Goa Carnival



Goa Carnival is the eagerly awaited festival of Goa which is usually held for 3 to 4 days. This time it falls on 8th February 2014 and will continue till 13th February 2014. During the days and nights of the Goa Carnival you can notice a great amount of zeal and zest among the people. The streets come alive with colors, lively processions, floats, the strumming of guitars, graceful dances and of non-stop festivity. Earlier Goa Carnival festival was bounded within the local population but now it has crossed the state frontiers and attracts thousands of people from all over the world. Goa beaches are the main attraction that draws travelers from across the globe. One must spend their holidays in Goa to experience the fun filled moments of Goa Carnival.

Goa Bonderam festival



The "Bonderam" festival is celebrated on the Island of Divar on the fourth Saturday of August every year. The word "Bomderam" originated from the involvement of flags. "Bandeira" is the Portuguese word for the Flag. It is stated that during the Portuguese rule in Goa there were frequent disputes between two sections of the Divar village, namely Sao Mathias and Piedade over property issues. These often led to violence and fights in the village. To find a solution to this problem, the Portuguese introduced a system of demarcation of boundaries with flags. The rival groups used to knock down the flags with stones. In memory of the during the Bonderam festival people used to use the “fotash”, an instrument made of bamboo, and berries/peper corns were used as missiles in a mock fight between rival groups and also those participating in the festival. However, today this practice is stopped as it used to result in eye injuries etc. The festival is a memoir to the protest by the local villagers against the Portuguese while trying to resolve the property ownership disputes.

Goa Shigmo festival



Goa's annual Shigmo festival will be celebrated from March 27 to April 10 this year in various parts of the state. The event will display Goan ethnicity and mythology through parades, a press release stated. Dilip Parulekar, Minister for Tourism, Women & Child Development, Government of Goa, said that this year, Shigmo will be celebrated on a larger scale. “There will be an attractive decor, lively parades, excellent food, music and revelry all over the state during this time. It is a must-visit event for all tourists. Our focus is on festival and Cultural Tourism, and Shigmo is definitely very high on our priority list.” In his welcome address, Shrinivas Dempo, Chairman, Panaji Shigmotsav Samiti, said that Shigmo fulfills the aim of the committee to preserve and promote the rich Goan art and culture. Attired in traditional costumes, various groups of women and men will perform dances, interspersed with small groups that move along the route with their traditional Goan drums. The Samiti will also give prize money to participants. A total of Rs 400,000 will be given out at each centre.

Goa Feast of Three Kings



A very popular event in Goa is the Feast of Three Kings. It is celebrated every year in the month of January during the holy Epiphany. This is one Christian festival that is celebrated with much joy by the Hindus as well. - A very popular event in Goa is the Feast of Three Kings. It is celebrated every year in the month of January during the holy Epiphany. This is one Christian festival that is celebrated with much joy by the Hindus as well. The Feast of Three Kings is celebrated in the honour of the Three Kings of Magi who came with gifts for infant Jesus Christ. It is said that a boulder on a nearby hill has two sets of footprints; one of an infant and one of an adult. It is said that the Virgin Mary and the infant rested here in order to let their horse quench its thirst.