The Homkund Festival: Fire, Faith, and Tradition on Chorao Island The Homkund Festival—also known as Homkhand or Homkund Utsav—is a distinctive and spiritually charged fire-walking ritual held annually on Chorao Island in Goa as part of the Shigmo festivities. At its heart lies an intense ceremony in which local men and boys walk barefoot across […]
“Sotreo” Umbrella Festival in Cuncolim
“Sotreo” Umbrella Festival in Cuncolim The traditional “sotreo” umbrella festival is celebrated in Cuncolim with great pomp and gaiety. Thousands of devotees from far and wide pour into Cuncolim to seek blessings of Shree Shantadurga Kunkalikarin as the annual procession wend its way from Fatorpa Temple. The colourful procession carrying the palki of […]
Gulal at Zambaulim
Gulal at Zambaulim Gulal is a festival connected with the Shigmo festival of Goa. It is celebrated in the month of Phalgun at the Shri Damodar Temple of Zambaulim. There are no exact records as to when the festival began. During the Portuguese regime, Christianity was introduced, sometimes by force. Hindus and Muslims were suppressed […]
Virbhadra folk dance reflects martial arts tradition
Virbhadra folk dance reflects martial arts tradition Virbhadra at Sanguem Virbhadra at Shiroda Virbhadra at Borim Virbhadra at Ponda Goa is a land where Lord Shiva is worshipped in varied forms. Virbhadra is one of the attendants of Lord Shiva who is regarded in Goa as one of the sons […]