Festivals and Carnivals In Goa

There is no debate on why Goa is the most popular destination among the tourists of India and Internationally as well, but what makes it more special and attractive are not only the beautiful beaches, churches, or the nightlife of Goa. What adds more charm to Goa is the festivals that are held every year in Goa. There are a variety of festivals and carnivals held in Goa every year like Goa Carnival, Shigmotsav, International Film Festival of India, Sunburn music festival, St. Francis Xavier feast, and many more for which tourists from around the world arrive in Goa to enjoy the carnival. It is the amalgamation of several cultures that are celebrated in Goa every year. 

Goa Carnival 

Started in the 18th century by the Portuguese in Goa to celebrate the beginning of Lent, since then every year from 26th February to 1st March a four-day party is held throughout the state. Parades of colourful floats which are surrounded by masked revellers (especially in Panjim) with great live music and beautiful street stalls. The capital city Panaji, Vasco Da Gama, Margao, and Mapusa are the 4 main cities that are gracefully decorated during the carnival. The carnival features a bunch of tourist activities like indulging in merrymaking, drinking, and feasting throughout the day. During this carnival whole Goa forgets to sleep as these parades continue throughout the night. The streets of Goa are decorated with very attractive lighting and groundballs like its Diwali in Delhi or Christmas in London. There are various activities held in this carnival, you can also call it festivities like awesome dancing troupes, revellers in their costumes, live electrifying music performance, competition of sports, great food and drinks. Sarcastic folk plays, Asslotes is the funniest Goa carnival tradition. They are dressed up in costumes and prank their friends. They need to pamper their performer with food and drinks once they realize or get aware of being pranked. Lip Smacking seafood is prepared in Goa by restaurants and hotels. It will surely make you say yummy in tummy.  

Highlights of Goa Carnival

• DJ night and fashion shows.
• Goan food and lots of fenis.
• Decorated parades.
• Folk plays.
• Panaji, Vasco Da Gama, Margao, and Mapusa are the main cities.

Goa  Carnival date

• 26th February to 1st March

Shigmotsav In Goa 

Bid farewell to the winter season and say hello to the spring season. The shigmo festival is all about welcoming the spring season. The essence of Goa’s favourite spring festival is demonstrated through the parade on the streets all across the state. The parade of Shigmotsav consists of a street and traditional folk dancers, also this festival is a fusion of holi and carnival. Shigmotsav in Goa is known as the biggest festival for Hindu as they depict scenes from regional mythology. This festival is celebrated on the day of the full moon in the month of March. 

Highlights of Shigmotsav

• Known for the welcoming spring season.
• Holi of Goa
• The biggest festival for the Hindu religion in Goa.
• Traditional folk dance.
• Depict scenes from regional mythology.
• Celebrated on the day of the full moon in March.

Date of Shigmotsav

• 21st March

International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 

One of the most significant film festivals of Asia, The International Film Festivals of India in Goa will celebrate its 52nd edition of the festival in a hybrid format in November 2021. This festival has become one of the oldest and one of the prestigious festivals in not only Goa but all over Asia in the last 50 years. This festival showcases the best of classic films and contemporary films from all around the globe. International Film Festival of India welcomes every year an array of world-renowned actors, filmmakers, critics, technicians and many film enthusiasts to celebrate cinema through its screening and presentation.

Highlights of IFFI

• Biggest film fest of Asia
• Celebrating for last 50 years.
• To be held at Pearl Of The Orient, Goa.
• A-grade film festival.
• World-renowned actors and filmmakers are welcomed.

Date of IFFI 

• 20th November to 28th November 2021

Sunburn Festival

Goa hosts the biggest techno party in Asia from December 27 to 30^th in the five arenas of Vagator. The sultry beaches of Goa welcome you to a 3 day Asia’s largest music festival and India’s first music festival in Vagator beach of North Goa that started in 2007 is now ranked amongst the world’s biggest music festivals. Asia’s Premier Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has now grown to become an aspirational lifestyle and one of the biggest brands boasting of electronic music and experience that seeded music tourism in India. To entertain thousands of dance and music lovers Sunburn has brought some renowned and talented International and Indian artists like Martin Garix, The Chainsmokers, Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Marshmello, Ritviz, Sartek, Progressive Brothers, Anish Sood, etc will make you dance till the lights go out. This is not just any random music festival, this mega event will blow your mind with Colossal structure.

Highlights of Sunburn

• Biggest music festival.
• Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
• World-renowned artists like Chainsmokers and Afrojack.
• Colossal Structure.
• Asia's largest music festival.

