Travel To Goa India

The 131 km long coastline of Goa on the golden Konkan coast of the Western Ghats is along the Arabian Sea. This small former Portuguese enclave is one of India most popular tourist spots, both for the domestic and international traveller. The name Goa is derived from the Konkani word `Goyan', which means a patch of tall grass.

The 131 km long coastline of Goa on the golden Konkan coast of the Western Ghats is along the Arabian Sea. This small former Portuguese enclave is one of India' most popular tourist spots, both for the domestic and international traveller. The name Goa is derived from the Konkani word `Goyan', which means a patch of tall grass.

The sheer inaccessibility of Goa by land has always kept it out of the mainstream of Indian History. On the other hand, its control of the seas and above all the lucrative spice trade made it a much-coveted prize for rival colonial powers. Until a century before the arrival of the Portuguese adventure Vasco Da Gama who landed near Kozhikode in Kerala in 1498, Goa had belonged for over a thousand years to the kingdom of Kadamba. In the interim it had been successfully conquered by the Karnatakan Vijayanagars, the Muslim Bahmanis and Yousuf Adil Shah of Bijapur but the capture of the fort at Panaji by Alfonso De Albuquerque in 1510 signaled the start of a Portuguese occupation that was to last for 450 years.

Meanwhile, conversions to Christianity started by the Franciscans gathered pace when St.Francis Xavier founded the Jesuit Mission in 1542. With the advent of the inquisition soon afterwards laws were introduced censoring literature and banning any faith other than Catholicism even the long established Syrian Christian community were branded heretics. Hindu temples were destroyed and converted Hindus adopted Portuguese names such as DA Silva, Correa and De'Sousa which remain common in the region. The transitional influence of the Jesuits eventually alarmed the Portuguese government. The Jesuits were expelled in 1749 which made it possible for Indian Goans to take up the priesthood. However, standards of education suffered and Goa entered a period of decline. The Portuguese were not prepared to help but neither would they allow native Goans equal rights. An abortive attempt to establish the Goan Republic was quelled with the execution of fifteen Goan conspirators.

When you have decided to opt for Goa tour travel packages from the tour operators in Goa, be prepared for you might just swoon over the beauty of this enchanting state.

Goa packages from the tour operators in Goa take you on a sightseeing tour that involves churches, temples, beaches and of course the villages. Besides this, when you avail a Goa packages from tour operators in Goa, you get to relish the delicious Goan food, which is always hot and spicy.

Fair & Fastival in Goa

Bonderam Festival, Goa
Bonderam Festival goaThe feast of Bonderam is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of August every year at Divar Island, 12-km from Panjim.
On this day, the quiant land of Divar, away from the hustle and bustle of Panjim, is agog with excitement. Melodious music drift from the village to mainland Old Goa - once the hub of Portuguese Goa - even before the crack of dawn on the Saturday. At noon people begin trickling into the village. By the evening the trickle is a deluge. An expectant crowd assembles along either side of the main through fare of the village. The tempo is set by lands and lasses wielding "fotashes" engaging themselves in mock battles. The gaily coloured floats accompanied by colourfully dressed youngsters make a pretty picture.

Feast Of Three Kings ,Goa
Feast Of Three Kings goaIt is on the Festa dos Reis or the Epiphany on January 6 that the isolated Hill station of Remedios and chapel suddenly spring to life and activity. After staying almost whole year in isolation, just nine days before the Feast of the Novena starts, the hill revives and resounds to human voices and feet. Come early dawn, kettledrums and the blare of trumpets, announce to the sleepy little neighboring villages that the day of rejoicing and festivity has arrived.The tolling bells call the faithful to prayer and devotees visit the shrine in a non-stop stream. There's now an excellent road winding its way up the steep hill right to the door of the chapel, making the ascent possible by car. Still, most of the devotees prefer to climb up hill. Even the very old and infirm make their way up for nine consecutive days to hear Mass and recite the Rosary before the Lady of the Blue Mantle. Many come to offer their thanks for fulfilling their wishes. The devotees are always lead by a drummer-boy with his kettledrum who, by the loud beat of his drum, announces of another favor having being granted by the Lady of Remedios.

Goa Carnival
Goa Carnival Carnival in Goa is a non-stop 3-day festival of color, song and music, providing a healthy entertainment for all, young and old. The soothing climate, full of fun- 'n' -frolic, which the Carnival generates, is much longed for. It does not matter whether one enjoys or see others enjoying. There is enthusiasm and happiness all around.
The Goa Carnival is an integral part of the Portuguese heritage of the state, which was a dominion of Portugal till 1961. The carnival epitomizes the fun-loving culture that is characteristic of Goa. It was introduced by the erstwhile rulers as a rowdy celebration in which flour, eggs, oranges, lemons, mud, sand-filled gloves along with dirty water, various liquids and glue were aimed at passersby. Used pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils were also thrown out of windows. Perhaps this was done to discard the old and the dirty before the Lenten fast.

