Goans, irrespective of their caste or creed take part with the same excitement in Hindu festivals as they do for Christian festivals. Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Holi and Dusshera are some of the prominent Hindu festivals in Goa.

Shigmo

Shigmo (also called as Shimga) is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in Goa .Shigmo in Konkan and particularly in Goa is essentially the festival of the masses. It is also known all over in India as Holi - the festival of colors.

Read more about Shigmo festival in Goa

Ganesha Chaturthi

Unquestionably, the most illustrious festival of Goa, Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated around the months of August or September.

Most Goans return to their native place of birth or their ancestral houses to join the entire family in the celebration of the birthday of the Elephant God, Ganesha.

It is celebrated with much enthusiasm also because of its proximity to the state of Maharashtra, where Ganesha Chaturthi is unarguably the most important festival of the year.

Diwali

Diwali is celebrated all over India and is also known as the "festival of lights". Its roots can be traced back Hindu mythology.

Dusshera

The festival of Dusshera is celebrated just before Diwali in Northern India. These two festivals are celebrated as one in Goa. It marks the victory of good over evil.

Rakshabandhan / Rakhi

Raksha bandhan or popularly known as Rakhi, is celebrated all over India with much warmth and devotion.

It is a festival in which girls tie colorful, sacred threads around the wrists of their brothers, who in turn promise to protect their sisters from any sort of harmful influences whatsoever.

The brothers then give their sisters a gift as a token of their promise and love. This festival is celebrated usually in the month of August.

Ram Navmi

Ram Navmi or the birth anniversary of Lord Rama is celebrated sometime around March - April. Lord Rama is considered the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

The temples in Goa are decorated and the images of Lord Rama are adorned with flowers on the occasion of Ram Navami.

Fairs are planned in a number of places around Goa. The biggest celebration takes place in Southern Goa, where thousands of followers get together to take part in the festivities.

Krishna Janmashtami

Popularly called as Janmashtami, this festival marks the birthday of one the most lovable gods of the Hindu folklore, Lord Krishna.

It is believed that Lord Krishna was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who came in the corporeal world to destroy evil. This festival is celebrated in the months of August - September according to the Hindu calendar.

Janmashtami is celebrated with people paying a visit to local Krishna temples, which are particularly adorned and lit for the occasion. A major highlight of the day is "dahi-handi" in which young boys form a human pyramid and try to reach a pot of curd, which is tied high up.

It is believed that Lord Krishna used to steal curd and butter from neighboring houses by forming human pyramids with his friends. Just before midnight, devotees visit temples and perform a special "Aarti" to mark the birth of Lord Krishna as he was born at midnight.

Go back to Fairs and Festivals in Goa or Know about Goa's Christian festivals