This spring-season festival is celebrated with full enthusiasm in Goa too. This is predominantly the celebration of good over bad but is also a celebration of winter ending and beginning of spring. In Goa, you will find the most energetic festivities at the temples in the southern states. Here in Goa, Green, Blue, red and yellow are the four main colors mixed with water to celebrate the event. Every color used in the event is selected because of some reason, like green symbolizes the beginning of spring, Blue is the color of Krishna, Red symbolizes love & fertility, and yellow is the color of turmeric.
During the celebration, people not only apply colors all over the faces of their loved ones but also throw colored water at each other and dance under water sprinklers.
The best part of this colourful celebration is that everybody joins the celebration by forgetting one’s caste or religion.
Although Holi festival in Goa celebrations are enjoyed across the world under different names, there is nothing quite like being in the country where it originally started, so it can be said that visiting Goa in March is a real treat.
Like any other Indian state, Holi, the festival of colour is celebrated with great enthusiasm and gaiety in Goa. A number of activities like rituals and entertainment programmes are organized by the state government to celebrate this festival and to take the celebration to the next level. The first traditional parade, which is known as Shigmotsav parade, takes place at Ponda, while other parades like Sanguem, Vasco Shigmotsav, Canacona, Churchorem, and Quepem are held in the following days.
Even though the origin of Holi celebration is shrouded in mythology and legends, the most crucial aspect of this festival is that it builds new relationships and lasting companionships, which are the driving force of the good growth of the nation. This festival of colour exchanging strengthens unity among the Indians and in a way also promotes national integrity. If you want to experience Holi celebrations in unique style, visiting Goa is a must.
Significance of Holi Festival in Goa
The Holi festival in Goa brings with it a new freshness, happiness, prosperity, and abundance. Goans love to celebrate Holi according to the traditions. While youngsters add modern essence to the rigid old customs, kids simply enjoy playing in coloured water and smearing one another with colour.
On the full moon night, people light bonfires with dried leaves, twigs and wood. This fire is also known as the ‘burning of Holika’. The Holi fire signifies the joyous victory of light over darkness (good over evil). Holi celebration in Goa has always been spectacular.
Holi – The Allure of Colours
People of Goa, irrespective of their age and even religion, step outdoors and mingle with others to celebrate Holi. They playfully apply colourful powders on the faces of their friends and loved ones. People sway to popular music and dance with abandon. Most of the teenagers are busy drenching one another with water and dancing to the tune of popular Hindi and English songs.
Children use water balloons and ‘pichkaris’ (water guns) to target other kids and douse them wet. Some also play with dry washable colours and dyes. Holi celebrations in Goa starts in the morning and slowly recede late in the afternoon when people are tired after enjoying all day.
Goa has a sizable Christian population. Nevertheless, Holi is still considered a very popular festival. Dhakto Shigmo or Holika Dahan is performed the previous night. Holi is also fondly referred to as Shigmo in Goa. In this vibrant city, you can find a beautiful blend of foreigners and locals joining in the Holi revelry.
Holi Parties In Goa
● Anjuna, Goa: Popularly Known as Colorland
Colorland is perhaps the biggest Holi fest in Goa that happens in Goa every year. Nothing could be more grand than this event with big names in entertainment being associated with it.
Location – Nyex Beach Club, Dmello Vaddo, Anjuna, Goa.
Timings – 900 hours till 1900 Hours
Estimated Price – INR 500 and INR 1000 per pass (admits two) for entry. Rest everything separate inside as per choice.
● Ponda, Goa: Popularly known as Rangholic
A great platform for people to dance their way out in any Holi party in Goa to the tunes of budding young DJ’s in Goa.
Location: GTDC, Farmagudi Hill Resort, Ponda, Goa
Timings – 900 Hours till 1400 hours
Estimated Price – Entry only for INR 100.
● Vagator, Goa: Popularly Know as The Jungle Calling Party
The Jungle Calling Festival during the Holi festival is a great way to answer the call of the wilderness in festival flavour.
Location: Origins, Near Shalai Resort, Ozran Beach, Vagator, Goa.
Timings – 1000 hours onwards
Estimated Price – Free Entry for residents of the hostels, lodges, and hotels in the area.
● Small Vagator, Goa: Goa’s iconic party destination
The Hill Top is a place for trance lovers and a place to be at for psychedelic parties. International DJ’s are the attraction of the Holi event in Goa.
Location: Hill Top Club, Small Vagator, Goa
Timings – 1600 Hours Onwards
Estimated Price – Entry is free for all. There are various food and drink stalls in the area where you can pay and buy whatever you like.
● Calangute, Goa:Known as the Tandav Holi Celebrations
It is the 9th consecutive year that the celebrations are going to be hosted. The endless line up of celebrities and artists makes this one of the most happening celebrations during Holi celebration in Goa.
Location – Destination One, GTDC Hotel Complex, Calangute Beach, Goa.
Timings – 900 Hours onwards
Estimated Price -There are different packages starting INR 400 per head to packages including food and drinks for INR 4000.
