Goa Shigmo Festival
Shigmo
Festival
Location: Throughout Goa
Highlights: Colorful parade, grand feasting and merry making
Duration: Almost a fortnight
One of the most celebrated events in Goa is the
Shigmo festival. It is celebrated all through Goa in a grand manner.
The Shigmo festival in Goa lasts almost a fortnight and is celebrated
with much joy and fervor among the Goans. The Shigmo festival
is known as Shigmotsav in Goa. It is similar to the festival known
as Holi that is celebrated in north India. People enjoy this festival
by playing with colored powder and water with friends and relatives.
The Shigmo festival is celebrated around March
every year and the dates vary according to the Hindu calendar
that is based on lunar cycles. It is celebrated just before the
Catholic time period of lent during which fasting and abstinence
from alcohol and other vices is observed. Since the period of
lent lasts almost a month, the Shigmo festival is celebrated to
indulge in merry making "one last time". The Shigmo
festival starts with the appearance of the moon on the ninth day
and ends on the full moon day.
Shigmo festival is celebrated by organizing large
fairs and parades in Goa. Many small communities and groups of
people come together and prepare colorful tableaux. They dress
up as colorful characters and take part in the processions actively
with much enthusiasm. Most of these tableaux are based on mythology
and many popular legends. Some tableaux also depict important
happenings depicted in the holy epics. It is basically a time
to enjoy to the hilt and indulge in true festive spirit of Goa.
