GOAN FEASTS, FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

Goa, a former Portuguese Enclave, for more than 450 years is often described as 'The Rome of the East'. From the heady 60's, the hippie days, this tiny state has become the dream destination, for many tourists. After 40 years of independence, Goa is the most westernized of all the states in Modern India. The majority of Goans are very easy going in nature, enjoying a typical 'tropical lifestyle'; including the 'siesta', which is usually from 1pm to 4pm, the hottest part of the day. Music, dance, drama, football, food and feni, are a few of the things the Goans are passionate about.
Ah! But come festival time and out come the 'fugeties' and feni, the fun and frolic.
Boa Fest.
As the Hindu brethren have the most number of festivals and zatras these have been listed first followed by the main Catholic feasts.
Viva Goa.

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Hindu Festivals
January/February (Magh) Mahashivratri is a celebration honour of Lord Shiva held at all the principal Shiva temple, such as the Rudershwar, Mangueshi, Nagueshi, Sri Madadev - Bhumika and other temples.
Rantha Saptami festival takes place in February at the Mallikarujuna Temple.
Maruti-Zatra at Shri Mahalakshmi Temple is presiding deity of Panaji, Goa's capital city.
Mahalasa Jatra or Vijayarathotsav (Chariot Festival) is celebrated at Mahalasa Temple of Mohini in Ponda.

February/March (Phalgun)
Shigmotsavor or Shigmo: All over Goa, there are special celebrations at Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco Da Gama and Margoa. Shigmo the Spring festival is 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 customarily celebrated throughout Goa, but with a little more of zest in Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco Da Gama and Margao.
Ghodemodni or 'Parade of the horse riders', is a special feature of the Shigmo at 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. Holi is celebrated as Gulal or Rangapanchami at Sri Damodar Temple in Zambaulin.

February/March (Phalgun)
The three day festival of Gade at Mahadev Bhumika Temple attracts huge crowds.
Kalas Utsav is celebrated on a large scale every alternate year at Sri Morjaee Temple in Pernem. Visitors from Maharashtra and Karnataka attend the seven day festivities which is a major socio-religious occasion.

March-Apirl (Chaitra)
Ram Navami or the birthday of Lord Rama is celebrated at Ramnath temple. Chaitra Purnima is celebrated at Sri Mahalakshhmi Temple at Panaji, and during the nine days preceding the full moon, at Sri Vithal Temple in Sanquelim. It is also Nagueshi, Chandranath, Cudnem and Mashem in Canacona.

Apirl-May (Baisakh)
This is the home coming season for many Goan settled abroad or out of Goa. It is also the fruit season - the Feni making season. A distinctively potent Goan brew, Feni comes from cashew apples. In addition it is the major toddy - tapping season.

May-June (Jaith)
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.

June-July (Asadh)
During the Rainy season there are no major festivals except Sao Joao and the festivities at Siolim and Caranzalim on the 24th of June.

July- August (Shravana)
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 (Bhadra-Pada)
Ganesh Chaturthi birthday of Lord Ganesh, the most important deity in the Konkan is celebrated all over Goa. Most Goans return to home 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 has been an old Goan tradition that the village of Taligao has the privilege of the first harvest. The women folk of Goa's earliest tribal settlers perform a dance called Bhandup during the second half of the month of Bandra-Pada.

August- September (Ashwin)
Navarati or the nine nights festivals associated with Lord Rama's Victory over Ravana, the demon King of Lanka. This then culminates in the grand festival of Dusshera. Dusshera is celebrated by devotees of the Mother Goddess Laxmi as her festival.
The Sri Bhagavati Temple is Pernem has a fortnight's festivities on the occasion. Special celebrations for Navaratar Utsav are held at Shantadurga, Nagueshi,

October- November (Kartika)
Deepawali is the great festivals of lights is celebrated throughout Goa, in homes, on the streets, in shops and of course, in religious places.

November- December (Aghrana)
Kejagiri Purnima could fall early in lights. It is the full moon following Dusshera and at Mardol in Ponda there are special celebrations to mark this auspicious day.

November- December (Paush)
Malni Purnima is the festivals at Sri Devaki Krishna Temple at Marcel. The Zatra of Shri Shantadugra is held at Dhargal in Pernem. 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.
The Datta Jayanti is celebrated as the annual festival at Shri Datta Temple at Dattawadi, Sanquelim.

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