Know how Goa’s monsoon festivals keep the spirit of celebration alive

Samrudhdi Kerkar

MONSOON SPIRIT

In Goa, the rains are not just a season — they’re a celebration. As the Western Ghats burst into lush green, Goans honour the monsoon with age-old traditions and a deep reverence for nature’s gifts.

Goa | Monsoon | Festivals | Bond | Rain and rituals | Culture | Photo: Samrudhdi Kerkar

VAT PURNIMA

Women tie threads around banyan trees, praying for their husbands’ long lives. It's a ritual of love and devotion, which is observed in western India celebrating the sacred bond of marriage.

Goa | Monsoon | Festivals | Bond | Rain and rituals | Culture | Photo: Samrudhdi Kerkar

NAG PANCHAMI

Snakes are revered in this festival, especially cobras. Nag Panchami nurtures a respectful coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Goa | Monsoon | Festivals | Bond | Rain and rituals | Culture | Photo: Samrudhdi Kerkar

AAYTAR (Sunday) PUJAN

On Sundays, non-Brahmin women offer seasonal leaves and flowers to the Sun God. It's an ode to nature’s gifts and a gesture of gratitude.

Goa | Monsoon | Festivals | Bond | Rain and rituals | Culture | Photo: Samrudhdi Kerkar

RAKSHA BANDHAN

Sisters tie rakhis on their brothers' wrists, marking a bond of love and lifelong protection.

Goa | Monsoon | Festivals | Bond | Rain and rituals | Culture | Photo: Samrudhdi Kerkar

GOKULASHTAMI

Lord Krishna’s birthday is marked by joyous celebrations, where pots of curd are smashed in playful reverence. It’s a time of bhajans, laughter, and hearts brimming with devotion.

Goa | Monsoon | Festivals | Bond | Rain and rituals | Culture | Photo: Samrudhdi Kerkar

SAO JOAO

Goa’s most iconic monsoon festival sees people diving into wells and dancing in the rain, celebrating St John the Baptist with infectious joy and community spirit.

Goa | Monsoon | Festivals | Bond | Rain and rituals | Culture | Photo: Samrudhdi Kerkar

CHIKAL KALO

In this age-old Goan tradition, people revel in the mud, gleefully smearing each other as they celebrate their deep, playful bond with the earth.

Goa | Monsoon | Festivals | Bond | Rain and rituals | Culture | Photo: Samrudhdi Kerkar

EKADASHI

Ekadashi, devoted to Lord Vitthal, is observed with fasting and prayer. Amid the rains, it offers a moment of spiritual stillness, as devotees seek purity, inner peace, and a deeper connection with the divine.

Goa | Monsoon | Festivals | Bond | Rain and rituals | Culture | Photo: Samrudhdi Kerkar

GANESH CHATURTHI

Goa’s grandest celebration unfolds as Lord Ganesha is welcomed with rituals, joyful music, and sweet offerings, filling homes and hearts with devotion, festivity, and the spirit of togetherness.

Goa | Monsoon | Festivals | Bond | Rain and rituals | Culture | Photo: Samrudhdi Kerkar

SANGOD UTSAV

Decorated boats float on rivers, carrying deities in celebration. Sangodd is a visual treat of faith and festivity on water.

Goa | Monsoon | Festivals | Bond | Rain and rituals | Culture | Photo: Samrudhdi Kerkar

NEXT: Monsoon magic in Goa’s hinterlands with The Local Beat

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