Festivals of Goa can actually be redefined as feasts of the local family or local deity and are celebrated with much exuberance in the temple of the God or Goddesses called `Devasthan`. Goa is famous for its Indo-Latin festivals. It is a state where festivals are regarded as a way of life. In the Hindu Mythology the state of Goa is described as the `Land of Gods`. In fact there are in this state numerous Gods and Goddesses with differing names, rituals, tastes and traditions. Thousands of devotees take part in the festive celebrations and the palanquin procession.

The major festivals celebrated in Goa are described as follows:

Sao Jao Festival
This festival is observed all over the state of Goa on 24th of June. Sao Joao is the feast of the Baptist St. John. On this auspicious occasion all the married females are presented a basket full of seasonal fruits to be taken to their homes. The new married son-in-laws celebrate this festival in their mother in laws` place. In the villages of Goa the local youth go on a procession wearing crowns of leaves and carrying bottles of Feni and ultimately arrives at a well of pond into which they jump along with the son-in-law.

Bonderam
Bonderam is celebrated in the state in memory of the protests that were raised by scores of villagers against the unjust and unreasonable system they adopted to settle down land disputes and ownership issues of land. During this festival the charming and quiet island comes alive with the fervor and exuberance and there is a carnival ambience that is created with the melody of the music reaching even the mainland of Goa.

Christmas
The celebration of Christmas in Goa starts from the Christmas Eve and lingers on for sometime even after the actual date of the festival. Glittering and sparkling Christmas trees in every nook and corner of the street as well as inside the houses of the locales are found. All the altars are also brightly decorated with various sorts of creative sparks. The melodious tunes and lyrics of the Christmas carols fill up the pleasant ambience of the state.

Goa Heritage Festival at Fontainhas
This festival is a combined endeavour of the Corporation of the City of Panaji, the Goa Heritage Action Group and the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa. It is celebrated to preserve and promote the Fontainhas area of Goa. It is the Latin quarter of Panjim city with pretty Indo-Portuguese homes. The area is dominated by the St Sebastian Chapel. Various artists perform on stages set up in open areas, as well as displays of work of art by local artisans who use pavements and heritage homes as their galleries. The cultural heritage of the state is celebrated through this festival.

Monte Music Festival
This festival had its birth few years ago. It celebrates the coming together of western and Indian classical music. The venue for the festival is the chapel on the hill at Old Goa, the Capela da Nossa Senhora do Monte. It is celebrated for four days and provides a platform to a number of artists--local, national and international to display their talents.

Shigmo
Shigmo is a festival of colour. Several dance troupes perform intricate movements of folk dances on the road. The `festival of colors` or Holi in the state of Goa is celebrated as Shigmotsav. This is celebrated to bid farewell to winter and to welcome the season of spring.

Carnivals
Carnival is a four-day celebration that begins on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. The Goa Carnival is led by King Momo which has its own rhythms of guitars, folk songs and drumbeats accompanied by a colourful parade of floats and dancing troupes.

Feast of St Francis Xavier
This is held on the 3 rd of December at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. St Francis Xavier is the patron saint of Goa. 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.

Ganesh chaturthi
This festival is observed in the months of August/September in the honour of birthday of Lord Ganesha. The locals of Goa with fervour and enthusiasm organize the celebrations. Clay idols of Lord Ganesha are heavily decorated and it receives offerings and prayers from devotees. The end of Ganesh Chaturthi is marked by a procession leading to the immersion of the idol into the river or the sea.

Diwali
The celebration of good`s victory over evil is done with much exuberance in the state of Goa. Bhaubija and New Year day are celebrated as part of the Diwali. Narakchaturdasi is called Diwali in the state of Goa. The might of Diwali in Goa is also bejewelled with millions of flickering candles and an explosion of fire works and firecrackers.