The most tourist and beach state in India, Goa has been loved by Russian tourists for several generations. People fly here over the sea and the sun, serene entertainment and bright colors of holidays. Goa is rich in festivals, carnivals and fairs, and many of them are a unique feature only in this region of India.
Let's take a look at the calendar
The cosmopolitan state of Goa, in which cultures, nations, religions and customs are mixed, will certainly celebrate New Year, Christmas, Three Kings Day and even Easter, like the rest of Christendom. But there are also special holidays here, in which thousands of guests come to Indian beaches:
- Many people gather in the village of Fatorpe on the night of the Goddess Shantadurga Prasanna in the middle of winter. A statue of the goddess is being carried through the streets in a decorated chariot, and the participants in a lavishly decorated procession strew petals of flowers on its path.
- The February carnival is the most favorite holiday in Goa among tourists. Noisy processions fill the beaches and cities, and carnival processions last for at least a week.
- Shigmo Festival is celebrated in March. Its main features are bright colors on people's faces, because Shigmo is a part of the all-Indian Holi festival.
- In November, the state's main event is the International Seafood Festival. For seven days in Goa, a festive menu dominates in restaurants and cafes, and all events are accompanied by live music.
Meet the carnival
All the inhabitants of the planet have heard about the carnivals in Rio or Venice, but few people know about the Indian holiday in Goa, which takes place annually on the eve of Great Lent.
The tradition of the carnival was brought to the shores of India by European sailors and since then, for several days in February, the entire state turns into a single colorful theatrical stage, where serious passions boil. Afrodance and performances by percussionists, samba dancers and fire show participants, sword swallowers and tamers of wild animals, magicians and jugglers - thousands of performers replace each other on the beaches and city streets, involving both children and adults in a fun extravaganza.
Carnival in Goa is also called a freak parade, because its participants dress up in the strangest costumes and express their own individuality in full.
Let there be light
Any Indian legend certainly ends with the victory of good and light over evil and darkness. This is what the November holiday in Goa, called Diwali, is dedicated to. The main feature of these five days is the many lanterns, candles, bonfires and other sources of light and lights that illuminate the ocean beaches from the moment the sun sets.
Diwali for the inhabitants of India is also a kind of countdown, like the birth or the onset of a new year. For this holiday, they strive to finish the work they have begun, distribute debts, clean houses and even play a Diwali wedding. Windows and doors are not closed on festive nights, allowing luck and the goddess Lakshmi, who is responsible for happiness and well-being, to enter them.
During Diwali, when the coast of Goa is lit up with myriads of fireworks and fireworks, it is customary to visit, dance and have fun.
