducted during the whole jubilee people eat, drink, buy gifts, monuments, spices made by original Goa tradesmen and simply have fun from dawn till dusk.

 

10. Food and Cultural festival

Reputed caterers, hoteliers, restaurants and housewives participate in this 5 day festival, which displays Goan cuisine and Sea Food. Cultural programs and fireworks are also held during this festival.

 

11. Ganesh Chaturthi

It is the biggest Hindu festival celebrated in Goa also known as ‘Chovoth’. It's celebrated for two days and can also go up to 21 days. People embellish their houses and conduct pujas where the clerk sheathe in saffron dhoti and capelet invokes life into the hero through chanting of mantras. One should surely visit the Hanuman Temple at Altinho and also substantiation the cultural installations of Lord Ganesh in Panjim.

 

12. Goa Carnival

Goa Carnival lasts for 4 days wrapped with fun, amusement and festivity. It includes live music on which masked people dressed gorgeously tap their toes and a parade of vibrant floats. It’s the 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.

 

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13. Grape Escapade

It is the biggest wine festival of the world held in India. It was organized in 2005 at first, which carries a tradition of Grape Stomping. All the restaurateurs, wineries, hoteliers and lifestyle brands participate in the Grape Escapade as the event is celebrated with cuisines, wines and haute.

 

14. Gudi Padhwa

Gudi Padhwa or Samvatsar Padvo jubilee is a veritably notorious South Indian Festival- also known as the Hindu New Year Day. It's famed every time in the month of March or April. The real festivity includs folk hop performances which take places in Gaondongri, Sanguem & Sattari. People of Goa cook submissive dishes like Sanna, Kheer, Poori, Puran Polic, Shrikhand & Sweet Potato. Women also make rangolis on their main entrance. It's also known as the day when Brahma recreated the world after massive destruction. Gudi Padhwa is surely a tradition jubilee that you need to be a part of so coming time make sure you visit Goa in April.

 

15. Holy Spirit Feast

This feast is celebrated fifty days after Easter at the Holy Spirit church of Margao. It is a procession which includes a Priest and members of the Church wearing red ceremonial robes.

 

16. 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.

 

17. Lairai Zatra

This popular festival is celebrated to honor Goddess Lairai. During the zatra, Dhond dance around a bonfire at the Shirgao Temple.

 

18. Mary Immaculate Conception Church Feast

This feast is held for three days, which is celebrated across the state with enthusiasm. Fairs are held within the vicinity of the church.

 

19. Novidade

Novidade is a harvest festival celebrated in Goa. Also known as Konnos or Novem, meaning the new crop, it signifies the beginning of the harvest festival, where the first green crop of paddy is cut in a meaningful ceremony and blessed by a Priest. It is then dedicated to God in a thanksgiving ritual. During the festival of Novidade, the parish Priest blesses the rice crop before harvesting a bunch of rice and offering the same sheaf before the altar at the Church. This ritual of offering the first harvested sheaf is considered very auspicious. The Priest of the church is then accompanied on his way back to church from the fields, in a procession. The ceremony of offering first harvest is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the villagers all over Goa. Different villages in Goa celebrate it on different dates around this time.The village of Taleigao celebrates in in a special manner known as Addav with the first sheaves of rice being offered to the Governor of Goa after being blessed at the Church.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.

 

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 20. Sao Joao Traditional

The Sao Joao is a monsoon festival celebrated with much enthusiasm. This festival is celebrated to mark the joy of St. John on Jesus’s birth by jumping into the wells, ponds and streams. Since this festival falls during the rainy season, the wells are full and people celebrate by jumping into the wells or rivers, wearing laurels of leaves and flowers, eating, drinking and singing songs. Also on this day many villages organize the Sangodd which is a festival wherein boats are decorated, with a blaze of buntings and a riot of colors. revelers sing songs and conduct plays to mark this celebration. It is also a time when people distribute a platter of fruits and sweets to celebrate any happy occasion in the family.

 21. Shigmotsav / Gulalotsav Festival

Shigmo is a festival of color celebrated to honor the warriors in Goa. It is the biggest festival of spring season. Troupes of dancers perform folk dances on the road. 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. Shigmo processions consists of traditional folk balls and traditional music where depict scenes from tradition. It's celebrated in the pastoral corridor of Goa gauging over a fortnight. It's linked to the lunar calence hence it's date varies according to Gregorian Timetable.

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 22. St. Francis Xavier’s feast

Francis Xavier is an important holiday that is observed by devout Christians all over the world. In India, it is a regional public holiday in the state of Goa. It is observed on 3 December every year. To honor the death of St. Francis Xavier, this fest is held every year.

 

23. Tripurari Poornima

To mark the end of Diwali, Tripurari Poornima festival is organized on the banks of river Valvanthi in Sanquelim. It is celebrated with boat racing contest.

 

24. Tulsi Lagna

Families all over from Goa gather together to celebrate Tulsi Lagna where they paint a fresh coat tulsi vrindavans and deck them up with flowers. Lamps & Candles are lit adding to the festive spirit. It's basically a cermonial marraige of the Tulsi plant to Vishnu/Shaligram (Hindu God). It marks the beginning of the wedding season and end of the monsoon season.

 

25. 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.

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Source : https://goa-tourism.com, https://www.thegoavilla.com/,