Tag: Patto Plaza

Events in Goa

Festa do Povo Returns to Panaji with Goan Cuisine, Music and Community Spirit

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Traditional flavours, lively music and community spirit will take centre stage as the third edition of Festa do Povo returns to Panaji on January 24 and 25 at the mangrove-lined pedestrian spine at Patto Plaza.

Designed as a people’s festival — “of the people, by the people, and for the people” — Festa do Povo celebrates Goa’s culture, environment, heritage and camaraderie through food, music and shared experiences. The two-day event brings together local home chefs and established city restaurants, offering an exciting culinary journey that reflects Goa’s rich food traditions alongside international flavours prepared by accredited Goan chefs.

Adding to the festive experience will be a dedicated Feni Bridge Bar and beverage stations highlighting local drinks and spirits, reinforcing the festival’s focus on celebrating Goa’s identity and produce.

Music and cultural performances form the heart of Festa do Povo, with a vibrant line-up that includes the Kids Choir (Choir of Angels), a celebrated brass band, a jazz band, and headline performances by popular bands Purple Rain Band and Forefront Band. Visitors will also witness traditional cultural displays such as a temple drum medley synonymous with Shigmo, the graceful Divli (lamp) dance, and captivating performances by the Vyomi Dance Troupe and Samba dancers.

By blending cuisine, music and community, Festa do Povo continues to strengthen Panaji’s cultural fabric, offering residents and visitors a space to come together, celebrate Goa’s living heritage and experience the city through the warmth of its people.

Events in Goa

‘Festa do Povo’ Returns to Panaji for Third Edition of Community-Led Festival

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Festa do Povo, which translates to ‘Festival of the People’, returns to Panaji this January for its third edition, reaffirming its vision of creating shared civic spaces rooted in community participation. Scheduled for January 24 and 25, the festival will unfold along the mangrove-lined pedestrian spine at Patto Plaza, bringing together residents, artists, performers, and food curators to celebrate the city’s culture, heritage, and everyday life.

Conceived around the principle of being of the people, by the people, and for the people, Festa do Povo is a community-led initiative supported by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and Imagine Panaji. Since its inception in 2023, residents from several city wards—particularly those living in Panaji’s historic neighbourhoods—have played an active role in shaping the festival’s planning and programming.

The two-day festival celebrates Panaji as a nearly 200-year-old city, drawing inspiration from its neighbourhoods, people, and the quiet social bonds that define everyday life. Through music, dance, food, storytelling, and interactive spaces, Festa do Povo reimagines the city as a common civic space where everyone belongs.

The programme will feature a diverse range of performances spread across both days, including a temple drum medley associated with Shigmo, lamp dance, brass band performances, jazz, Bharatnatyam, children’s choir presentations, band performances, dancers, and educational trails. An art corner and a dedicated children’s zone will ensure that the festival remains inclusive and engaging for all age groups.

Food plays a central role in the celebration, with stalls curated by established city restaurants as well as home chefs, offering visitors a taste of Goa’s rich and diverse culinary traditions.

Adding to the festival’s intimate and reflective character, informal storytelling sessions inspired by Goa’s folklore will take place across different corners of the venue, set against the serene mangrove backdrop of Patto Plaza.

Conceived as an open celebration of life in the city, Festa do Povo is free and open to all, with no entry fee, inviting everyone to come together, slow down, and rediscover Panaji through the lens of community, culture, and shared belonging.