Goa Carnival

Known the world over for the colourful parades and joyous celebrations, Goa carnival attracts people from everywhere. This fun filled carnival is one of the Portuguese legacies and one of the few famous Carnivals celebrated around the world, before the Lent.

The preparations for the carnival start months before and requires hard work from those participating and organising it. At the outset, the ‘King of Chaos’ or ‘King Momo’ is chosen, who leads the parade featuring dancing troupes as well as beautiful floats. There are masked revellers, live bands, and mind boggling activities, all in a good humour. The Goan culture, at its best, is on display in the carnival and is a thing not to be missed at any cost.

Christmas

Like everywhere else in the world, Christmas is celebrated in Goa on 25th December, with gaiety. The celebrations start with the singing of carols, Christmas shopping, spotting Santa on the street, decorating Christmas trees and the likes. Churches hold midnight masses where carols are sung, and Christians as well as non Christians, immerse in the bliss of this sacred day.

Feast of three Kings

On the twelfth day of Christmas, the festival of epiphany is celebrated. Here, on this day, a famous festival, the Feast of three Kings is celebrated in which three ‘kings’ come to bless baby Jesus with gifts of golds and pearls. The ‘kings’ are boys of age between 10-12 years selected from the three villages of Quelim, Cansaulim and Arrosim.

The kings mount their horses and make a journey to the Church of Our Lady of the Mount, where they give their gifts to the baby Jesus. Their journey is witnessed by people from villages, relatives and believers from different places. This is a majestic sight and the journey of the three kings is something not to be missed.

Good Friday/ Easter

Good Friday among Christians is a day of lamentation, because on this day, Jesus Christ was crucified.  On the Thursday preceding Good Friday, rituals are held in Churches and a feast, known as the ‘Last Supper’ is prepared. Many churches unveil the cross and hold processions in which the journey of Christ, on his way to crucifixion, is shown. The people mourn the loss of the Son of God and walk along Christ.

It is believed that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day of his death, i.e. on  Sunday, and that day is celebrated as Easter.  The churches hold mass, people celebrate this day with joy and happiness all around Goa.

Sao Joao Festival

Celebrated throughout Goa on June 24th, the feast of St John the Baptist is the festival of thanksgiving, celebrated at the onset of monsoon. The festival is marked with frivolities and celebrations with people coming out and celebrating in the street. The young men, according to the tradition, jump into the wells, which start to fill up in the rains.

St. Francis’ Day

Celebrated on 3rd December every year, this day marks the death of St. Francis Xavier. The body of the saint rests in the Church of Bom de Jesus, where people come to pay their homage to the great missionary.

St. Francis Xavier came to India along with the Portuguese governor and took the difficult task of teaching Christianity to the people of Goa. He held various sermons, baptised people and converted many to Christianity. People believe that the Saint had tremendous healing power and people come here to this very day to get healed.

Food and Cultural Festival

Celebrated for 5 days, this festival brings out the best of Goa’s unique cuisine. Being influenced by so many cultures, the food in Goa is a perfect blend of Indian and Portuguese style. This unique cuisine specialises in sea food, which is famous all over the world. There are stalls set by expert caterers of hotels and restaurants as well as housewives, all dedicated to showcase a mouth watering bite of this exotic cuisine. There are drinks, alcohols, ice creams and games as well. Another attraction is the display of Goan culture and breath taking fireworks.