Tag Archives: Goa Festivals Culture & Traditions

Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic pagan festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints. It is largely a secular celebration, but some have expressed strong feelings about perceived religious overtones. Irish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America during Ireland‘s Great Famine of the 1840s. …

Anant Chaturthi or Anant Chaturdashi is the last day of the “Ganesh festival” celebrated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It is the eleventh day after Ganesh Chaturthi which falls on the 14th day of the bright Bhadrapada (the sixth month of Hindu calendar). The day follows the immersion of the idols of the beloved Lord but to be …

Sao Joao Feast: The Goan flavour intensifies with numerous Christian festivals which adds vibrant colors all round. Sao Joao or The feast of St John the Baptist is observed on June 24th every year with fun and frolic. The celebration of Sao Joao has been continued for around 175 years. Every monsoon the Sao Joao feast is celebrated with grandeur …

Good Friday is celebrated in April-May by the Christians in India to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Lord Christ sacrificed himself on the cross for the sake of entire humanity. On this day Christians mourn Christ’s death and observe strict fast, and attend the services in the churches. Good Friday: St. Like’s Gospel describes Christ’s crucifixion in the following …

India’s Holi Celebration Destinations 6 Popular Holi celebration destinations: The unusually warm winter is melting into summer and falling, as usual, in the cusp of this yearly weather transition is Holi, a heady festival of colour and laughter. If you love the sights, sound and colors of Holi, then travel to some of the most spectacular places in India where …

Holi Festival is one of the four most popular Indian festivals observed by all without any distinction of caste, creed, status or sex. It is observed on the full moon night of Phalguna. It marks the end of winter and the advent of spring season. It is a two-day festival. On the first night bone fire is lighted in the …

The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is an important holiday that is observed by devout Christians all over the world. In India, it is a regional public holiday in the state of Goa. It is observed on 3 December every year. St. Francis Xavier was a very important missionary who was instrumental in propagating the Christian faith and the Roman …

Ganesh Chaturthi (Birthday of Lord Ganesh) is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha and is known as the day most sacred to Lord Ganesha. It falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (August – September). It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in …

Eastern Orthodox Epiphany is a blessing of baptism and a second Christmas, comes after the traditional Christmas date of December 25 i.e. on January 6th. It is celebrated by Orthodox Christians as a high religious holiday. For Latin American countries, the Dia de Los Tres Reyes is more of a cultural than religious date, and a second Christmas for children. …

Three Kings Feast (The Epiphany): A very popular event in Goa (India) is the Feast of Three kings. This feast is celebrated on the Festa dos Reis or Three Kings Day (The Epiphany) on January 6 every year. It takes place in the village of Verem in North Goa and those of Chandor and Cansaulim in South Goa. The Feast …