Goa Fair & Festivals

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.