The Bodgeshwar Temple festival, popularly known as the Bodgeshwar Jatra, is one of the most revered religious events in North Goa and will be observed on January 2, 2026, in Mapusa.
Celebrated during the Paush month of the Hindu lunar calendar, the Jatra is dedicated to Lord Bodgeshwar, also lovingly worshipped by devotees as Bongini. The festival is held on Paush Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the waxing phase of the moon, as per the traditional lunar calendar followed in Goa.
Each year, the annual jatra attracts scores of devotees from across Goa and neighbouring regions to this modest yet spiritually powerful temple. A widely held belief among devotees is that Lord Bodgeshwar is a wish-fulfilling deity, and that sincere prayers offered here are never left unanswered.
During the festival, the temple premises are adorned with special lighting arrangements, creating a vibrant and devotional atmosphere that continues late into the night. The illumination, combined with traditional rituals and offerings, makes the Bodgeshwar Jatra a deeply moving spiritual experience.
The Bodgeshwar Jatra stands as a testament to Goa’s rich religious traditions, drawing together faith, devotion, and community spirit year after year.
Panaji, June 2025 — In a significant move to diversify its tourism offerings beyond sun, sand, and sea, the Government of Goa has announced a new spiritual tourism initiative titled ‘Ekadasha Teertha Yatra’. The program will spotlight 11 revered temples across the state, crafting a well-curated pilgrimage circuit for visitors seeking spiritual enrichment and cultural immersion.
While Goa is internationally known for its beaches and nightlife, its ancient temples and rich spiritual heritage have long remained underexplored by mainstream tourists. The Ekadasha Teertha Yatra—literally meaning “Pilgrimage of Eleven Sacred Sites”—aims to change that.
The yatra will include stops at 11 iconic temples, representing various deities and regions of Goa. These sacred sites will offer a glimpse into the state’s syncretic history, traditional rituals, temple architecture, and the living culture of devotion practiced by Goans for generations.
“We want to highlight Goa’s lesser-known spiritual richness,” said Tourism Director Kedar Naik, who shared details of the initiative following a strategic meeting held with representatives of the identified temples earlier this week.
Enhancing the Pilgrim Experience
The Goa Tourism Department plans to integrate the circuit with guided tours, devotional music experiences, temple festivals, and local food trails, allowing tourists to engage not only with places of worship but with the broader cultural ecosystem that surrounds them.
Key features under development include:
Temple route mapping with historical and mythological context
Eco-friendly transport options for pilgrims
Spiritual wellness add-ons such as yoga and Ayurveda sessions
Souvenir and prasadam kiosks at each site
Enhanced infrastructure and accessibility at key temples
Tourism officials also indicated that the yatra will be promoted on both domestic and international platforms, positioning Goa as a holistic destination for the spiritually inclined traveler.
Temples Included in the Yatra
While the final list of temples is yet to be officially released, the circuit is expected to include renowned pilgrimage sites such as:
Shri Mangeshi Temple (Priol)
Shri Shantadurga Temple (Kavale)
Shri Mahadev Temple (Tambdi Surla)
Shri Mahalasa Temple (Mardol)
Shri Nageshi Temple (Ponda) …and others known for their religious and architectural significance.
Promoting Sustainable & Cultural Tourism
The Ekadasha Teertha Yatra is part of Goa’s broader strategy to decentralize tourism and encourage sustainable, culturally rooted travel. By spotlighting spiritual heritage, the state hopes to attract tourists seeking meaningful and reflective journeys, particularly in the post-pandemic era where wellness and mindfulness tourism are on the rise.
