~ Literally meaning ‘Festival of the People’, Festa do Povo is rooted in the idea of ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’ and is a celebration of life.
~ The third edition will unfold on January 24 and 25 at Patto Plaza’s pedestrian spine.
Festa do Povo, which translates to ‘Festival of the People’, returns to Panaji this month for its third edition, with the goal of creating a shared civic space where residents come together to celebrate the city’s culture, heritage and everyday life. Conceived around the principle of being of the people, by the people and for the people, the community-led initiative seeks to foreground Goan culture, environment and heritage while renewing the idea of the city as a common civic space.
Organised through collective civic participation, the festival is supported by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and Imagine Panaji, and will unfold along the mangrove-lined pedestrian spine at Patto Plaza. Residents from several city wards, particularly those living in historic areas, have been closely involved in shaping the festival’s planning and programming since its conception in 2023.
Scheduled for January 24 and 25, Festa do Povo is a celebration of Panaji – a nearly two hundred year old city – that draws from everyday life in the city, especially its neighbourhoods, its people and the quiet bonds that bind them.
The two-day event promises to offer a variety of celebratory slices of Goa’s culture and general entertainment, spread over both days, including a temple drum medley synonymous with Shigmo, a lamp dance, brass band, jazz and Bharatnatyam performances, a children’s choir, dancers, educational trails and band performances. An art corner and a dedicated children’s zone will also be part of the programme.
The festival will feature food stalls by established restaurants from the city as well as home chefs,reflecting Goa’s culinary diversity alongside the cultural programming.
The festival will also feature informal storytelling sessions held across different corners of the venue, drawing from Goa’s folklore against the mangrove-lined setting of Patto Plaza.
Conceived as an open celebration of life in the city, the event is free and open to all, with no entry fee.
