One of the most remarkable features of life in Goa is its religious harmony. All communities, irrespective of their personal beliefs, celebrate all festivals with gusto. Most festivals in the state are related to religious activities, and every village ‘jatra’, or feast, is celebrated with great pomp and gaiety. The most famous is the Winter Carnival prior to Lent (February), when there is great fun & frolic, music & dancing, lasting for three days. All night dancing on the streets with specially designed costumes and masks ends in a frenzied finale, with Momo, the King of Darkness, leading a colourful procession through the town. Not to be missed.
The major festivals are Diwali (the ‘Festival of Lights’, October/November), Christmas and Ganesh Chaturthi (August/September). Shigmotsav, (February/March, coinciding with Holi in north India), is a festival to welcome spring and is celebrated with colour and great merriment. Some of the other popular festivals, each celebrated in its own distinctive way, are Mahashivratri, the Feast of St. Francis Xavier at Old Goa, the Fatorpa Jatra, All Saints Feast at Goa Velha and the Shirigao Jatra.
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