Festivals Of Goa
Major Festivals of Goa: Christmas
Major City Centers: Panaji, Margao, Vasco, Mapusa
Best Time To Visit: September To April
Christmas
is a special time of almost universal festivity. Families get together and
an air of excitement pervades the state. Various local Christian and Hindu
festivities include the feast days of patron saints of villages and temple
festivals. In February/ March the carnival is celebrated for three days
with colourful processions, floats and dances at the cities of
Panaji, Margao,
Vasco and Mapusa.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a
very special festival for Goans. During the ten-day celebration people
return to their ancestral homes and the little villages and towns hum with
excitement, as various ceremonies are observed.
Dewali is celebrated as the
victory of good over evil and effigies of Narkasur are burnt throughout
the state. The Shigmotsav is
the local version of the festival of
Holi
, which is celebrated for one week. Parades with colourful floats with
mythological themes are taken out in all major towns.
