September 1, 2021
The monsoon season in Goa fills the whole landscape with lush greenery in almost every shade of the colour. Rivers well up and fields flood, fertile and ready for rice plantation. The temperature drops as the air is sweetened with the smell of fresh damp grass. Sounds of nature eclipse man-made noise and a new cycle of life begins every June.
All over Goa as nature rejoices, the community comes alive in celebration as well. The monsoons are filled with festivals that bring people together in a warm and joyful atmosphere. Read our blog for a few tips and tricks to get your home monsoon ready.
Here is a list of a few of the monsoon festivals in Goa.
Bonderam is a flag festival held in the fourth week of August. It represents the use of flags by the Portuguese to demarcate properties and settle disputes. This festival takes place on the island of Divar, 12km northeast of Panjim. The island is accessible by ferry, either from the village of Ribandar or Old Goa. A parade marks the occasion, animated by a brass band playing classic Goan and Portuguese songs. People walk in a procession wearing traditional clothes or fantastic costumes, followed by a line of floats. These beautifully crafted floats display different scenes from Goan culture or represent particular social messages.
In Goa, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is called ‘Chovoth’ and is a very nature-centric period. In preparation, each family builds a canopy for the idol called ‘matoli’. The matoli is made of wood and decorated with several fruits and medicinal plants. This tradition carries forward knowledge and an appreciation of the local flora. It is a testimony to the respectful relationship this community shares with nature.
When this auspicious time begins, people from across the state drive back to their ancestral homes. It is a time of prayer and getting back to one’s roots, surrounded by family. People usually prepare sweets like laddoos, modaks, and the traditional ‘nevris’, which have a coconut and jaggery filling.
Sao Joao is a Religious feast held on the 24th of June in honour of St. John the Baptist. It is celebrated all over the state, where locals dress in vibrant colours wearing headpieces called ‘kopels’. These are ornate wreaths adorned with various fresh fruits, flowers, and leaves. After the prayers to mark the feast, people go from well to well in their localities, taking turns jumping in. The locals also call this the feast of sons-in-law, as a common tradition in many villages is the homecoming of newlywed couples to the bride’s home. Young men receive baskets of seasonal fruits at their in-laws’ homes.
The northern village of Siolim has one of the biggest celebrations of the state. A unique boat parade, called the sangodd of Siolim, takes place. A sangodd is a structure made by binding two or three smaller boats together to create a platform. This ritual follows the tradition where travellers from the surrounding villages like Chapora would come by boat to pay homage at the Sao Joao chapel in Siolim. Also, read about the most scenic places to own a home in North Goa on our blog.
In commemoration, the neighbouring villages adorn their boats like carnival floats and sail them to Siolim to compete for the best-decorated sangodd. A variety of other competitions are also held in a grand affair and fresh fruit is distributed to all.
On the 29th of June, a boat festival takes place all over Goa in honour of the feast of St.Peter who was a fisherman and is the patron saint of fisherfolk. On this day, people celebrate the vital fishing community of Goa and pray for their well-being. Fishermen build sangodds and decorate them for the festivities of the day. After a mass and blessing of the sangodds, various entertainment takes place, including dances, songs, and skits. This practice is seen most commonly in the villages of Ribandar and Candolim. In Ribandar, fishermen often take their sangodds out on the river to the Sao Pedro chapel in Panjim and back.
Chikal Kalo, or the mud festival, takes place in mid-July, in front of the Devaki Krishna temple of Marcel. The word Chikal refers to wet mud. In honour of Lord Krishna’s playful manner, the people of the village dance and play games in the wet monsoon mud. Men drench their bodies in oil and gather in the temple to pray. They then run to the open space in front of the temple, and the games begin. The ground is wet and slick. They take turns dunking each other into puddles till everyone is covered in mud. A series of children’s games take place, including blindman’s buff, chakra, Kabaddi, dog-and-bone, and Tug of War. It is a time of fellowship and even tourists and people from other localities are welcome to join the games. The final event is the breaking of the Dahi handi. They form a human ladder to reach the handi, spilling its contents over the participants.
The monsoon season in Goa is a great and vibrant time to spend in the state. After your exciting activities and participating in all the local festivities, retire to your luxurious Rainforest Estates home, kick back, and relax. To know more about our projects, get in touch with us. Read our blog to learn about mistakes to avoid when it comes to buying a new luxury home You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more updates and posts.
Monsoon Festivals in Goa