Throughout the year, every month, you will find fair and festival of one
kind or the other in Goa. These are mainly religious and social in nature.
But purely artistic festivals are also organized such as Kala Academy's
annual festivals, which draw artists and art lovers from all over India.
The dates of religious festivals are decided according to respective
religious calendars. Some festivals like Shigmo and Carnival though have
religious origin, but with mass appeal have become the festivals of the
whole state and society. Some festivals are celebrated all over Goa, while
some take place at particular places.The observance and celebration of
feasts and festivals constitute the joyous aspect of the religious life of
the people.
Hindu
Festivals
Chovoth or Ganesh Chaturthi
The most important and almost the national festival for Goan's is the
Ganesh Chaturthi known as 'Chovoth'. The festivities run into several days,
at least two and half days, when puja of Gouri and Mahadev along with
Ganapati, is performed, Gouri being drawn on paper and Mahadev on a coconut.
On these days married women fast. On the Chovoth day, in the morning or
evening, a clay idol of Ganapati is brought home. Before that a matov
(pavilion or pandal) is prepared with bunches of betel nut, coconut, bananas
and branches of mango-trees being necessary ingredients of it. The puja of
Ganapati goes on until mid-day. The puja is performed with the help of the
priest.
On the second day, in the evening or at night, after performing the uttara
puja of the image of Ganapati, it is taken in procession and immersed into
the sea, creek, river, lake or well. Before the idol is removed from its
stand for immersion, it is besought for the welfare of the household and its
members.
Three days of Chovoth means, days of great rejoicing for children. Girls
collect different types and shapes of leaves for Gauri, Mahadev and
Ganapati. There is competition in flower-making also. At least five
vegetables are cooked on that day. Aartis is a special performance on the
occasion of the Ganapati festival.
On Panchami (fifth) day, in the evening, crowds of people move around the
village to have a look at Ganapati. Women of the masses, dance and sing the
Fugdi before Ganapati. Some houses keep Ganapati for five, seven or nine
days and rarely up to Anant Chaturdashi.
Dussera or Dosro
Dussera or Dosro in Konkani comes following the 'Navaratra' (nine nights)
and is celebrated in all the temples of Goa as a religious ritual and an
auspicious day for beginning any new venture. It is celebrated on
Vijayadashmi day. It is celebrated with pomp and ceremony at the major
temples of Goa, like Shri Shantadurga at Kavlem, Shri Mangesh at Mangeshi,
Shri Mahalsa at Mardol.
Diwali or Narak Chaturdasi
Following the Dosro, comes Diwali which is the festival of lights. It is a
one-day festival in Goa. Bhaubija and the New year day are also celebrated
as part of Diwali festival. Narak Chaturdasi is called Diwali in Goa. On
this day, early morning, a paper made Narkasur (demon) filled with grass,
wastepaper, crackers etc is taken out and to the accompaniment of taunts and
insults, burnt and cremated. Later, in all the houses, bath is taken. Women
prepare various types of fov (dried beaten rice dusted with sugar or jaggery
and wetted lightly), raitas, usol and other snacks and serve them.
After the snacks are served, all men-folk are made obeisance to by a
gesture of showing a thali (plate) with lighted wicks around their heads
(onvalop) which is known as 'dive darkhovnk' in Konkani. The men folk are
expected to place some article or cash as a present in this plate. Later
after breaking a bitter gourd, crushed by the finger of the left foot, it is
applied to the tongue. Sweet snacks are taken, after making obeisance to the
God and the elders.
Shigmo
Shigmo is a social festival with a religious core. It is the Goan
counterpart of the Holi in the rest of India. On the Holi day, Puja is
performed of the stems of the teflam fruits or betel nut, struck on the
ground before the temple and a little grass put at their feet is then burnt.
