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 […]
Mussoll Dance at Cota, Chandor
Mussoll Dance at Cota, Chandor At the historical village of Chandor in the Kshatriya (warrior) caste villager’s courtyard this Mussal (pounding mace) march – cum- dance is performed on the second day of Goan Carnival. The dance performed by men who carry ‘Mussal’ – a war weapon in medieval times, is performed with […]
Adpai comes alive as ‘Kutumba Ganeshas’ are immersed
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Tripurari Poornima Boat Festival at Sanquelim
Tripurari Poornima Boat Festival at Vithalapur, Sankhali (Sanquelim) ‘Tripurari Pournima’ is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartika. The festival that symbolises the victory of good over evil is also called the Kartiki Pournima. Legend says that the demon king Tripurasur had been harassing the […]