Goa's own version of Halloween—Potekar

A few days ago, when Goa was busy celebrating Carnival, did you know that creatures, resembling ghostly apparitions, had come out on the streets of Divar island, sending chills down the spines of people?

This practice is actually a festival called Potekar, celebrated in Goa that takes place on the island of Divar, a place known for its calm, serene and peaceful environment. Come join us in our new video as we explore this age-old tradition of Goa.

Divar Island is famous for its green landscape, laid-back living, and hospitable residents, who are typically sweet and calm. But during Carnival, the calmness of Divar transforms into something quite extraordinary.

The same peaceful locals dress in scary, nerve-chilling costumes with terrifying masks and roam the island, scaring people, especially children.

Hence, during Carnival, unlike the rest of Goa, Divar becomes a place of eerie terror, as the islanders celebrate a festival that seems very similar to Halloween.

The festival begins three days before Ash Wednesday, and for those three days, the island is engulfed in an eerie atmosphere. A striking feature of the spooky costumes donned by many locals is the cowbells tied around their waists.

This festival isn’t a new tradition. It has been a long-standing part of local culture, passed down through generations and deeply rooted in the community’s history.

The eerie figures of potekar have been haunting Divar for ages, making it a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s as much a part of Goa’s culture as the age-old Carnival khel tiatrs, and offers a fun, yet thrilling, twist to the season’s celebrations.

So, next time when you visit Goa during the Carnival time, take a ferry ride to the Divar island and witness this age-old tradition yourself.

Don't forget to check out the latest video of Gomantak Times Youtube channel to get a glimpse of the entire festival.