There are a number of dances which burst forth on this occasion in the
spirit of plenty that marks the harvesting season when the barns are full
and a sense of satisfaction and mirth is bubbling all around
Other Festivals
Gokulashtami, Mahashivratri and Brahmotsava are celebrated at the temples
of Goa with great splendor, when thousands of devotees from all over Goa
gather to pay homage to the deity. A famous fair known as Jatra festival is
held in the temple of goddess Lairai, situated in the village of Sirigao in
Bicholim taluka where thousands of people from all over Goa come to pay
their homage to the goddess. A special feature of this Jatra is walking on
burning coals by certain devotees of the goddess popularly known as Dhonds.
The
most colorful and unforgettable festival of Goa The word Carnival comes
from the Latin 'Carnem levare' which literally means putting away the flesh.
History traces back the carnival celebrations to the Saturnalia festival of
the Romans. The most colourful and unforgettable festival of Goa is the
Carnival celebrated by the Catholics with gay abandon once a year for three
days preceding Lent- from Sunday to Tuesday. During these three days, Goa is
gripped by the pulsating rhythm of guitars and the lilt of folk songs. The
revelers in their colourful improvised fancy dresses, dance and sing in the
streets, with King Momos, Lord of the Carnival, presiding over the scene.
Preparations for the Carnival starts in December and January. The festival
comes around February/March. Boys and girls plan and design their fancy
costumes for the occasion. They prepare packets and cartridges made of paper
and stuffed with bran, husk or sawdust or plain powder.
Feast of St. Francis Xavier
The feast of saint Francis Xavier is held on 3rd December every year at
Velha Goa or Old Goa which is about 10kms east of Panaji. The mummified body
of St. Francis Xavier is enshrined in a silver casket in one of the chapels
of Basilica of Born Jesus built in 1605 by the Jesuits.
The body of the Saint is exposed to public once every ten years and
pilgrims from all over the world came to pay homage.
Feast of St. Francis Xavier
The feast of saint Francis Xavier is held on 3rd December every year at
Velha Goa or Old Goa which is about 10kms east of Panaji. The mummified body
of St. Francis Xavier is enshrined in a silver casket in one of the chapels
of Basilica of Born Jesus built in 1605 by the Jesuits.
The body of the Saint is exposed to public once every ten years and
pilgrims from all over the world came to pay homage.
Zatra at Cansaulin
Every year on the 6th day of January month, a remarkable Zatra is held at
Cansaulin near Margao to celebrate the arrival of the three kings at
Bethlehem. Three young men from different villages wear wigs and gaudy
garments and look like puppets. Then they climb to a church located on a
hillock near the village. Inside the church is a carved infant Christ. Their
entering the church is a signal for the villagers to start merriment, dance
and music. There are fire-eating, fire walking feasts. This festival is
observed with gay abandon.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
The religious feast of Immaculate Conception of our Lady (Mary) is
celebrated all over Goa on the 15th August. The date of this ceremony
differs from place to place in Goa, but the 15th August is generally common
to most parts of Goa. On that day the farmer cuts the first ears of
milk-filled corn from the rice-field and presents them for God's blessing.
Ladainha or Ladin
Ladainha or Ladin is a thanksgiving ritual among the Christians of Goa. The
Ladin which literally means a litany to the Virgin Mary, is a religious
function of thanksgiving to god for material and spiritual benefits that
have accrued or are sought for, by the persons sponsoring the Ladin.
Preparations for Ladin would begin with the purchase of grams, branco wine,
candles, coloured tinsel paper in the local market. The family altar is
bedecked with flowers, creepers, crotons laid out in vases. The gram soaked
in water since morning is then put on the fire to be boiled and coconut
chips are sliced to be mixed with the boiled grams. The Ladin consists of a
litany sung by every one present, to the accompaniment of the violin,
singing of hymns and prayers. The village choirmaster or a local violinist
conducts the show involved in the singing of the litany.
Muslim Festivals
Muharram, Bakrid and Ramzan are the festivals celebrated by the Muslims in
Goa.
The Final Word
The most popular public festivals are Carnival, Shigmo and Food Festival.
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