Sharvani ChandvaleThere is no dearth of events in Goa in 2024. The state is a melting pot of unseen cultural experiences that never make it to bucket lists. Local festivals that include stories of ancient kings or firewalking, villages that resurface once a year and local meals that taste best in Goan houses – you can see it all. But how do you ensure you get the best seats in the house and do the most offbeat things in Goa? This is where Soul Travelling comes in. A team of locals led by Pratik Joshi curates limited-edition events in Goa so you can experience it right.
Whether it is a local festival in Goa, an exploration of the islands of Goa or tasting local vegetarian food in Goa, these limited-edition experiences cover them all. Keep reading to learn more about Soul Travelling’s Special Goa Events in 2024.
3 Kings Feast, Cansaulim (Jan 6)
This one’s just around the corner, but if you’re in Goa you might just make it! The Three Kings Feast commemorates the moment when the Three Kings visited the Infant Jesus. They came bearing gifts, following the North Star. Witnessed in just three Goan villages, the festival offers a unique insight into local stories and festivals. In Cansaulim-Cuelim, three kids are selected from the village and dressed up as the mythical kings. A procession then heads to the Three Kings Chapel located on Cuelim Hill. Along the way and in the village, you’ll also get to see a fair with all kinds of local delicacies. Make sure to add this to your Goa travel plans!
PS:- Did you know that the Three Kings Chapel is believed to be haunted?
When: 6th January, 2024
Goa Carnival
You’ve all heard of the Goa Carnival but what’s the best way to experience this unique festival? Every year, right before the 40-day fasting period of Lent begins, Christians in Goa celebrate the Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. They party, eat good food and dance. Goans collectively participate in the floats and parades that take place. The Goan Carnival can be an overwhelming experience and you don’t want to miss out on the good parts, right? So join the Soul Travelling Experience to make the best of this famous event in Goa.
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The Shigmo Experience
Shigmo is a grand spring harvest festival celebrated in Goa around the same time as Holi. It is one of the most famous festivals of Goa. What sets Shigmo apart is that it has its unique interpretation in each Goan village. There are folk dances, parades and much more that make this one of the most offbeat things to do in Goa. A village in Canacona celebrates the Gadyachi Jatra, where locals offer gratitude to the local spirits. It’s celebrated only once every three years. Unlike the usual music festivals and parties in Goa, Shigmo is a representation of Goa’s rooted local traditions that create a completely different narrative of the state. Save this offbeat event in Goa!
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Shisharanni
Shisharanni narrates a spine-chilling custom celebrated by the locals of Gaodongri in Canacona. In an attempt to offer their gratitude to the spirits of the village, four young men are assigned the title of Gades. These men bathe, dress in white dhotis and cover themselves in Sandalwood paste. Three of them are then made to lie down so that their heads touch, which is used to light a fire. Over this, a pot of rice is cooked which is then sprinkled with the blood of the fourth gade. This rice is then placed in specific parts of the village to appease the spirits. It is believed that in the past, the villagers would use the severed heads of these gades and then place them back with the right body. Shisharanni festival in Goa offers a unique narrative of its hinterlands and can completely change your perception of Goa. If you are looking for lesser-known things in Goa, then this famous Goan festival should be on your list!
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The Lost Village of Curdi
Another story from Goa’s interiors is that of the village Curdi. As part of Goa’s development, a dam was proposed over the Salaulim River. This would bring water to a lot of Goan villages and sustain smaller hydro-power projects but at a cost. The surrounding villages would be submerged underwater. Curdi was one of them. The people of Curdi moved to neighbouring villages or bigger cities. They had to give up their livelihood, their homes and their lands. While the politics of this shift are murky, the sacrifice of the villagers is admirable. Every year, during the summer months of April-May, the water in Curdi dries up and the locals come to visit the temple and just remember their ancestors. If you are looking for offbeat things to do in Goa, sit in a time machine with us to visit the Atlantis of Goa.
