Adpai comes alive as ‘Kutumba Ganeshas’ are immersed The environs of Adpai a tiny village in Ponda taluka comes alive annually on the fifth day of the ‘Chovoth’ as over a thousand families members scattered across Goa, come together for the immersion ritual of the 17 ‘kutumba (family) Ganesh’ idols. The village narrow […]
Gadyaanchi Jatra of Poinguinim
Gadyaanchi Jatra of Poinguinim The festival of Gadyaanchi Jatra, which happens once in three years at Poinguinim, a village in Canacona is celebrated in the name of Shri Betal who is the most feared and highly revered deity of Poinguinim and its neighbourhood. The first year (of the third year) a ritual called ‘Jevnni’ is […]
Three Kings Feast at Cansaulim
Three Kings Feast at Cansaulim The traditional feast of Epiphany popularly known as Three Kings or Magi feast is celebrated on 6th January at Cansaulim, Chandor in south Goa and Reis Magos in north Goa. The feast of the three kings commemorates a journey undertaken by three wise men nearly 2000 years ago […]
Colva’s Fama: Where thousands seek miracles from Menino Jesus
Colva’s Fama: Where thousands seek miracles from Menino Jesus Thousands of devotees will throng the 400-year-old Our Lady of Merces church for the grand ‘Colva Fama’ to seek the blessings of Menino (Infant) Jesus tomorrow October 17, 2016. The fama mass will be celebrated at 5.30am after which the Infant Jesus statue is brought out […]
Konnsanchem Fest (Harvest Festival)
Konnsanchem Fest (Harvest Festival) The Harvest Festival is celebrated all over the world in different ways and our little state is no exception. In Goa, the festival is celebrated in almost all villages as a sign of gratitude to the Almighty for bestowing the farmers with a bountiful harvest. Steeped in history – […]
Chikhal Kalo: An expression of joy
Chikhal Kalo: An expression of joy Many Goan festivals are linked to the cycles of nature and it isn’t surprising that the monsoon is an occasion to celebrate chikhal kalo, literally mud play. The Chikhal Kalo is unique to the village of Marcel, in the taluka of Ponda. Celebrated on the twelfth day […]
Sangodd at Ambelim and Assolna
Sangodd at Ambelim and Assolna ‘Viva Sangodd’ shout out the banners at the Sangodd (meaning ‘fishing canoes tied together’ in Konkani) at Ambelim and Assolna. This annual event is held by the fishing community to celebrate the feast of St Peter and St Paul on June 29 in Goa and marks the start of […]
Touxeachem Fest at Telaulim
Touxeachem Fest at Telaulim Touxeachem Fest, which translates to ‘Cucumber Feast’, is celebrated with religious fervour and age-old rituals at St Anne’s (Santana) Church in Telaulim, near Goa Velha. Over many generations, this picturesque village in Tiswadi has attracted thousands of devotees from across the state. Grandparents Day is celebrated on July 26th all around […]
Cumbarjua Ganesh Sangodd
Cumbarjua Ganesh Sangodd On the seventh day of Ganesh Chaturthi, the verdant banks of the Cumbarjua canal come alive with music, fireworks, and floats on boats. The occasion is the traditional ‘Sangodd’, on which residents of Marcel and Cumbarjua take their Ganesh idols for immersion in the river on flotillas of boats tied […]
Sao Joao Boat Festival in Siolim
Sao Joao Boat Festival in Siolim It is the feast of St John the Baptist on June 24th. On this day young men around Goa jump into wells to retrieve gifts thrown in by villagers. This celebration is called Sao Joao, one of the more famous Christian feasts in the state. The festivals […]