Goan Festivals

Fairs and Festivals in Goa are really a refreshing experience for the town dwellers as well as the visitors to the enchanting beach town. Various festivals and events in Goa are celebrated with all the pomp and show. The long list of the most-popular Fairs and Festivals includes Monsoon Festival Goa, Christmas & New Year Celebrations in Goa and the Festival of Three Kings Feast. Goa Christmas Celebrations and New Year Celebrations are world famous and people from across the world come and enjoy the glamour of these memorable moments. 

Diwali

    

Diwali celebrations in the State, Goa witnesses a unique event on the eve of Diwali when the Narkasurs (demon effigies) are paraded on the streets before they are reduced to ash. This marks the commencement of the festival of light and end of evil and darkness. Beautiful earthen lamps are lit in the verandas of houses all over Goa. During this time a lot of zatras are held all over Goa, but in a grand manner at the temples of Mangueshi, Nagueshi, Ramnathi, Shantadurga and Shirgao to name a few.

Poderachem Fest

                                   

Poderanchem Fest’ also known as ‘Bakers Festival’ and ‘Zaddacho Utsav’ (Tree Festival) will be held in Goa from the 1st of October to the 3rd at the Our Lady of Succour Church gardens, Succour. The festival will endorse the eco-friendly cause to protect the environment and allow the locals to exhibit their skills. Bakers from across the state will showcase the variety of bread along with cultural programmes and entertainment. Among other attractions there will be a parade during the fest. The idea of this fest was brought out by the Succorro village cultural association. In order to make it a success, locals voluntarily got together and made it happen. It was supposed to be a low-cost festival but it was so good that the entire state got involved.

Feast of St. Francis Xavier

  

This feast is celebrated every year in Old Goa at the Basilica of Bom Jesus. Preceding the feast 9 days of Novenas are held and attended by pilgrims from all over the world. There is a grand fair where stalls selling sweetmeats, toys, and clothing lint the streets.

Fatorpa Zatra

    

One of the most famous zatras of Goa is celebrated at the temple of Shantadurga Kuncolienkarin at Fatorpa in Quepem taluka. 'Kuncolienkarin' means 'from Cuncolim'. The zatra is held for five days during December or January, during paushya shuddha panchami upto dashmi of the Hindu calendar. The highlight of this event is the chariot procession on four days. The first day is called Hathi Ambari, which includes an elephant chariot. The second day is the procession of the flower chariot, popularly known as Fulancho Rath. The procession of the Vijayrath, a chariot of horses, is held on the third day. The Maharath procession, which has the main chariot is held on the last day, and is thronged by crowds of devotees, marking the finale of the zatra rituals.

Three Kings Feast

  

The feast of the Epiphany commemorates the adoration by the Three Magi, at the feet of the Baby Jesus. This feast is usually celebrated on the 6^th of January, or the first Sunday in January. It is celebrated in a lavish way in three places in Goa. The first is the Reis Magos Church at Verem in the Bardez taluka in North Goa, the village of Chandor in South Goa, and at Our Lady of the Mount, or Nossa Senhora Dos Remedios, in Cansaulim in South Goa.
This festival is marked with grand processions and the crowning of three kings from the three villages, who are then escorted with pomp and fervour to the church on Remedios hill.