Goa Calender 2023

Goa Saras 2022-23:

Ongoing since 23rd March 2023, this all-India exhibition cum sale of Handicraft Products extends till 3rd April 2023. Visitors to the exhibition will have to find their way to South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) Grounds near the KTC bus stand in Margao. Timings of the exhibition are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is being organised by the District Rural Development agencies in Goa.

April 2023 Cycling and Running monthly challenge:

A monthly event organised by the Champions Athletes Club, it encourages one to complete anywhere from 30kms to 1200 kms cycling challenge throughout the month, and similarly running from 5 kms to 100 kms from 1st April to 30th April 2023. For more details, refer to https://championathletesclub.com/.

Goa Pride Festival:

7th April to 9th April 2023, organised by Moustache Escapes, the festival has a unique twist this time, with a film making competition in collaboration with EORTV. It is being held at Sangria, Vagator. The aim of the festival is to be inclusive and connect the LGBTQIA community to the mainstream society

Easter Sunday:

9th April 2023 marks Easter Sunday, which will be celebrated all over the Goa. For those wishing to participate in the ceremonies, a mid-night mass in most parishes will an experience. From Easter Eggs to Easter brunches and parties being held all over the state, here is another occasion that calls for celebration.

Spirit of Goa festival:

Slated to be held from 14th to 16th April, this festival is making a comeback after almost a decade. Head to Colva, South Goa to get a glimpse of the local production of cashew as well as coconut fenis.

Goa Cashew Fest 2023:

Organised from 15th April to 16th April for the first time, The Goa Forest Department Corporation and the Goa State Urban Development Agency will host the event at the Dayanand Bandodkar Ground, Campal. Aiming to showcase Goa’s cashew heritage, there will be a demonstration of the cashew feni-making, the different types of cashew apples besides products of local Goan handicrafts and self-help groups.

Hero Super Cup:

18th April 2023, Football match ATK Mohun Bagan versus FC Goa at EMS stadium.

Heritage Walk Festival:

The Goa Heritage Action Group is back with their walk festival being held from 1st to 16th April 2023. Largely centered in and around Panjim, some walks include Old Goa, Loutolim, Margao and includes Assagao too. Tickets can be purchased from their website at www.heritagewalkfest.com . Most the walking tours are conducted by local experts who are reputed and keen to showcase the local side of Goa.

World Table Tennis Star Series:

Already ongoing from 27th February onwards at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, a first for the country, the event will include mens and womens, single, double and mixed matches. This is definitely to see some of the world’s best and top table tennis players in action. Brainchild of the International Table Tennis Federation, the event also accommodates the host country’s talent by way of wildcard entries.

The WTT Star Finals are slated for 5^th March 2023. Table Tennis enthusiasts are already in the state witnessing the event.

India Travel Mart:

India’s leading Travel and Tourism Exhibition and Conclave is scheduled from 3rd to 5th March 2023, at Don Bosco High School Oratory, Panaji. Promoting stakeholders in Domestic tourism, it also gives people a chance to know the options they have should they wish to travel, stay and choose destinations according to offers available.

Holi:

One of the most popular Hindu festivals, celebrated across communities, this year Holi falls on 7th March 2023. It is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, wherein King Hiranyakashipu and his sister Holika were defeated in their sinister plot to kill the King’s son Prahlada who was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Some celebrate the love of Radha-Krishna while some take it as a welcome to spring, family and friends. Coloured powder and water are thrown on each other and hence it is known as the festival of colours. There is due concern about colours being used and an indication towards using safe organic colours. Around Goa, there are a host of parties organized, both public and private. But the most accessible is the one that is open to all, at the Azad Maidan at Panaji. While one may be taken up by the gay abandon of happy people around, its good to be careful about what you are drinking if the glass of Thandai is coming from an unknown person. It may be mixed with a bit of cannabis, called Bhang, which is a common drink on this particular day.

Shigmo Festival:

Close on the heels of Holi that also celebrates the coming of Spring, Shigmostav is the spring festival celebrated in Goa. In fact, one can say that Holi and Shigmo are like two sides of the same coin. The first ‘Dhakto’ (younger or smaller) and later ‘Vodlo’ (older or elder) shigmo occurs at different places in the state. In Goa, this year Shigmo parades will be held from 8th March to 21st March 2023.The Shigmo parades will be held in Ponda, Bicholim, Mapusa, Panaji, Porvorim, Pernem, Valpoi, Sanquelim, Curchorem, Vasco, Margao, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona. Personally the Shigmo parades are grand and if given a choice, I would say skip Carnival for Shigmo instead. The villages in Goa have their own rituals in place during this festival.

India Hospitality + FB Pro Expo:

This Expo is the largest in the Hospitality Industry and covers the latest innovations, besides equipments and machine suppliers ranging from Food and Beverage services, to Vending Machines and Refrigeration and Cold room for the Hospitality industry. To be held from 17th to 19th March 2023, the Expo will also include bulk suppliers, whole sellers and manufacturers of food, drinks and hygiene, besides interior design and deco. This year Ayush will showcase its natural products along with Solar and Electrical options including alternate energy sources.

Gudi Padwa:

Also considered a spring festival close to Holi and Shigmo, GudiPadwa is celebrated this year on 22nd March 2023. It also marks a new year for Hindus. The buzz around the festival is that it is considered to be an auspicious day and so buying gold, property, appliances, new vehicle or just starting a new venture is a given for many. This is a good time to buy as offers run a galore, both offline as well as online.

