Goa is a euphoric destination replete of fiestas and carnivals that constitute the chilling vibes of this beautiful city. Be it the travel sites of Goa or the jolly Goan people, this place will give you the much-needed break from the boring heritage destinations and into a city where everyone believes in partying and letting your worries just go away through merrymaking. There are lots of celebrations that happen in the city all around the year and no matter which month you enter Goa, you will surely find people partying and enjoying their joyous occasions. So, let’s unleash the top 7 festivals around which you can arrange you journey to Goa so that you don’t miss the fun that Goa is most visited for!
1. Goa Carnival
Goa Carnival is the best of all Goan celebrations as it echoes the quaint spirit of the town. It is a four-day festival and fuses the ancient culture brought by Portuguese in Goa with the modern-day aspects of it. There is drinking, dancing, and unwinding from daily worries and there is a huge parade that constitutes of musical fiesta. The known red dance is a must to see in this celebration while you will find people soaking the festive aura of Goa at its height during this lovely carnival.
2. Christmas
Christmas is also a significant part of Goan life as it is the occasion when the locals here decorate and shimmer their houses with pretty ornaments, the churches are the most highlighted at this time and you will also get to hear the charming choruses in the air of Goa. There are delightfully organized feasts while Goans make sure to be a part of the Midnight Mass and the lively ardor of the city is at its best during the divine time of Christmas.
3. Ganesha Chaturthi aka Chovoth in Goa
Ganesha Chaturthi is an auspicious occasion for every Indian and in Goa too, it is celebrated beautifully. The idol of Lord Ganesha is brought into houses mostly for around three days and Chovoth, on the other hand, is the time of merrymaking through flower-creating contest and cooking fives dishes on this day. Also, on Chovoth, the locals dress themselves and decorate the idol of Lord Ganesha and also keep in mind that the holy places are properly cleaned and adorned magnificently.
4. Holi
The colorful time of Holi paints the city in all vivid shades and presents you a jolly Goa! It is celebrated similarly as Holi in all around India where people greet the spring season by rubbing colors on everyone and forgetting their enmity to bring happiness in their lives. So, if you are visiting Goa around March that’s when Holi comes, you have to be ready to get colored and getting wet with water balloons and enjoying yourself in the multihued aura of Goa.
5. Grape Festival
Grape Festival consists of a single element, i.e. wine, which dominated every celebration during this fiesta. You can lose yourself in different kinds of wine and other cuisines that are a part of Grape festival, and there are live performances, wine-tasting shows, fashion walks and tons of entertainment to enchant you with. If you have never tasted wine, then this festival is the best to visit Goa for as you can taste wine, drink wine, and just immerse yourself in this drinking festivity.
6. Francis Xavier Feast
This day comes on 3rd December and is organized in the famous Basilica of Bom Jesus. The feast is observed to commemorate the remembrance of St. Francis Xavier and following the feast is the 9-day Novenas are arranged and visited by several pilgrims from the globe. On this day, the Goans unite together to revere and remember St. Francis Xavier who died and was buried on this day. Moreover, the churches get opened by 4 in the morning and people assemble with each other to commemorate their revered Saint’s memory and to be a part of the day’s festivities.
7. Sao Jao Festival
The city observes the feast of St. John the Baptist through this celebration that arrives in the month of June. It is organized differently in North Goa where people celebrate the coming of monsoons and rains and they drink feni and then take dips into the ponds, wells and springs of the city. While in many other places of Goa, you will also find boat racing as a part of this fun Sao Jao Festival.
Hence, jollity and cheerfulness is a quintessential part of Goa and these festivals add more fun to this amazing city. These carnivals will wonderfully add vibrance to you visit here and make you feel like you are a part of Goa and its celebrative atmosphere, thus enjoy Goa and let yourself be immersed in the distressing ambience of this city.