Sao Joao Festival in Goa
Sao Joao Festival in Goa Sao Joao is the feast of St. John the Baptist observed all over Goa on 24th June. Newly wed sons-in-law celebrate at their mothers-in-law's house. On this occasion the mother presents the daughter a basket full of fruits like jackfruits, mangoes, pineapples, etc. to be taken home. A procession of village youth wearing crowns of leaves, carrying bottles of Feni advances through the village, ultimately arriving at a well of pond into which they jump along with the sons-in-law.

Shigmoutsav in Goa
Shigmo in Goa is esentially a festival of the masses. Though it is celebrated under different names and in different ways in various parts of the country.It is the festival of farewell to winter celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna (March), the last month of the Hindu calendar.In Goa, which has always been land of temples, Shigmo begins with Naman or collective obeisance of villagers from 9th moon day to full-moon day. During all these days, they are to 'Shun' non-vegetarian food and all intoxicants.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN GOA

Attraction Tour in Goa Goa has so many tourist attraction that one is confused as to which Goan tourist attraction to surrender to.

Temples in Goa:
When you think of Goa in India, then images of beaches and sea cross your mind, so it comes as an added surprise to find that Goa in India also has numerous temples doted all around. Once you visit these temples in India one is washed with a sense of purity and sanctity.

Churches in Goa:
Thanks to the Portuguese invasion, Goa, India, has a number of churches to boast about. Many of these Goan churches are outstanding and exemplary cases of Christian architecture. Most of the church in Goa display a tiered frontispiece and are framed with columns and pilasters. They belong to the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The local population, with their artistically receptive minds, assimilated the symbols of Christian art.

Villages in Goa:
To this day, if you ask the Goans where they are from, they'll give you the name of their village, their 'ancestral village' as they often call the Goan village. And since many of the villages in Goa have probably evolved from early Stone Age settlements, each Goan village has had plenty of time to develop its individual character overlaid by an Iberian stamp.

Beaches in Goa:
God has been very kind to this Indian town of Goa in terms of beaches. Beaches in Goa rank among the top beaches in the world. And why shouldn't it? With over 40 lovely beaches to its credit, one can just get lost in the mesmerising beauty of these beaches in India have to tour across Goa, India to experience the beauty first-hand.

Carnival in Goa:
Come February and you will find excitement bubbling across Goa…the reason…well, Goa is getting dressed for the carnival. It doesn't take much time for this small Indian state of Goa to get into the carnival mood, basically the party mood.

Getaways in Goa:
You will never get tired of the beaches or the temples or the churches in Goa, but just in case, you want to try something different, then there are many getaways in India's Goa.

Fairs And Festivals In Goa

With the majority of the population being Hindu, Goa has scores of festivals celebrated all around the year. The festivals are celebrated through out the year. Most of the Goan festivals are Jatras (feasts) of the local or family deity celebrated at the temple, called Devasthan. There is gala affair in the temple complex with thousands of devotees taking part in the colorful celebrations and the palakhi or palanquin procession.

The long period of Portuguese colonisation, has given unique Goan character to the Hindu festivals and are celebrated in distinctive and stylish elegance.

Most of the Hindu, Christian and other religious festivals are celebrated in the same manner as around India, but with a Goan flavour. Mainly celebrated Hindu festivals, by the Goans are Ganesh Chathurti, Gudi Padwa, Diwali, Dassra (Dussehra), Holi, Rakshabandhan, Ramnavmi and Krishnajanmashtami.

Sao Joao Festival

The Sao Joao Festival is most pompously celebrated in Goa amongst the Catholic community and is dedicated to St. John the Baptist which is celebrated on 24th June every year.

This occasion marks the celebration by the local youth in the villages of Goa who normally get drunk and jump into wells according to the existing tradition of Sao Joao festival.

They consume plenty of fruits on this occasion and are virtually unstoppable when they indulge in revelry. Specially in Salcete taluka, different types of folk dances or Mandos are held which are popularly known as Sangodds. Fruits and other eatables are exchanged between friends and relatives.

It is an existing tradition wherein anyone who owns a well and has a girl who is newly married exchanges pleasantries and food items to their in-laws as is the custom in every Goan village.

It is a real treat to watch the local youth with crowns of leaves and varied fruits on their heads going out in processions carrying Goan liquor along with them and jumping into wells to have fun. Later, they enjoy a lavish feast of meat and seafood marking the end of the festival. The rainy season is a perfect foil for the Sao Joao festival as most of the people enjoy it more when its raining heavily

Mardi Grass Festival

Mardi Grass is famous festival in Goa. The time for celebrating Mardi Grass is around the months of February and March every year. Lent is the period of time from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday which is a span of forty days. These forty days symbolize the forty days spent by Moses and Elijah roaming in the wild, the forty days and nights of continuous rain by God during Noah’s time, forty years of wandering by the Jews in search of land and the forty days of fasting by Jesus. There are a number of Pre Lenten festivals that are celebrated by the Christians all over the globe. The most famous of such festivals is the Mardi Grass (Mardi Gras) Festival, or Fat Tuesday. The Mardi Grass Festival is celebrated in Goa mainly three days before Lent commences.

