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The first
live-game floating casino in India is
located on board the MS Caravela It
comes as a pleasant surprise to many
visitors to Goa that the state has as
many Hindu festivals as its better
well-known Christian ones. The medley
goes to reflect the underlying fusion of
two streams of powerful cultures.
According to
Hindu
January/February (Magh) Mahashivratri
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.
Mahalasa Jatra or Vijayarathotsav
(Chariot Festival) is celebrated at
Mahalasa Temple of Mohini in Ponda.
February/March (Phalgun) Shigmotsav
or Shigmo
A Spring festival 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 universally
celebrated in Goa, but specially in
Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco Da Gama and Margoa.
Ghodemodni or Parade of the horse
riders, is part of Shigmo and is found
in Fatorpa and Bicholim.
February/March (Phalgun)
The three day festival of Gade at
Mahadev Bhumika Temple attracts huge
crowds. Kalas Utsav is celebrated on a
major scale every alternate year at Sri
Morjaee Temple in Pernem. March-Apirl (Chaitra)
Ram Navami or the birthday of Lord Rama
is celebrated at Ramnath temple.
April-May (Baisakh)
This is home coming season for many Goan
settled away from Goa. It is also the
fruit season and Feni making season. A
distinctive Goan aperitif, Feni comes
from cashew apples. In addition it is
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)
Rainy season with no major festival.
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,
and is celebrated all over Goa. Thousand
return to Goa for this festival, which
is associated with good Harvest.
August- September (Ashwin)
Navarati or the nine nights festivals
associated with Lord Rama's. Dusshera is
celebrated by devotees of the Mother
Goddess as her festival. Special
celebrations for Navaratar Utsav are
held at Shantadurga, Nagueshi,
Mahalakshmi and Ramnath Temples at Ponda
and at Kalika Devi Temples in Kasarpal.
October- November (Kartika)
Deepawali is the great festivals of
lights . It is universally celebrated in
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.
According to Christian
January 6 - Feast of the Three Kings at
Reis Magos, Cuelim (Canasaulim) and
Chandor.
February 2 - Feast of our Lady of
Chandelaria at Pomburpa.
5th Monday in Lent - Procession of all
Saint of the Franciscan Third Order
(only other besides Rome) at Goa Velha.
1st Sunday after Easter - Feast of Jesus
Nazareth at Siridoa.
16 days after Easter - Feast of Our Lady
of Miracles at Mapusa.
24th June - Feast of Sao Joao (St. John
Baplist).
24th August- Festivals of Novidades --
Offering of first sheaves of rice crop
to the head of State.
1st Fortnight of October - Fama De
Menino Jesus at Colva.
3rd Wednesday of November - Feast of Our
Lady of Rosary at Navelim.
3rd December - Feast of St. Francis
Xavier, Patron Saint Goans, at old Goa.
This occasion draws thousands of
faithful to Goa to participate in the
religious event.
8th December - Feast of our Lady of
Immaculate Conception at Panaji and
Margoa.
25th December - Christmas, all over Goa
with the customary Midnight Mass on
gatherings and special Christmas Eve and
with prayers gathering and special
Christmas festivals. A Goan will leave
his front door open during the festival
as a gestures of generosity toward all
who may visit his home.
According to Muslim
17th Zilhaj (February) - Urus of Shah
Abdullah at Ponda.
Carnival
Carnival in Goa is a three-day non-stop
festival of colour, song and music.
Adopted from the Portuguese, carnival
with grand parades, floats, singing and
dancing are organised by the Government
and the tourism industry
Every year, carnival is held from 12th
to 15th February.
Good Friday
Good Friday is a day of sincere
reverence among Goan Catholics. It is
the culmination of Lent, an important
observance in the lives of devout
Catholics. Lent is observed for 40 days
from February to March, beginning with
Ash Wednesday and ending on Good Friday
followed by Easter Sunday. |
