Category: Goan Festivals

Goan Festivals

Centuries-Old Sangod Utsav Marks Ganesh Visarjan on the Seventh Day of Chaturthi in Cumbarjua

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Cumbarjua, 3rd September 2025 – The annual Sangod Utsav, celebrated on the seventh day of Ganesh Chaturthi, took centre stage at the Cumbharjua Canal, drawing villagers, devotees, and visitors in large numbers. The festival is rooted in the Ganesh Visarjan ritual on the seventh day, which gave rise to this unique centuries-old tradition. Over the years, it has evolved into a vibrant cultural celebration that beautifully captures the essence of Goan life through devotion, performance, and community spirit.

Present to witness the spectacle were Shri Mauvin Godinho, Hon’ble Minister for Panchayat; Shri Premendra Shet, MLA Mayem; Shri Kedar Naik, Director Tourism; and Shri Rajesh Faldesai, MLA (Cumbarjua) & Chairman, Goa Rehabilitation Board, together with Shri Gaurav Kudchadkar (CSR – Deccan Fine Chemicals), Dr. Shivaji M. Shet (President, Shree Shantadurga Kumbharjuvekarin Temple), Shri Chandrashekhar Phadte, and local leaders including Shri Sachin Gaude (Sarpanch) and Mr. Sudhir Phadte (Dy. Sarpanch), supported by Panchayat members and the entire community.

Hon’ble Tourism Minister Shri Rohan A. Khaunte remarked, “Sangod Utsav is a living canvas of our cultural heritage. By engaging our youth in mythological enactments and artistry, we sustain traditions and foster regenerative tourism in Goa. This festival has evolved into a floating theatre, villagers don colourful costumes, enact characters, and bring stories alive on the water. It connects devotion, creativity, and community in a unique way”

Director Tourism, Shri Kedar Naik stated, “The Sangod Utsav is a fine example of how cultural traditions can be preserved while also becoming a unique attraction for cultural and experiential tourism. Such festivals reinforce Goa’s commitment to regenerative tourism, where communities are at the heart of the experience.”

The Shantadurga Kumbharjuvekarin Temple in Marcel serves as the epicentre of this tradition. After rituals and prayers, Lord Ganesh is carried in procession and placed on a sangod, a decorated platform created by joining two traditional canoes. The idol then makes five ceremonial rounds of the canal before immersion.

Each sangod carried elaborate scenes inspired by the Ramayana, Mahabharata, folk tales, and social themes, anchored in traditional religious performance. Young villagers took charge of float design, dramatic enactments, costumes, and navigation, transforming the canal into a vivid open-air stage and competing for creative excellence. The event drew significant local and regional spectators, reinforcing Cumbarjua’s identity as a vibrant destination for experiential heritage tourism. Entire wards and families across Golwada, Marcel, Rambhuvanwada and surrounding areas came together, tying boats, rehearsing performances, coordinating rituals, and celebrating shared pride.

The 2025 Sangod Utsav reaffirmed the spirit of devotional theatre on water, preserving a centuries-old ritual while creatively engaging multiple generations. With government support and improving infrastructure, the festival grows in scale each year, drawing attention from cultural enthusiasts and strengthening sustainable tourism anchored in local identity.

Goan Festivals

Vasco’s Iconic Saptah of Shree Damodar Kicks Off with Devotion, Unity & Festivity

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Vasco, Goa | July 29, 2025: The much-awaited Saptah of Shree Damodar, one of the most revered and inclusive festivals in Goa, commenced today in Vasco. Celebrated with deep devotion and grandeur, the festival begins the day after Nag Panchami and draws thousands of devotees across religious and social lines.

The temple premises of Lord Damodar witnessed visits from political leaders, business personalities, and locals, all uniting in faith to offer prayers and perform age-old rituals. The sound of bhajans, the aroma of incense, and the bustle of enthusiastic devotees painted a deeply spiritual atmosphere.

What makes this festival unique is its inclusive nature — people from various religious communities come together to participate, symbolizing Goa’s longstanding culture of unity in diversity.

The traditional Saptah fair is also a major attraction. Stretching across lanes near the temple, the fair features local vendors selling everything from accessories and sweets to household items, creating a festive, market-like buzz.

Speaking to locals, many expressed how this celebration is not just a religious ritual but a heartfelt cultural event, deeply embedded in Vasco’s identity. Elderly residents recalled decades-old memories, while children marvelled at the lights, sounds, and vibrant stalls.

As Saptah unfolds in the coming days, the city of Vasco is once again reminded of the strength of tradition, the power of unity, and the beauty of celebration.

📍 For more local stories and cultural updates, visit allycaral.com
— By AllyCaral Culture Desk

Goan Festivals

Touxeachem Fest: Goa’s Bride, Groom & Blessings Festival Rooted in Faith

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Written by Nikita Volvoikar

In the heart of Santana Talaulim, a small village in Goa, stands the iconic St. Anne’s Church—one of the greatest religious monuments in Asia. Each year on July 26, this church becomes the spiritual epicenter of the Touxeachem Fest, a feast deeply intertwined with both faith and folklore.

Named after St. Anne, mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus, the festival coincides with Grandparents’ Day and honors St. Anne and St. Joachim. But what sets it apart is the heartfelt nature of the offerings and the faithful who bring them.

Eligible bachelors arrive carrying silver or wooden spoons, reciting the Konkani prayer:
🗣️ “Senhora, tomai colher, dai mulher” (Lady, take this spoon, give me a bride).

Single women offer urad dal with the plea:
🗣️ “Senhora, tomai urido, dai marido” (Lady, take these cereals, give me a groom).

And childless couples offer tender cucumbers, praying:
🗣️ “Senhora, tomai pepino, dai menino” (Lady, take this cucumber, give us a child).

