Goa has a vibrant mix of religions and therefore, a variety of festivals. Christian festivals occur on set dates. Hindu religious festivals follow the lunar calendar and therefore change from year to year. Following are some of the national, state and local festivals, apart from local village events.
SHIGMOTSAV OR SHIGMO (February / March)
Goa's version of Holi, this Hindu festival is held to mark the end of winter. It normally takes place on the full moon day of the month of Phalguna and is widely celebrated by groups of youths throwing colored water and powder at one another. Tourists frequently become a part of the celebrations.
CARNIVAL (February! March)
The original reason for the carnival was to celebrate the arrival of Spring and it is observed within the Catholic community as three days of partying before the start of Lent. In Panaji the festivities center around a procession of colorful floats which takes place on Sabado Gordo or Fat Sunday. The event is opened by the arrival of King Momo who makes a traditional decree ordering his subjects to forget their worries and have a good time.
Held on 20th June, St. Anthony's feast day marks the onset of rains. The Feast of St. John is a thanksgiving for the arrival of monsoon. The most obvious manifestation of rains is the fact that the wells start to fill up again and to mark this event, young men of the community jump into the water. Since each well owner by tradition has to supply feni to the swimmers, the feast day is marked by increasingly high spirits.
NEW YEAR'S EVE (December)
Jubilant celebrations on the 31st of December, in the form of all-night street ',cowl end beach parties anticipate the good things the New Year will bring.
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