Goans love a party, and so do the tourists who visit its golden shores.
But Goa is not all beach raves and over-indulging foreigners, it has a history and unique traditions, one of which is hosting some pretty stellar festivals. You’ll find many are wrapped up in different religious ceremonies , but others are about celebrating joy.
Festivals here are no one thing, you may find you have a spiritual experience, or end up jumping in water with a wildflower crown on, or wind up covered head to toe with colourful paint. Throw yourself into Goan traditions at one of these fantastic festivals.
1
Christmas & New Year
Visit Goa during Christmas and New Year and get ready to party. The streets are awash with colour. Houses are lit up. Churches are decorated. And everyone is up for a celebration. Christmas is all about midnight masses – a spiritual immersive experience.
You’ll find locals and tourists alike celebrating together on Christmas Eve. And as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, the beaches of Goa (especially Baga Beach and Anjuna Beach) come alive with extravagant firework displays. These Goan beach parties are super famous. Be ready to party until dawn with the sand between your toes.
Look out for:
- Midnight masses at churches
- Beautifully decorated streets and houses
- Fireworks and beach parties
2
Goa Carnival
The streets of Panjim come alive for the colourful parade – expect elaborate floats, traditional music and dance performances. And everyone will be decked out in vibrant costumes, masks and one-of-a-kind headgear. Thousands of tourists from across the world all mingle together with locals. It’s pure Goan spirit and culture.
Look out for:
- Colourful parades
- Traditional Goan music and dance
- Elaborate costumes and floats
Dance your way into Goa Carnival for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you’re after colour, then this is it. This joyous celebration leads up to Lent, and is held mainly in the capital city of Panaji (Panjim). The people of Goa have been enjoying this party for 500 years, and now it’s your turn to get into the action.
3
Sao Joao Festival
Prepare yourself for a real traditional festival. Also known as the Feast of St. John the Baptist, Sao Joao is one you won’t forget in a while. You’ll see people decked out in crowns made of Kopel flowers and leaves. There’ll be dancing, rich Goan food, and you’ll hear traditional music floating on the breeze. Look out for young Goan men, dressed head-to-toe in bright colours jumping into wells, ponds and rivers to retrieve fruits and gifts thrown by villagers and onlookers.
It’s a festival filled with pure joy and excitement, celebrating the arrival of the monsoon season. You can leave the water jumping to the locals, but be ready to dance and eat.
Look out for:
- Locals splashing into water
- Wildflower crowns
- Traditional food, folk music and dancing
4
St. Francis Xavier Feast
It’s one of the most significant religious festivals in Goa. Pilgrims and people from all over the world gather at the Basilica of Bom Jesus to pay homage to the saint. This is a deeply spiritual festival to commemorate the death of St Francis Xavier. His body is preserved in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa – all around the church will be packed with people all day.
Look out for:
- Veneration of St. Francis Xavier’s relics
- Religious processions and devotional mass
- Cultural programmes and feasts
Insider tip:
Although the mood is fun, it’s not one for dancing and partying. The celebration includes a devotional mass and a grand procession – it’s an important spiritual experience and testament to the strong Catholic heritage of Goa.
Look out for:
- Colourful parades
- Traditional folk dances
- Vibrant Holi celebration
5
Shigmo Festival
Now this is a Goan festival that’s a pure party. Held in March each year, the streets of Goa hum with people and noise when the Shigmo festival begins.
This spring festival is all about music, song and dance. As the Goan version of Holi – the festival of colours – expect traditional folk dances and parades with floats depicting mythological and historical themes. The celebration really comes alive with the smearing of coloured powder on each other. We love it. Throw yourself into the spirit, unity and colour of Goa.
Now you know about the different modes of transport in Goa, let’s discover the best beaches, places to stay and how to get around. Let’s build that bucket list.
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