Fairs and Festivals in Goa
The fairs and festivals in Goa reflect the state’s beliefs and age old cultures. With a musical blend of alternative creed and cultural flow among the people, Goa always has a reason to rejoice. In spite of a long phase of Portuguese immigration, the vibrant festivals have preserved their exclusive Goan fragrance and are rejoiced with immense zeal. Most of the merriments revolve around spiritual occasions. People come out to the streets in vivacious apparels and sing and dance to the hilt. The entire ambiance of festivity throbs with the thumps of gaiety.
Popular Goan Fairs and Festivals
Some of the much awaited famous Fairs and Festivals in Goa are mentioned as below:
Goa Carnival: Everyone anxiously waits for the Goa carnival the entire year. As the month of February draws closer Goa is buzzing with carnival preparation. Over the years Goa carnival has not only become an amusement activity to Goans but has been a major tourist attraction. One thing that never comes to a halt in these three days of amusement is the music. The carnival is out an out a musical burlesque. Live performances, dance, street plays and a crowd of excited audience, Goa carnival is the commemoration and representation of Goa culture.
Feast of St Francis Xavier: Celebrated in the month of December at Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, the Feast of St Francis Xavier attracts lots of aficionadas from all over the globe. St Francis Xavier is known to be a legendary Christian saint and it is assumed that even after his demise, the corpse of the holy figure did not decompose unlike other lesser mortals.
Feast of Three Kings: Also widely known as The Epiphany Day or Festa Dos Reis, Feast of Three Kings is organized in Old Goa on 6th of January in the citadel Of Our Lady of the Mount. The Lady of Mount, as a symbol of reverence to whom this day is remembered, was known to safeguard her people and grant their wishes. This nine days festival sees merriment in the form of lot of singing and dancing. On the concluding three days of the festivals, three young lads in emperor’s outfit arrive at the chapel and present Lady of Mount whatever they have.
Monte Music Festival: The latest festival, Monte Music festival is being celebrated in Goa a few years back. This festival marks the blend of Indian classical music with the western classical. Every year it is arranged in Capela da Nossa Senhora do Monte or Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount, with the combined attempts of Cidade de Goa, Kala Academy and Fundacao Oriente. Presentations are generally conducted for four continuous days and present a stage to young talents who exhibit their creativity in front of enthusiastic audience.
Kesarbai Kerkar Music Festival: This yearly festival is being commemorated for last 24 years and is a time to rejoice for music enthusiast. It is celebrated every year in the capital city Panjim in Kala Academy complex.
Shigmotsav: Rejoiced in March from 11th moonday to 15th moonday of the month, Shigmotsav is the fiesta for the masses where people from various towns dress in vibrant attires and indulge in the hilarity of the festival. As masses boogie their ways to the shrine, they sing and dance all the way. The attraction of the celebration is the Rang Panchami during which everyone chucks gulal at each other.
Goa Heritage Festival: In collaboration with Corporation of the City of Panaji, Goa Heritage Action Group and Department of Tourism, Goa Heritage Festival, aims at sustaining and endorsing the legacy of Goa. The festival sees the presentation by several performers and artists who show their work of art. The festival not only rejoices the cultural affluence of the state but also thrives to stir awareness and approval in the minds of localites so that they admire and preserve their culture for the advantage of coming generations.
Bonderam: The festival marks its source from the time of Portuguese rule. Two towns in Goa were relentlessly locked in clashes over land issues. The Portuguese arrived and tried to solve the matter. They initiated a method of partition of assets with flags of several countries. But the villagers were not ready to accept the alterations and chucked stones at the ensigns to throw them out. In the present day, on the 4th Saturday of August, is annually celebrated as Bonderam festival that reminisces the Bonderam festival
Sea Food Festival: This yearly Sea food festival rejoices the opulent Goan sea food for five continuous days. Premiere hotels and chefs arrange their stall and exhibit exotic sea food cooked by them.
Popular Goan Fairs and Festivals
Some of the much awaited famous Fairs and Festivals in Goa are mentioned as below:
Goa Carnival: Everyone anxiously waits for the Goa carnival the entire year. As the month of February draws closer Goa is buzzing with carnival preparation. Over the years Goa carnival has not only become an amusement activity to Goans but has been a major tourist attraction. One thing that never comes to a halt in these three days of amusement is the music. The carnival is out an out a musical burlesque. Live performances, dance, street plays and a crowd of excited audience, Goa carnival is the commemoration and representation of Goa culture.
Feast of St Francis Xavier: Celebrated in the month of December at Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, the Feast of St Francis Xavier attracts lots of aficionadas from all over the globe. St Francis Xavier is known to be a legendary Christian saint and it is assumed that even after his demise, the corpse of the holy figure did not decompose unlike other lesser mortals.
Feast of Three Kings: Also widely known as The Epiphany Day or Festa Dos Reis, Feast of Three Kings is organized in Old Goa on 6th of January in the citadel Of Our Lady of the Mount. The Lady of Mount, as a symbol of reverence to whom this day is remembered, was known to safeguard her people and grant their wishes. This nine days festival sees merriment in the form of lot of singing and dancing. On the concluding three days of the festivals, three young lads in emperor’s outfit arrive at the chapel and present Lady of Mount whatever they have.
Monte Music Festival: The latest festival, Monte Music festival is being celebrated in Goa a few years back. This festival marks the blend of Indian classical music with the western classical. Every year it is arranged in Capela da Nossa Senhora do Monte or Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount, with the combined attempts of Cidade de Goa, Kala Academy and Fundacao Oriente. Presentations are generally conducted for four continuous days and present a stage to young talents who exhibit their creativity in front of enthusiastic audience.
Kesarbai Kerkar Music Festival: This yearly festival is being commemorated for last 24 years and is a time to rejoice for music enthusiast. It is celebrated every year in the capital city Panjim in Kala Academy complex.
Shigmotsav: Rejoiced in March from 11th moonday to 15th moonday of the month, Shigmotsav is the fiesta for the masses where people from various towns dress in vibrant attires and indulge in the hilarity of the festival. As masses boogie their ways to the shrine, they sing and dance all the way. The attraction of the celebration is the Rang Panchami during which everyone chucks gulal at each other.
Goa Heritage Festival: In collaboration with Corporation of the City of Panaji, Goa Heritage Action Group and Department of Tourism, Goa Heritage Festival, aims at sustaining and endorsing the legacy of Goa. The festival sees the presentation by several performers and artists who show their work of art. The festival not only rejoices the cultural affluence of the state but also thrives to stir awareness and approval in the minds of localites so that they admire and preserve their culture for the advantage of coming generations.
Bonderam: The festival marks its source from the time of Portuguese rule. Two towns in Goa were relentlessly locked in clashes over land issues. The Portuguese arrived and tried to solve the matter. They initiated a method of partition of assets with flags of several countries. But the villagers were not ready to accept the alterations and chucked stones at the ensigns to throw them out. In the present day, on the 4th Saturday of August, is annually celebrated as Bonderam festival that reminisces the Bonderam festival
Sea Food Festival: This yearly Sea food festival rejoices the opulent Goan sea food for five continuous days. Premiere hotels and chefs arrange their stall and exhibit exotic sea food cooked by them.