Date of Sunburn

• 27th December to 30th December

St Francis Xavier’s Feast 

St. Francis Xavier, cited as Lord of the province by Goans. The annual feast persevered the third of Gregorian calendar month marks the day he was buried. Once 9 days of prayer, known as the devotion the pageant hosts a spread of ceremonies to honour the Saint's death. A Pontifical Mass is dead by a congregation of the superior priesthood. Annually the province gets within the merry mood nearly associate night long before the yearly novenas and continues for a month once the pageant. On the holiday the Basilica of Bom Son becomes the centre of voluminous devotees. St. Francis Xavier is usually conjured up by his followers for his curative powers and therefore the feast is that an excellent occasion to urge blessing. There square measure several things to try and do at the feast like creating soup for the Feast of Saint Francis Xavier, See the gorgeous design that depicts Saint Francis at Olga’s Gallery, find out about a crucial early Christian teacher or pioneering missionary and decide and support the Holy Childhood Association.

Highlights of the St Francis Xavier Feast

• Remains of St Xavier are shown every 10 years of the feast.
• 2024 is the next time it will be displayed.
• Biggest of all Christian festivals.
• Olga’s Gallery

Date of the Feast

• 3rd  December.

Three Kings Feast

At the feet of Baby Jesus, the Epiphany Commemorates the adoration by the Three Kings of Magi. The Three Kings Feast is usually celebrated on 6th January or the first Sunday of the New Year in three places of Goa. The first being Reis Magos Church in Verem of North Goa, the second at the village of Chander in South Goa and the third at Our Lady of the Mount in Cansaulim of South Goa. The Three Kings Feast is marked with grand processions and the crowning of the Three Kings from three different villages. Being one of the favourite holidays among the Goans, there is huge excitement among the people of Goa as the three boys enact the scene of the three kings of Magi coming to meet the baby Jesus bearing gifts. It is said and believed that there is a boulder on a nearby hill that consists of a footprint of a baby and an adult along with a trough carved from a big rock marking the spot where the Virgin Mary rested for a while. 

Location of Three Kings Feast - Cansaulim, Arossim, and Qualim.

Date - 6th January.

Major Attraction of Three Kings Feast  

• Gift Giving Rituals 
• Procession
• Delicious Goan food and drinks.

Food and Cultural Festival Of Goa

You must have read or heard that Goa has got something for everyone, no matter what age group, you will never feel left out in Goa and also if you are a water baby then you never want to miss out on Goa. Just like the same way if you are a foodie person and loves to experiment with new dishes then Goa food and culture festival is something that you just can not miss. This is not any ordinary food festival, here anyone who can cook can join the festival. From homemakers, renowned chefs of 5-star restaurants to shacks get together on the beach to show their magic on the food. From delicious Goan delicacies like fish curry and fried prawns to Italian Pizza and Pasta, you will get everything here, enough to confuse you what to choose from food and drinks. Being one of the most awaited festivals of Goa, the food and culture in Panjim have got an amazing fusion of food and great cultural entertainment like live performances of bands which are loved across the nation. 

Date of food and cultural festival - 21st to 23rd February

Timings of the festival- From 6 PM to 10 PM

Major highlights of food and cultural festival

• A vast variety of food.
• More than 70 stalls.
• Cultural entertainment.
• Live performances of bands.

Location of the festival - Panaji

Grape Escapade - Biggest Wine Festival

Wine is bottled poetry - Robert Louis Stevenson. Grape Escapade aka the wine festival of Goa is the biggest and world-famed Wine pageant in the country that encapsulates the spirit of Goa and the Goan lifestyle.  Organized since 2005 in January, the Grape Escapade sets to be the simplest with wines, cuisine and recreation amusement that add relish and glamour. This is often one massive lifestyle event that every one wine and food lovers should relish in their lifespan and build it a date to be there and luxuriate in the four days of exquisite and exotic amusement. International wine manufacturers and native businesses, hoteliers, restaurants and professionals from the recreation, food, drinkable and lifestyle business come back underneath one roof throughout the pageant. Exclusive assemblage sessions are conducted on all four days for invitees and wine connoisseurs. Crowning of the Grape Escapade Queen is additionally a key highlight of the four-day festivities. The leading wineries, restaurants, and hoteliers like Bohemia Wine, 4 season wine, Sula wine, Nira valley wine, mums kitchen, vintage wine, bottle bay, vasquitos, etc are just some of the names who mark their presence at Grape Escapade. 

Location of the wine festival -  Panjim

Major highlights of Wine Festival 

• The duration of the festival is 4 days.
• More than 20 wineries.
• Delicious food.
• Organised by GDTC.
• Crowning of Grape Escapade Queen.

Date of Wine Festival.

23rd January - 26th January