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Sao Joao
Goans love to party and one of their favourite festivals is Sao Joao. The festival is believed to celebrate the ‘leaping’ of Baby Jesus in His mother’s womb. Locals recreate the event by leaping into local water bodies such as wells, lakes and rivers. They make crowns out of flowers called copels, eat patoleo (which is only made during the monsoon season), drink, sing, dance and make merry. If you like a good party, let us take you to the best Sao Joao events in the house and you won’t regret adding this to your Goa itinerary. It is one of the best reasons to travel to Goa during the monsoon.
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Chikhal Kalo
La Tomatina might be cool, but Chikhal Kalo is better. This local Goan festival is celebrated in the village of Marcel and symbolises Lord Krishna’s childlike nature. Locals gather around the Devki-Krishna temple and play in the mud. Once they wash and clean up, they eat good food and dance in the rain. What better reason to let yourself loose and experience one of the most unique festivals in Goa, India? Save this upcoming event in Goa 2024 for your next trip!
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Bonderache Fest
A long time ago, the three villages on the Divar island in Goa were in conflict over their land borders. They fought until someone decided that the land borders would be marked using flags. This ancient tradition has today metamorphosed into a carnival filled with colours and music. The locals dress up in vibrant outfits and dance around with colourful flags. There is a parade, good food and a musical event at the end of the day. If you are looking to explore the islands in Goa, this local Goan festival of Bonderaam is the best way to do it! Add this to your next Goa travel plan, because there is no party in Goa bigger than this!
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Ganesh Chathurthi
Goans love celebrating Ganesh Chathurthi and do it wholeheartedly for 7-11 days. Every Hindu home in Goa brings in an idol of Lord Ganesha and decorates it with seasonal fruits, flowers and leaves. Neighbours and friends offer local delicacies such as patoleo (sweet rice batter and jaggery dumplings steamed in turmeric leaves), nevreo (deep fried pastries filled with sweet coconut or chickpea batter), modak (steamed wheat dumplings with jaggery and coconut filling), and khatkhatem (a coconut curry with all the seasonal vegetables you can find)! There’s much more where that came from, but we’ll leave the rest for when you come to experience it with Soul Travelling.
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Makhars of Goa
You’ve heard of the Gujarati Navratri celebrations, but have you heard of the Goan Navratri Makhars? The ‘Navratri Makhars’ are enormous decorative wooden frames that appear in various temples of Goa, primarily in the Ponda taluka. During the festivities, the various forms of Maa Durga are seated inside these frames, and every night, they are rocked to the rhythm of music. The creation of a Makhar is a laborious process, involving the use of traditional rice gum, locally known as ‘khall.’ These Makhars serve as symbolic representations of Navratri and carry deities dressed uniquely each day. (link Makhorotsav blog here) This is one of the best things to do in Goa and a must-try offbeat experience on a heritage tour in Goa.
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Shivrak Sunday
This one is a special festival for all you vegetarians in Goa, tired of never finding local Goan vegetarian food. There is a lot of famous Goan veg food that doesn’t make it to the famous restaurants in Goa. The truth is that it’s mostly Goans that live along the coast that eat fish. As you travel east, towards the Goan hinterlands, you’ll find that while some eat meat, most rely on locally grown vegetables. There is a variety of lip-smacking Goan vegetarian dishes that you should try. This is why we’ve put together a special experience for a vegetarian in Goa to experience authentic veg food in Goa.
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Christmas Special Trails
Christmas is one of the most beautiful events in Goa. The cold winter, the colourful streets and the cheer in the air make you fall in love with everything. So if you are planning to be in Goa in the Christmas of 2024, be sure to experience some of the local food and festivities. We’ll sing carols, visit a Goan family to witness a traditional Christmas, eat all the Goan Christmas sweets and dig deeper into local Goan Christmas folklore. It’s a time of song and celebration. Don’t worry! There is plenty to go around for everyone!
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Final Thoughts
If you are planning your Goa travel for 2024 and looking for all the upcoming events in Goa in 2024, then we’ve got you. Your music festivals and rave parties in Goa might be fun, but there are some offbeat things to do in Goa that are even better! Why? Because they show you a different side of Goa in quieter places away from mainstream tourism. Not only do you help us conserve the local traditions and stories, but you enable a slower, more sustainable form of travel.
If slow travel and mindful exploration are your resolutions for 2024, then reach out to us! We can help you achieve it with some amazing offbeat events in Goa in 2024.
