Shravan & the unique festivals of Goa

Add caption

The Shravan month as per the Hindu calendar is a auspicious month and full of festivals around India. The climate is considered to be just perfect across the peninsula; there is a renewed energy & freshness in the nature around after the heavy rains of July. The fields are ready with their offering of the freshest of vegetables and produce, probably that’s why we have onam, rakshabandhan, narli poornima and various other harvest festivals around India.

In Goa these festivals are more on a micro level. Every village has a different version of festivals, feasts & jatras happening. These festivals are a treat as the whole village gets together in celebrations. Vasco celebrates the famous Saptah Jatra, we have Saligao chapel’s feast which is famous around Goa for the earthen ware which is at display in the various make shift shops, bonderas celebrated in Divar island, Konsachem fest (harvest festival) celebrated in the various villages particularly uniquely in Taligao.

The enchanting world of brass bands, ceremonial umbrellas, canon fire, high mass and sumptuous banquets will come alive as Taligao comunidade and it’s gauncars celebrate the annual 4 day harvest feast. This year, the Taligao gauncars take extra pride in the fact that they will be celebrating 500 years of the special privilege accorded to them to present the first corn to the governor of Goa. On the day of the feast 4 canons will be fired at 0830 sharp to mark the march & procession to the Church under the cover of ceremonial umbrellas and brass band. The procession will then proceed to a designated field where the priest will bless the new paddy and a senior person will cut the sheaves. This will be followed by high mass at St Michaels church. Later the blessed sheaves will be taken to Se Cathedral in Old Goa and later to the Archbishop in Altinho and then to the governor in Donapaula. This tradition is being still preserved and it is the 500^th year that Taligao village got this right.

Bonderas is another 400 year old festival celebrated in Divar islands opposite Old Goa. The festival started as a flag festival to protest against the Portuguese rule, it is still celebrated with revelry as the villagers come together with floats from the different vaddo’s followed by music, dance and snacks served at the church square. The bonderam parade will kick start at 1500hrs from the Malar flag post and wend it’s way to the village with brass band and floats.

Comments

A Rs.10,000\- question?

There are many distinguishing factors about the Indian traveller. Globally the trend is to travel more like a nuclear unit, your immediate family, with your partner or even solo, but in India we like to travel in a group. The society group, a corporate outing with your colleagues, travelling with your religious group for a pilgrimage or even the extended family coming together for a holiday. The logistics of planning for a family holiday is immense and can get stressful, family watsaap groups will be buzzing with ideas right from destinations to mode of travel and activities that need to be included, then there is the process of multiple working professionals getting leave, the dates have to match, the schedule of the children travelling together, their schooling, exam’s tuitions and classes get accommodated. Once this gigantic democratic exercise concludes, the process of selecting the hotel / villa / homestay and planning the daily schedule of your holiday commences...

Wanted Urgently for the State of Goa - A Visionary Leader

The project outline The Waterfront of Torda The beaches of Goa and the tourism ecosystem around it has built the brand Goa but it is the life away from the beaches that truly charms you in ways you cannot imagine. It is like having an extra pair of Lungs, it soothes, inspires and drives your deep passions. Many walks through its narrow lanes under the full moon, while the sun rises or disappears behind the hills before it sets, have given clarity of thought, comforted and motivated me. We are fortunate enough to be living in the hills of Porvorim, surrounded by beautiful villages all around, there is heritage, there is a bird sanctuary at its borders, also a network of beautiful estuaries The planning authorities in their wisdom have always gone for grand projects that are mere posturing and pandering to a vote bank, such is the system, there have been grand announcements of helicopter tourism, seaplane tourism, many other large projects. The tourism minister of Goa is...

There is only 1 Goa in India

Goa first came on the tourist map in the 60's as a hippie haven, probably the golden era of tourism in this tiny state. The tourists were more sensitive towards local culture and the environment. They consumed less and were happy living the life of the locals. When the benefits of liberalisation started to trickle down and when a new and ambitious middle class started travelling, Goa witnessed mass tourism in the 90's and 2000's. There was a sudden surge of investments, construction and development, the era of unplanned tourism growth. Everyone wanted to be in Goa and everyone wanted to invest here. The result of this era is what we experience in Goa of today, the relaxed vibe gave way to environmental degradation, overcrowding and cultural commodification, everything that this sunny seaside state was not known for. Yet there is only 1 Goa in India and tourists still come here in hordes to experience the beaches, architecture, cuisine and the Goan vibe. Whe...

Search This Blog