Goa Fairs & Festivals
Hindu Festivals
(July/August)
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)
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.
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 is a true feast day for all. Women folk of Goa's earliest
tribal settlers perform a dance called Bhandup in half second half of the month.
Navaratra Utsav:
or the nine nights festivals associated with Lord Rama's Defeat of Ravana, demon
King of Lanka culminates in the grand festival of Dusshera. Dusshera is celebrated
by devotees of the Mother Goddess as her festival. The Sri Bhagavati Temple
is Pernem has a fortnight's festivities on the occasion. Special celebrations
for Navaratra Utsav are held at Shantadurga, Nagueshi, Mahalakshmi and Ramnath
Temples at Ponda and at Kalika Devi Temples in Kasarpal. The Dhangar Dance is
dance of worship performed during this festival.
The Kiran Mahotsasv:
Or religious music festival takes place at Quepem in September and is an all
night celebration.
(October/November)
Deepawali:
It 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)
Kejagiri Purnima:
It can fall early in lights. It is the full moon following Dusshera. At Mardol
in Ponda there are special celebrations to mark this auspicious day.
Malni Purnima:
It is the festivals at Sri Devaki Krishna Temple at Marcel.
Zatra:
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.
Datta Jayanti:
It is celebrated as the annual festival at Shri Datta Temple at Dattawadi,Sanquelim.
