January/February :
A celebration in the honour of Lord Shiva held at all the
principal Shiva templeIs,  it
is celebrated in Harvalem, Ramnathi, Kavlem, Mangueshi, Nagueshi,
Shiroda, Brahmapuri. Shirgao, Kasarpal, Fatorpa and Panaji..
FEBRUARY/MARCH :
Shigmotsav is the festival of farewell to winter celebrated on
the full moon day in the month of Phalguna (March), the last month
of the Hindu calendar.
Ghodemodni or parade of the horse riders is a part of Shigmo and is
found in Fatorpa and Bicholim. Hypnotic and rhythmic music of drums
and shistles accompany the martial dance, which parades down the
main street, imitating horses and their riders.
Rombat takes place on the second and third day of Shigmo. It is a
procession of men in traditional dress carrying banners and
umbrellas, dancing to the music of drums. Young boys wave green
twigs, signifying the arrival of spring.
Holi is celebrated as Gulal or Rangapanchami at Sri Damodar Temple
in Zambaulin.
Kalas Utsav is celebrated on a major scale every alternate year at
Sri Morjaee Temple in Pernem. Visitors from Maharashtra and
Karnataka attend the seven-day festivities, which are
socio-religious occasions.
MARCH-APRIL :
Ram Navami or the birthday of Lord Rama is celebrated at Ramnath
Temple.
Chaitra Purnima is celebrated at Sri Mahalakshmi Temple at Panaji,
and during the nine days preceding the full moon, at Sri Vithal
Temple in Sanquelim. It is also widely celebrated at Nagueshi,
Chandranath, Cudnem and Mashem in Canacona.
MAY-JUNE :
Mirg is on 6th June. It is the start of the monsoon season. The
Christian Mirg is one day earlier. If the rains fail, prayers are
offered to the Catholic saints born this month – St. Anthony, St.
John the Baptist and St. Peter and St. Paul. In Goa there is a happy
mingling of festivals and feast days for the common good of all.
JULY-AUGUST :
Gokul Ashtami or Janamashtami is the Birthday of Lord Krishna. This
marks the beginning of Goa’s harvest festival. At Narve village in
Bicholim, people gather for pilgrimage from far and wide.
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER :
The Hindu festival is celebrated throughout the state and
commemorates the birth of
 Ganesh.
The festival can last for two and a half days. Clay models of Ganesh
are taken in procession around the areas of the temples before being
immersed in water. A period of fasting is observed.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER :
Navaratri or the nine nights festival associated with Lord Rama’s
defeat of Ravana, demon-king of Lanka, culminates in the grand
festival of Dussehra. Dussehra is celebrated by devotees of the
Mother Goddess as her festival. The Sri Bhagavati Temple in Pernem
has a fortnight’s festivities on the occasion. Special celebrations
for Navaratra Utsav are held at Shantadurga, Nagueshi, Mahalakshmi
and Ramnath Temples at Ponda and at Kalika Devi Temples in Kasarpal.
The Dhangar Dance is a dance of worship performed during this
festival.
The Kirtan Mahotsasv or religious music festival takes place at
Quepem in September and is an all-night celebration.
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER :
Deepawali is the great festival of lights. It is universally
celebrated in Goa, in homes, on the streets, in shops and, of
course, in religious places.
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER :
Kejagiri Purnima could fall early in Aghrana. It is the full moon
following Dussehra and at Mardol in Ponda there are special
celebrations to mark this auspicious day.
DECEMBER-JANUARY :
Malni Purnima is the major festival at Sri Devaki Krishna Temple at
Marcel.
Cristmas : Like elsewhere in the world, December 25 is celebrated
in India too as the nativity of Jesus Christ with traditional joy
and gaiety. In fact, it cuts across the limits of the Church to
spill over into the streets for all to participate. It is a time for
merry-making and exchanging gifts in Goa, for Christmas is also
about cakes and puddings.
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