Fairs and Festivals of Goa | Goa State PSC (GPSC) Preparation - GPSC (Goa) PDF Download

Fairs and Festivals of Goa

Goa Carnival

• The excitement and festivities in Goa begin in December with the holiday season and continue beyond New Year's, culminating in the celebration of the Goa Carnival, a tradition that started with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1510.
• The Goa Carnival is based on the Christian tradition of Mardi Gras (Fat Wednesday), which involves carnival celebrations.
• This festival celebrates Goa's culture and cuisine on a grand scale each year.
• Originating from the Mardi Gras tradition of indulgent feasts, dancing, and drinking before the fasting and abstinence of Lent, the Goa Carnival is a 4-day extravaganza observed throughout the state with great enthusiasm and energy.

Christmas 

• Christmas is a festive occasion celebrated globally with immense enthusiasm, transcending religious boundaries.
• The Christmas festivities in Goa possess a unique charm that distinguishes them from celebrations in other parts of India.
• Dominated primarily by Christians, Goa during Christmas transforms into a vibrant spectacle of colors and revelry.
• Streets in Goa are aglow with lights, while markets are bedecked with tinsel and buntings.
• Christmas trees illuminate every corner, both in the streets and within Goan households.
• Homes and churches are adorned and brightly lit, setting the festive mood from Christmas Eve onwards, resonating with the melodious harmony of Christmas carols.
• The air is filled with the delightful aroma of baking cakes and the melodious tolling of church bells, enhancing the already vibrant and colorful ambiance of Goan Christmas celebrations.
• The celebrations encompass parties, morning masses, prayers, music, shopping, dance, and various other festivities, culminating in an exotic fiesta that harmonizes with the rhythms of the sea, the sun, and the essence of Christmas.
• Christmas, observed worldwide on December 25th, initiates its celebrations in Goa on Christmas Eve, continuing the festive spirit even after Christmas day.

Sunburn Festival

• Sunburn Festival is India's largest Electronic Dance Music Festival, drawing over 350,000 attendees and numerous artists annually.
• Initially held at Vagator Beach in Goa, the festival relocated to Pune's hills, rebranding as Sunburn Hills.
• In 2016, it marked its tenth anniversary and continued to enthrall audiences with performances by renowned artists like Martin Garrix, Hardwell, David Guetta, and Armin van Buuren.
• Pune is gearing up to welcome the New Year with music, dance, and culinary delights.
• Founded in 2007 by Nikhil Chinapa and Percept Entertainment, Sunburn Festival has become a highly anticipated global event.
• Having energized Goan beaches for years, the festival shifted to Pune in 2016, specifically to Sunburn Hills, spanning 90 acres on the Pune-Ahmedabad highway.
• Continuing its tradition, the event's epicenter moved from Candolim Beach to Vagator Beach, maintaining its status as the most awaited annual gathering for a decade.
• Each year, Sunburn Festival hosts hundreds of artists, including some of the industry's biggest names.
• In 2017, the festival mesmerized audiences with electrifying performances from iconic figures like Martin Garrix, Hardwell, David Guetta, and Armin van Buuren.
• Over the years, Sunburn Festival has left a lasting impression on music enthusiasts worldwide, solidifying its place as a must-attend event.
• With its shift to Pune, the festival has maintained its allure, promising unforgettable experiences for attendees year after year.

Goa Liberation Day

• Goa Liberation Day is of immense historical importance for the region of Goa.
• It marks the day when Goa was freed from Portuguese control with the aid of the Indian Navy.
• The liberation was crucial in freeing the Goan people from the oppressive Portuguese regime.
• Furthermore, Goa's liberation finalized India's independence, as post-British rule, Goa remained under Portuguese control.
• The day is commemorated with grand festivities throughout Goa.
• A torchlight procession, originating from three distinct locations in Goa, is a central part of the celebrations.
• These processions converge at Azad Maidan, where participants pay homage to the martyrs.
• Cultural events like Sugam Sangeet are organized to honor the day.

Feast of St. Francis Xavier

• India, a diverse land, celebrates numerous festivals in accordance with the changing seasons, each steeped in tradition and folklore, often symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
• These vibrant events, filled with rituals and customs, add color and joy to the lives of the people, reflecting the cultural richness of the country.
• While some festivals hold religious significance, others revolve around seasonal transitions and agricultural milestones, offering a blend of spirituality and social customs.
• The Indian calendar brims with a plethora of such festivities, each with a unique history that has evolved over time, adapting to modern influences.
• The liveliness of these celebrations is evident in the grand processions, prayers, traditional attire, dance performances, and musical extravaganzas that accompany them.
• Despite changing societal dynamics, festivals retain the power to influence and shape people's lifestyles, preserving cultural heritage and community ties.
• One such notable celebration is the Feast of St. Francis Xavier in Goa, spanning from 21st November to 2nd January annually, offering a perfect window to explore the vibrant charm of the region.

