Festivals

HARVEST FEAST: August 15 is an important day in Goa because while celebrating the Independence Day, the Catholic community also celebrates the "Novidadichem Fest" or Harvest Festival. Moreover, it is also the feast of our Lady of Assumption, who is the patroness of several churches and chapels in Goa.

On that day people organise various types of games and competitions. However, the coconut breaking competition figures prominently in several villages. The sweet rice preparation called "patolleo" is the highlight of the day.

NAGPANCHAMI CELEBRATIONS: The festival of N

Nagpanchami is being celebrated August 13, the fifth day of the moonlit-fortnight in the month of Shravan. With traditional fervour, devotees were seen purchasing idols of the snake for the religious ceremony. On Nagpanchami day, live cobras or their pictures are revered and religious rights are performed to seek their good will. The Hindu community prepare the "patolleo" on Nagpanchami day.

BONDERAM 2002: There were two editions of the traditional Bonderam festival or Festival of Flag on the emerald island of Divar last month. The colourful event draws a bigger crowd every year.

VASCO SAPTAH: Thousands of people visited the temple of Lord Damodar and offered their prayers on the occasion of the "Saptah", which began after the religious shreephal was placed before the deity by Vasant Joshi at 12 Noon last month

RAKSHA BANDHAN FESTIVAL: All over the country, the bond between sisters and brothers will be renewed today with the festival of Rakshabandhan, which signifies the bond of protection and is the festival that epitomizes the love between sisters and brothers. The principal ceremony on this day of Rakhi Purnima or Raksha Bhandhan is the tying of an ornamental thread, rakhi.

BOA MORTE FEAST: The coastal village of Candolim celebrated the three feasts as they traditionally do, last month.

"ONAM" AT CORTALIM: The Cortalim Kerala Samajan celebrated their traditional "Onam" festival at Cortalim on August 24. On the occasion a new office premises of the Samajan was inaugurated by the Cortalim MLA, Mathany Saldanha. Speaking on the occasion Saldanha said, if one looks at history many Goans migrated to Kerala and it is for that reason that we have Konkani language in the Malayali script.