These symbolic acts are more than rituals—they are acts of belief, carried on through generations.

Many devotees have shared real-life stories of answered prayers—of weddings that followed, pregnancies that were once thought impossible, and lives that changed after visiting the sacred site.

While the Touxeachem Fest may seem unconventional, it is deeply spiritual and uniquely Goan. It reflects the emotional honesty and communal spirit that define Goa’s culture.

As the sun sets over Santana Talaulim each July 26, one thing is clear—faith is alive, miracles are possible, and the spirit of Goa continues to shine through its people, their traditions, and their unshakable hope.

Goan Festivals

Xristti Utsov – Let’s Celebrate Nature Brings Faith, Art, and Ecology Together in Chicalim

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As Chicalim marks 400 years of Christian faith, the Assoi Dongri and Regina Mundi sectors of St. Francis Xavier’s Church brought together community, tradition, and sustainability in an event titled “Xristti Utsov – Let’s Celebrate Nature”. Held on 20th July 2025, the celebration was a lively and thoughtful tribute to creation and the environment.

🌴 Prelude with Coconut Palm Art

The event was prefaced by a two-day Coconut Palm Art Workshop on 18th and 19th July, led by Mrs. Sabina Da Cunha of Parra. A passionate volunteer with DRAG and Secretary of the Hemophilia Society (Panjim chapter), Sabina introduced participants to “Mollam Making”—an age-old eco-art she learned from her grandmother. The handcrafted coconut creations were later used to decorate the venue, weaving tradition into the heart of the celebration.

🌱 Competitions Rooted in Nature

On July 20th, the Panchayat Hall transformed into a lively space of learning, expression, and reflection.
Children participated in a joyful salad decoration contest, while adults impressed with their creativity in the Wild Fresh “Fulam ani Panna Mandopp” competition, designing stunning displays using only natural elements.
Poster and slogan competitions added an artistic and environmental touch, reinforcing messages of care for nature.

🎭 Faithful Performances

The highlight of the event was the sector-wise cultural program, where participants from all age groups expressed their connection with nature through:

  • Street plays
  • Skits
  • Dances
  • Mime
  • Fashion walks and song performances

Each performance echoed the central message: that creation is divine and must be preserved.

🎤 Special Guests and Presence

The celebration was graced by key figures, including:

  • Diocesan Commission for Ecology (DCE-Goa)
  • Goencho Ekvott
  • The Pallottine Fathers and Christian Brothers
  • Esteemed guests including Mrs. Sabina Da Cunha, Mr. Raj Bhandare, Mrs. Joyce Teles, and Mrs. Anita Fernandes.

🙏 A Moment of Unity and Awareness

“Xristti Utsov” was not only a celebration—it was a community call to conscience. It reminded everyone of the spiritual responsibility we share toward the earth. By blending faith, tradition, eco-art, and cultural expression, the event stood out as a transformative chapter in Chicalim’s ongoing celebrations.

📖 For more inspiring stories of Goa’s people, culture, and community, visit allycaral.com
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Goan Festivals

Chikhal Kalo 2025 concludes with enthusiasm, mud play and a celebration of Goa’s living traditions

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Marcel, 7th July 2025 – The vibrant Chikhal Kalo 2025 Festival culminated today at Sri Devki Krishna Temple, Marcel, with the much-awaited mud play that brought together hundreds of devotees, tourists, youth, and families in a joyous celebration of faith, heritage, and nature. Held on Dwadashi, the concluding day witnessed spirited participation in traditional games, devotional singing, and the symbolic ritual of mud immersion that reimagines Lord Krishna’s playful bond with the Earth.

The Sri Devki Krishna Temple ground came alive with the energy of chendu fali, kushti, and other traditional plays in the mud, as participants celebrated the divine play (leela) of the Lord with laughter and togetherness. The excitement reached its peak during the exhilarating dahi handi, in a spirited and festive atmosphere, cheered on by enthusiastic spectators. The entire experience reinforced the core values of devotion, community bonding, and gratitude for the monsoon season, the central themes that have shaped the festival over generations.

Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, who actively participated in the celebrations, remarked, “This is our lok parampara, and it’s time we take it to the world. During Chikhal Kalo, people come together to celebrate, to play, and to reconnect with the soil. It is important to preserve such traditions and pass them on to future generations. Earlier, Goa was known mainly for its beaches—today, we are proudly promoting ‘Goa Beyond Beaches.’ With government support for festivals like these, we are also creating economic opportunities for our local communities. Over the past three years, Chikhal Kalo has received an overwhelming response. I believe everyone should be part of this celebration and help spread the message of unity.”

Adding to the festivities was a Photography and Reel Making Competition, encouraging participants to document the vibrant essence of Chikhal Kalo 2025. The entries captured the playfulness, colours, and emotion of the festival, offering new-age storytelling perspectives to timeless traditions.

The past three days have seen a convergence of spirituality, music, culture, and community. From the soulful Abhang and Kirtan recitals on Day 1, to the devotional Bhajan performances on Ashadhi Ekadashi (Day 2), and culminating in today’s spirited mud rituals Chikhal Kalo 2025 stood as a celebration of Goa’s spiritual and cultural depth.

Goa Tourism, under its vision of Regenerative Tourism, reaffirms its commitment to supporting festivals that reflect Goa’s cultural heritage and strengthen community involvement. The participation from all age groups, as well as the growing interest from visitors and digital audiences, highlights the evolving appetite for authentic, local, and inclusive experiences.

As the curtain falls on this year’s celebrations, Chikhal Kalo continues to remind us of the power of tradition to unite, uplift, and inspire. The festival once again proved that true celebration lies not just in rituals, but in shared moments of joy, devotion, and connection with each other and with the land.