The Procession of All Saints in Goa

• The Procession of All Saints in Goa is a highly popular festival held annually in the state, drawing a large number of participants.
• Commencing in March from the Church of St. Andrew in Old Goa, this event offers a unique chance to engage in a religious festival, witness a lavish carnival, and partake in a fair.
• Distinctively, Goa is the sole location outside of Rome where such a grand procession takes place.
• Thousands of individuals from nearby villages congregate in Goa Velha to join the procession.
• Local devotees demonstrate their faith by carrying life-sized statues of 31 saints on their shoulders during this solemn procession on the fifth Monday of Lent, encircling the entire village.
• Despite its religious nature, the evening ambiance transforms into one of festivity, with the main road adorned with stalls vending snacks, sweets, toys, and more.

Description of Feast of Three Kings

• The Feast of Three Kings Festival spans 10 days, filled with continuous dance, music, and partying that keep Goa's spirit high.
• For nine days, devotees visit the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount to offer prayers and seek blessings.
• On the festival's final day, three boys aged 8 to 10, chosen from local villages, are dressed as the three Kings who brought gifts for infant Jesus.
• These boys, who prepare to be kings for a day, arrive at the chapel from different paths, each accompanied by a cheerful crowd, to offer wealth to the Lady of the Mount.
• After the rituals, a grand fete and fair are organized, offering a variety of items like copper, brassware, furniture, clothes, toys, trinkets, bangles, and spices.
• The Feast of the Three Kings is celebrated on January 6th, with celebrations beginning nine days earlier.
• The celebration takes place at the Festa dos Reis, also known as the Epiphany.

Goa Heritage Festival

• The Goa Heritage Festival is a collaborative initiative involving the Goa Heritage Action Group, the Corporation of the City of Panaji, and the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa.
• In its third year, this festival is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Goa's architectural heritage.
• The event features a rich display of cultural performances by various artists and showcases the artistic creations of local artisans.
• Besides celebrating the state's cultural legacy, the festival aims to cultivate awareness and appreciation among Goans about their heritage, emphasizing the importance of conservation for future generations.

Seafood Festival

• This annual event in Goa celebrates the region's diverse seafood offerings.
• Over a continuous five-day period, renowned hotels and chefs set up stalls to showcase and offer delicious seafood dishes.
• Additionally, local housewives actively participate, adding their unique touch to make the festival a joyous occasion.
• Those with a penchant for seafood, especially Goan delicacies, will find this festival particularly delightful.

Monte Music Festival

• The Monte Music Festival, a relatively new addition, blends Western classical music with Indian classical traditions.
• Hosted at the Capela da Nossa Senhora do Monte by Fundacao Oriente, Cidade de Goa, and the Kala Academy, this festival spans four days.
• The event serves as a platform for numerous artists to showcase their talents to an appreciative audience.

Local Festivals of Goa

Shigmotsav or Shigmo

• Shigmotsav, a grand five-day festival of colors, is a significant celebration in Goan villages, resonating with the spirit of Holi or the Spring Festival. 
• It spans a week, culminating on the full-moon day in March and is joyously observed across the state, with particular fervor in Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco-da-Gama, and Margao.

Kalas Utsav

• Kalas Utsav, held on a grand scale biennially at the Sri Morjaee Temple in Pernem, is a significant socio-religious event attracting attendees not only from Goa but also from Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Novidade

• Farmers, whether Hindu or Christian, make their first offering to the church before harvesting their rice crop.
• This offering occurs during Novidade, where the parish priest personally harvests a sheaf of rice and brings it back to the church.
• Local people accompany the priest with music, fireworks, and celebrations.
• In the latter half of the month, women from Goa's earliest tribal settlers perform a dance called Bhandup.

Zatra of Shri Shantadurga

• The Zatra of Shri Shantadurga, a vibrant festival, is celebrated at Dhargali in Pernem.
• Marked by a colorful procession, the deity is temporarily taken out of the temple for the day.
• Another significant Zatra of Shri Shantadurga occurs at Kunkoliemkarin in Fatorpa, Quepem, attracting thousands of visitors from distant places.