festivals of goa

Looking like a bride, the city of Goa hosts some of the most happening festivals of India with as much music, cuisines, fairs and decoration as possible. With a multi-cultural past Goa celebrates Hindu, Christian and Portuguese festivals with a special day to commemorate all the ceremonies of festivals with a quintessential spirit. In the festive season of Goa, you can easily plan up a trip and enjoy all festivals with a different definition of Goa. This city of happy-go-lucky people welcomes the tourist all over the world to show its glamour and dazzling celebrations and parties all day and all night long. With colorful streets of jovial fests you can’t stop dancing on the rhymes of festive beats of Goa.

Here are some of the most enjoyed and celebrated festivals of Goa :

 some Festivals of goa

christmas:

Like elsewhere in the world, Christmas is celebrated in Goa on 25th December as the nativity of Jesus Christ. Every Christian attends the midnight mass and Christmas day is marked by gatherings and feasts. It is a time for merry making and exchanging gifts where the whole of Goa comes alive with party fervour



Diwali:

Deepawali
This is the festival of lights. On the eve of Diwali, Narkasur effigies are burnt to commemorate the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon. Beautiful earthen lamps are lit in the verandas of houses all over Goa.

Bonderam:

Bonderam-24th Aug
This festival is celebrated every year on the Island of Divar. The festival consists of processions and mock battles which commemorate the disputes that took place over property on the island. Colorfully decorated boats are also paraded over the island.

ganesh:

This Hindu festival is celebrated throughout the state and marks the birth of Lord Ganesha. The festival follows the harvest and on the last day clay idols of Lord Ganesha are taken out in a procession and immersed in water.






Carnival:

Among the various colorful feasts and festivals that are celebrated, the Goa carnival is the most eagerly awaited event. The Carnival is exclusive and unique to Goa, and was introduced by the Portuguese who ruled Goa for over 450 years. The word Carnival (Carnival in Portuguese) is derived from a Latin word meaning “ to take away meat” and is an expression of the 40-day period of fasting of Lent, during which abstinence from meat is a rule. The carnival is held for three days and nights, when the legendary King Momo takes over and, on the opening day, orders his subjects to party. Huge parades are organized throughout the State of Goa with bands, dances and floats out on the streets, and grand dance balls throughout the night. The carnival concludes with the famous Red-and-Black dance held in Panjim on the final day.
holi:

HOLI
It is the Festival of Farewell to Winter, celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Falgun (February-March), the last month of the Hindu calendar year. The festival welcomes spring with colour, songs and dances to the beat of drums. Float parades depicting various scenes of mythology are also held.





Sajao:
The Feast of St. John the Baptist is celebrated on 24th June every year as thanksgiving for the arrival of monsoons. The most obvious sign of the monsoons is the filling up of wells. To mark this event , young men of the community jump in the well and the owner of the well treats the swimmers with Feni - the locally brewed alchohol drink.