FESTIVALS OF GOA :
The discovery of rare Stone Age rock carvings at Kajur, Panasaimol of Pirla village in Sanguem Taluka and Mauxi in Sattari Taluka has opened new vistas and thrown up new challenges to historians and archaeologists. The State Museum of Goa in Panaji has created a model of this entire site of Panasaimol.
This is Goa’s answer to Holi, which is a festival of colour
This is an auspicious day for starting new ventures and buying new vehicles. You can see new vehicles draped in fresh marigold flowers driving slowly up and down the city roads. All is considered auspicious on this day of “Vijayadashmi” which is marked with elaborate ceremonies at most major temples of Goa
Ganesh Chaturthi, undoubtedly is the most popular festival of Goa. Celebrated around August or September, it sees the return of most Goans to their native place of birth or their ancestral houses to join the entire family.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated all over India. Its roots go back more than 7000 years to the time when Lord Ram killed the demon king Ravan. Ram was welcomed in his hometown Ayodhya by a celebration of crackers and lights. In northern India, the festival ends when an effigy of Ravan is burnt with an arrow of Ram.
Holi is the festival of colors when people of all ages playfully drench each other with coloured water. The vibrant use of colours symbolises the advent of a colourful and prosperous spring season.
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Carnival is the annual four-day celebration which begins on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, heralding a 40-day Lent period of penance and abstinence before Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus.
| Feast of St Francis Xavier |
The major Feast of St Francis Xavier is held on the 3 rd of December at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. St Francis Xavier, the great Jesuit missionary, is the patron saint of Goa and attracts devotees from all over the world. His body has been preserved for centuries and lies in an exquisite silver casket at the Basilica and is displayed every ten years during the Exposition.. However, the feast is celebrated every year, drawing thousands of devotees from across India in quest of the saint’s blessings and healing powers.
The most important and famous festival of goans, Goa glitters and shines in Christmas, For the devout, the celebrations begin on Christmas Eve and before. Carols and hymns are sung , mostly all the churches organize Midnight Mass.
The feast of St John the Baptist on June 24th is celebrated by young men all over Goa by jumping into wells to retrieve gifts thrown in by villagers.
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| Goa Heritage Festival at Fontainhas |
This festival is a combined effort of the Goa Heritage Action Group, the Corporation of the City of Panaji and the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa. The festival aims to preserve and promote the Fontainhas area of Goa.
This music festival, started just few years ago, celebrates the coming together of western and Indian classical music.
Timing : 8.30am to 10.30pm
No Can-Can dancing…Not even jive but Florence Tarbouriech, Morgan Rainforth and Serge Lozano have kept their place rocking over the years.
| It’s a Republic like no other Republic of Noodles |
Cuisine : Pan Asian
Must try : Barbequed Honey Glazed Pork Spare Ribs
coconut and turmeric curry of red snapper
Timing : 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm
It begins with the logo…a big black star against a red background wrapped around with noodles. The Republic Of Noodles is an experience like none other- South East Asian fare from Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Burma. The décor is warm and lively, and the food a delight to the senses.
| A ‘Fat’ Greek repast Thalassa |
Cuisine Greek
Must try : Dolmadakia
Keftedakia,
Timing : 4.00 pm to 11.00 pm
Perched on the rocky cliffs of Vagator, one can sit on cushioned cane chairs sip on Ouzo with a plate of me zee’s and watch the golden orb of the sun slip below the horizon.
| Mamma Mia…how can I resist you J&A’s Ristorante Italiano |
Cuisine : Italian
Must Try : Pizza magharita
Bruchettas
Chocolate dessert
Timing : Open for dinner
Mamma Mia! Here I go again, my my how can I resist you….popular lyrics by Abba but Oh so true. Two MumbaikarsJamshed ana Ayesha hopped into a car and drove down to Goa to start a restaurant.
| Local Enterpreneurs Running Restaurants |
Looking back at Goa’s diverse culture…Gaud Saraswat Brahmins, Portuguese and even a difference in the taste of food in the North and the South Talukas of Goa, there are many secrets learned on the culinary front from their grandmothers kitchens.