The Mardi Gras Festival is celebrated in Goa with a lot of enthusiasm. There are guests arranged and carnivals that take place before the 40 day fasting take place.The Mardi Grass Festival take place comes together with a lot of music, good food, dance, colors and a lot of festivities.

Feast Of St Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier is better known as “Goencho Saib” (Lord of Goa) by Goans, is the Patron Saint of Goa. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is a feast held annually on the 3rd of December – the day he was buried – after nine days of prayer, called the Novena.

St Francis Xavier was a Basque Jesuit missionary in the 1500s, was known as the Apostle to the Indies and one of the supreme Christian missionaries. His accomplishment in Goa in particular earned him many followers and today he is respected as the area's patron saint. The fest is commemorated to honor his contribution and popularity. The festival draws thousands of followers who gather at the Bom Jesus Basilica to celebrate mass and to get in line with fellow devotees to kiss the relics of St Francis that are held there.

During his lifetime the saint was far and wide identified for nursing the sick and dying. Today, many pilgrims come to the feast in the hope that they may still recover from his healing powers and to give thanks for the comfort he has given them.

Thousands of devotees from across the country as well as abroad attend the Feast, which has a Pontifical Mass performed by a congregation of high-ranking clergy.

Masses begin as early as 4am, with the solemn High Mass celebrated mid-morning. Later the visitors move on to the Old Goa fair, one of the largest in the region. This major festival usually lasts for 9 days with devotees visiting the Bom Basilica.

Christmas Carnival

Celebrations that are triggered off from the Christmas Carnival peak in February, which is carnival time in Goa. Even though Goa is a popular destination the year round, the benign temperatures and the sunny beaches are more endearing in this particular part of the year.

Carnival time is party time and the Goa Carnival is the biggest and merriest party of the winter season. Goa is a small state and almost all its folk are out in the open to celebrate the carnival. It is a three-day fest full of color and gaiety. Folks in Goa are into the preparations from weeks ahead and keenly await this marvelous carnival of fun and frolic.

Goa has a predominantly Christian Populace. The history of the Goa Carnival is rather interesting. The Goa Carnival's roots are traced to the era of King Momo. The king is said to have started this carnival to mark the beginning of lent, which is a rather somber and religious affair that entails fasting for a long period of 40 days. It would seem to convey that fast and feast as much as you can and brace yourself for a dedicated period of lent. The Goa Carnival usually starts off on Sabado Gordo (Fat Saturday) and concludes on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) on the eve of Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of the season of Lent. This is one festival that has come to be identified with Goa and Goan Culture.

Colorful processions and lavish floats in the parade on the streets of Goa, India is the hallmark of this festival of Goa. The mask has also gained iconic status in this festival of Goa. The Goa carnival is the display ground for the most innovative and decorative masks in India. Song and dance that is a part of the life of the spirited people of Goa comes out at its best in the Goa Carnival. The Goa Carnival showcases Goa in all its aspects. Latest and new trends find place of pride in the floats that are on display as they move along the streets.

The Goa Carnival is not only about song and dance, but also of well-crafted short plays that are enacted during the Carnival. Of course a lot of thought and preparation goes into these plays that are many times based on historical facts. These plays are locally composed and are therefore full of dance, songs and music. The costumes are of course outlandish and so are the opulent headgears.

People the world over plan their visit to Goa, India just to witness this festival of Goa. Come breathe in this festive air and become a part of this great celebration of life! Witness the Goa Carnival and be a part of history! Mingle among the gregarious crowd and feel your pulse dance with joy and wash your tensions away!

Shigmotsav

Shigmotsav or Shigmo is a prominent Hindu festival in Goa. The majority of population of Goa is Hindu which explains the ardor with which the variety of the Hindu festivals is celebrated in Goa. Shigmotsav or Shigmo is a festival of colors and the celebrations extends to five days. Shigmotsav or Shigmo is celebrated in the villages with gusto and has a lot of similarity with Holi or Spring festival. The celebrations assume a big proportion in Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco-da-Gama and Margao.

During Shigmotsav or Shigmo, a parade dance is performed by the traditional folk dancers who are joined by the street dancers. The dancers carry hand-crafted floats that have mythological and religious significance. Shigmotsav or Shigmo is celebrated in March. The time of the celebration coincides with the Carnival. There are two varieties of the festival, the Dhakto Shigmo and the Vodlo Shigmo. Dhakto Shigmo is celebrated by the agriculturists, the labor class and the rural population. Dhakto Shigmo means ‘small Shigmo' which implies that the celebrations are on a smaller scale. The Vodlo Shigmo or the ‘big Shigmo' is jointly celebrated and everybody participates in the festivities irrespective of class. Vodlo Shigmo begins with Holi Purnima and extends to five days.

The festivities associated with Shigmotsav or Shigmo include the singing of the ritualistic choral songs and dances that are performed amidst the village gathering. The dance is accompanied by two types of songs, the Naman and the Jot. Dol and drums feature prominently in the performances. Shigmotsav or Shigmo is wrapped up with a collective bath.