GOA FESTIVALS

Diwali - Diwali is the most popular festival of India. The glittering festival is celebrated with extreme euphoria all over the country. To mark the 'Festival of Lights' people decorate houses with traditional earthen diyas and candles. Dazzling fireworks are very much part of the festival just as the mouth watering sweets. People exchange greetings and Diwali Gifts with loved ones. (Narkasur - This is celebrated all over Goa, on the eye of Diwali by burning the effigy of demon Narkasur signifying victory of good over evil. Competitions of the effigies are held in the capital Panaji.)

St. Francis Xavier's Feast - The body of St Francis Xavier lier in a silver casket in the Church of Bom Jesus in Goa. Ceremonies to honor his death are performed on Decemver 3, the day he was buried. St. Xavier was a great Catholic missionary, who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christto the people of Asia. Born in Spain on April 7, 1506 he came to India with the Portuguese Victory of Goa in 1543, and immediately undertook the task of influencing the Goan people.

Christmas - Like elsewhere in the world, December 25 is celebrated in India too as the nativity of Jesus Christwith traditional joy and gaiety.

Carnival - In Goa is a non-stop 3 day festival of color, song and music, providing a healthy entertainment for all, young and old. The soothing climate, full of fun-n-frolic, which the Carnival generates, is much longed for. It does not matter whether one enjoys or see others enjouing. There is enthusiasm and happiness all around. The carnical is meant to be a feasting-drinking-merrymaking orgy just before the austere 40 days of lent. Huge parades are organized throughout the state with bands, dances and floats out all nights on the streets and grand balls held in the evenings. The carnival concludes with the famous red and black dance held by the Clube National in Panaji on the final day.

Shigmo - In Goa the festival of Holi is called Shigmo. There's a parade in Panaji, organized by the Panaji Shigmotsav Samiti and numerous temple festivals around Goa. In the Procession of Umbrellas at Cuncolim, Shantadurga is carried in procession over the hills to the original temple site wrecked by the Portuguese in 1580. It's a colorful and dramatic event all over Goa. Special celebrations at Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco-da-Gama and Margao.