Here are some of the places to visit.
| Mums the word Mums Kitchen |
Cuisine: Goan food from Hindu Goan kitchens
Must try: Tavlele tal le Vel’lim prawn curry with bimbli
Timing: 11.00 am to 11.00 pm
Goa is crying for her lost cuisine. Suzie and Rony Martins dreamt of resurrecting the authentic Goan cuisine from local homes.
| Mistress of Spice Martins Corner |
Cuisine: Local Goan favorites
Must try: King Crab Xec-Xec
pomfret caldin Timings: 11.15 am to 3.30 pm
6.15 pm to 11.00 pm
Red checked tablecloths on the table, the bar like the taverna of old. This restaurant is the haunt of Page 1 and Page 3 celebrities…politicians, sportspersons, actors.
| Viva! Viva! We wanna more VIVA PANJIM |
Cuisine; Local Goan favorites
Must try: stuffed tomaso
Goa prawn curry
Timings : 11.00 am to 3.30 pm
7.00 pm to 11.30 pm
An award winning restaurant not on the beaches of Goa, but in an old Hertitage house in the by lanes of fountainhais run by Linda deSousa…a place called Viva Panjim.
The narrow cobbled alley outside the home come dinnertime is full of tables and lively chatter, people exchanging jokes, words drifting in Konkani and Portuguese, definitely the essence of ‘Heritage Goa.’
| Fishy Tales Fishermans Wharf |
Cuisine: For the family
Goan, Oriental, Indian
Must try: Excellent starters
Honey chilli chicken
Masla prawns
Timings: 11.00 am to 11.00 pm
Boats….Birds? look across the water at the beautiful landscape, the fishing village of Cutbona nestled amid coconut palms, the birds flying in formation against the sky, the fishing nets laid out to dry.
| Goa”s Best Kept Food Secret Nostalgia |
Cuisine: Traditional Goan
Must try: Uddamethi
Prawn Balchao
Timings: Lunch and Dinne
It’s a Nostalgic trip as one tastes food at the late legendary Fernando Costa’s place at Raia. This restaurant boasts of the ‘best kept secrets’ of Hindu and Christian Goan food. Now run by his wife Margarida da Costa and hs loyal staff the ‘spirit’ of Ferdie lives on at Nostalgia.
Cuisine: goan delicacies
Must try: Fish Raechado
Stuffed crabs
Timings: Lunch and Dinner
The white sands, a few boats parked on the waterfront and the open expanse leading to the sea. A place for ‘joie de vivre’ -started by a fisherman named Jose who used to catch the fish, based on the orders got in the morning and his wife Ethelvina who would cook the food ‘JOETS.’
| The Music Of The Sea Zeebop By The Sea |
Cuisine: Seafood
Must try: Continental preparations
Timimgs: Open for lunch and dinner
Why Zeebop? Sergio, the proud owner of the restaurant confesses with a smilethat it was Carlos Santana’s Reebob-Zeebop, that made him create a seafood institution in the south
Cuisine: Multicuisine and Goan
Must try: Xacutti masala, amd
seafood with Goan flavor.
Also Tandoor and
Thermidor.
Timing: Lunch and Dinner
There is a restaurant that has stood rock solid over 3 generations of owners….way back since 1932….. The vision of two enterpreneurs Grandmother Souza and Grandfather Lobo.
| Mama Yo Queiro o Czoqueiro |
Cuisine: goan-portuguese food
Must try: Teesroi sukhe, Bombay duck
Timings: Lunch and dinner
Did you know that the first Chicken Cafreal in Goa was served at Coqueiro? There is history in this simple bar and snack eating joint started way back in 1968.
Cuisine: Seafood
Must try: Fish with continental sauce
Timing: Lunch and Dinner
Which restaurant does one patronize? It all depends on the food. Especially ‘When-it’s’ tasty. Introducing Venite’s…no that would be the wrong word, Venite needs no introduction.
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