Goa Marathon 2023:

The Goa Marathon will be held on 12^th February and is open to walkers and runners of varying levels and ages. The motto of the marathon is to bring about awareness about homeless children in the state and raise funds for them. Starting at Goa University one can register online for 5km, 10km and 21km. One can also get involved in the event by volunteering for the same.

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Lokotsav 2023:

The Directorate of Art and Culture along with other agencies is organizing the annual Lokotsav 2023 at the Darya Sangam, Kala Academy. While it commences on 30^th January, the Lokotsav 2023 will run right upto 8^th February. This folk festival brings together artisans, craftspersons and artists from all over the country. There are live performances every evening. The festival is a major draw for the locals and there are massive crowds visiting in the evenings and weekends. Go there to buy products directly from the artisan at a price that is most reasonable to what one would pay for the same at the lifestyle stores for the same item.

World Table Tennis Star Contender Goa 2023:

Slated to be held from 27^th February to 5^th March at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium. A first for the country, the event will include mens and womens, single, double and mixed matches. This is definitely to see some of the world’s best and top table tennis players in action. Brainchild of the International Table Tennis Federation, the event also accommodates the host country’s talent by way of wildcard entries.

Carnival also called Carnaval 2023:

The Goa Carnival has always been a major draw and this month it will be celebrated from 18^th to 21^st February at its four major spots of Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco and Margao. Its parade headed by King Momo followed by floats that cover cultural, social, political themes along with the usual jumble items and fancy dressed adults providing some comic relief. The local Goan speciality of Carnival however, is not just restricted to these parades, but there is a unique tradition of Khell Tiatrs that are organized at the villages, and still quite popular in South Goa wherein local villagers act in plays bordering on morals, but communicated with song, music and of course again with a comical element to it.

The Monte Music Festival 2023:

The Monte Music Festival will be held at two venues, that is the restored Aguada Fort and Jail Complex at Sinquerim on 24^th February and at the Entertainment Society of Goa Complex at Panaji, on the 25^th February. The first day will include acts by Tara Lily and Attakkalari Dance Company. The second day will focus on Goan music and Fado presented by Ekchar that will include reputed Goan Fado singer Sonia Shirsat. Portuguese pianist Artur Pizarro will conclude the festival on the same day.

Football:

The football fever continues with plenty of field action at the Fatorda stadium on the following dates:

11^th February: FC Goa versus Mumbai City.
16^th February: FC Goa versus Chennaiyin FC.

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New Year’s Day: The country descends into Goa on the eve of New Years year after year to usher in the dawn of the New Year. One will hear of parties and events agalore that are being organized including brunches, lunches and buffets. Just read the local dailies to get a glimpse of the same.

Annual Zatrotsav of Shree Shantadurga Fatorpekarin: Started on 27^th December but culminating on 1^st January, this very popular zatra highlights a 4 day chariot procession. Originally the deity Shantadurga is from Cuncolim, but in the 1570s, she was shifted to Fatorpa, during the Portuguese rule so as to avoid being destroyed.

Bodgeshwar Temple Jatra: At the Bodgeshwar Temple, Mapusa on 5^th January, this popular zatra held over 5 days, is dedicated to Lord Bodgeshwar or Bongini, considered the guardian of Mapusa town. The devotees throng this temple for religious rituals that is also accompanied by cultural events and a fair.

I – Run Goa Marathon (IRGM): It is a flat on the road, 5 and 10 kms marathon on 8^th Januaryorganized to promote the idea that running can transform communities. Men, women, Children, runners and volunteers come together to promote along with running, awareness about social and environmental issues. The marathon is being organized by the I-Help Foundation Goa which is an NGO that has interests in social issues.

The 9^th Annual Spandan Global Art Festival of Goa: This Art collective will be hosted from 11^th to 25^th January at Entertainment Society of Goa, Panaji. Artists from all over the country as well as abroad will feature their works during these days.

Spirit Gust Festival 2023: Also at Vagator, like Sunburn is a Psychedelic and Psytrance Music Festival featuring a line up of international acts, from 13^th to 18^th January.

Goa Tattoo Festival: The festival at Calangute from 20^th to 22th, rounds up some of the best tattoo artists from around the country. Given that Goa has a huge tattoo scene, thanks to the thing to try out for visitors, this craft is thriving specially along the coastal areas in the land of the sand and sun.

India Beach Fashion Show: From 21^st to 23^rd January, this beach destination will have on its shores display of beach, resort, travel and destination wear, put together by designers worth their salt or rather sand. This niche lifestyle show remains by invite mostly.

Football: Football fever will always be alive and kicking in Goa. One of the few states in the country where football rather that cricket being the craze. All roads will lead to stadium on the following dates:

FC Goa versus Hyderabad on 5^thJanuary.
FC Goa versus North East United on 15^thJanuary.
FC Goa versus Kerala Blasters on 22^ndJanuary.
FC Goa versus East Bengal on 26^thJanuary.

Republic Day: Every 26^th January, the state will have its annual Republic Day parades followed by cultural and sports displays. These are can caught at various places throughout the state with the biggest being at Panaji, the capital city.

Besides the above listed there are private events listed which are paid entries such as Goa Contact Festival, Atman Festival, Psyche out 2023, Goa Contact Festival, Amazon Project Party. Not much available on the print media but they are being promoted on social media.

The Goa Arts and Literature Festival (GALF): GALF is all set to return to its stage from 19th to 21st January at the International Center Goa, Dona Paula. Book launches, music and discussion with over 25 speakers including the Nobel prize winner Abhijit Banerjee will be gracing the festival.

Goa in April