Shigmotsav
This is yet another festival that is celebrated in the month of
March from 11th moonday to 15th moonday. Shigmotsav is basically
a festival of masses wherein people in different villages dress
up beautifully and rejoice in the merrymaking of the festival.
There is song on every lip as the group of people dance their
ways to the temple. The highlight of the festival is the Rang
Panchami during which people throw gulal (red colour) at each
other.
Goa Heritage Festival
This festival is a combined effort of the Goa Heritage Action
Group (an NGO based in Goa), the Corporation of the City of
Panaji and the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa. The
festival, now in its third year, aims to preserve and promote the
built heritage of Goa. The festival is marked by performances
from various artists as well as display of work of art by local
artisans. The festival in short is not only meant to celebrate
the cultural heritage of the state. Rather, it also makes an
effort to inspire awareness and appreciation in the hearts of
Goans with respect to their culture and the need to conserve it
for the benefit of future generation.
Bonderam
The festival traces its origin during the Portuguese rule. Two
villages on the Divar Islands, Piedalda and Sao Mathias, were
constantly locked in conflict over property issues. The
Portuguese stepped in and tried to resolve the issue. They
introduced a manner of division of properties with flags of
various nations. However, the villagers were in no mood to accept
the changes and threw stones at the flags to knock them out.
Today, on the 4th Saturday of August, the Bonderam festival
remembers the same incident. Each section of the village has its
own float and there is plenty of music to keep the entire
atmosphere alive.
Sea Food Festival
As per its name, this annual Sea food festival celebrates the
rich sea food of Goa. For five days at a stretch, reputed hotels
and chefs hold a stall and offer wonderful sea food prepared by
them. Not to be left behind, the housewives too make their
contribution in turning this event into a joyful affair. The
festival will be loved by all those who are fond of sea food in
general and Goan sea food in particular.
Monte Music Festival
A pretty recent festival, started just few years back, the Monte
Music Festival celebrates the coming together of western
classical along with Indian classical form of music. The venue
for the festival, which is organised by the combined efforts of
Fundacao Oriente, Cidade de Goa and the Kala Academy, is Capela
da Nossa Senhora do Monte (Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount).
Performances are usually held for four days and provides a
platform to a number of artists to display their talents in front
of an appreciative audience.
