Gade Festival in Goa

Goa has few famous festivals celebration and one of them is Gade festival, the Gade festival is well known game of Hide and seek between the Gade and Devchar. It is a three nights Gade festival used to be in progress with great passion in the area of Sal-Bicholim. The Goan villagers of Sal on sunday morning brought the Holi {trunk of tree} from Bhatwadi-Nanoda, which was system in village.

As per source, it describe that the Gade are villagers residents, they will be dressed in white dhoti and black belt around their physical. It is one of their thought that the soul enter into their bodies wgen they begin dancing around the 'holi' escorts by traditional music. This is one of the best entertainment in Goa.

During Gade festival, locals are considering is this is the time when people witnessed a rare vision of Devchar. It is also said that after the festival, people from Sal do not have to fear of ghosts all the way through the year as they are fixed up by Gade.

Diwali celebration in Goa

Diwali, or Dipawali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row of clay lamps{deep} that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects us from spritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the christmas holidays is to christians.

Diwali,celebrated in October or November each year, Originated as a harvest festival that marked the last harvest of the year befire winter. India was an agricultural society where people would seek the divine blessing of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

Indians celebrate the diwali with their family ,glittering clay lamps, festive fireworks, strings of electric lights, bonfires, flowers, sharing of sweets,and worship to Lakshmi. some believe that Lakshmi wanders the earth looking for homes where she will be welcomed.People open their doors and windows and light limps to invite Lakshmi in.

On the first day of Diwali, people consider it auspicious to spring clean the home and shop for gold or kitchen utensils.

On the second day, people decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called Rangoli on the floor using colored poweders or sand

The third day is the main day of the festival when famillies gather togethere for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi followed by mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities.

The fourth day is the first day of the new year when friends and relatives visit with gifts and best wishes for the season.

On the last day of Diwali, brothers visit their married sisters who welcome them with love and a lavish meal .

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha.The festival is also know as Vinayaka Chaturthi and Ganeshotsav.According to Hindu calendar it it celebrated on the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapad. During the Ganesh Chaturthi festivals,idols are made in great numbers. These are usually made out of clay or metal in all sixes;some of them are even as big as 20 feet. People purchase deities of Lord Ganesha and put them in their homes and worship them for one days to ten days.After this the deities are taken out majestically, through the streets and are immersed into a river, sea or a well{especially in Maharastra}. cultural feasts are also organised with main features like classical music and dance performances, folk dances, poetry recitations and film festivals.

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with huge enthusiasm in most parts of the country especially in Maharastra and parts of South India. Preparations start two to three months before the festival. Idols of Ganesha are prepared by skilled artisans and are decorated and painted beautifully.These atatues vary in size and are installed in houses and temporary erected special structures called Mandapas or Pandals are decorated with items like lights, flower garlands, etc.some of the decorations are based on themes.

The priest is then called in to invoke life into the statue by chanting mantras and performing rituals. The deity of Lord Ganesha is worshipped foe ten days and on the eleventh day the statue is taken in a procession through the streets escorted wuth a fanfare of singing and dancing. It is finally immersed in the sea or a river symbolizing a ritual in which Lord Ganesha takes a journey his abode, taking along the troubles of his devotees. This ritual is known as Ganesh visarjan in Marathi.

Shigmotsav Festival in Goa

Shigmotsav is a popular festival in Goa. It is similar to the Festival of Holi. The Hindus celebrated this 14 days long festival. The Goan Hindu traditions and mythology is showcased in this festival. Shigmotsav is celebrated to mark the farewell of winter. During the festival, people withdraw from non-vegetarian food and alcohol drinks.

The Shigmo or Shigmotsav festival is celebrated in the month of phalguna {march} from the 9th moon day to full moon day as per the Hindu calendar. It is the biggest festival for Hindus for Hindus in Goa. The 5th day is called 'Rang Panchami.This day of rejoicing is celebrated with the abundant use of 'Gulal' or red power.

From the 11th to the 15th moon day, villagers dress up in colorful dresses and embark with a festive mood along with multi-colored flags, beating drums and blowing flutes to get togethere at the village temple. They dance folk songs in the temple court yard to the beat of the drums.

These are interpersed with small groups that move along the route with their traditional Goans drum. The grand finale is the beautifully designed and lit floats. These floats are taken out at different locations on various days in goa.