PANAJI
Goa is a land of colourful festivals, where people in both cities and villages take equal pride in following their traditions and rituals. There is a season for everything here, and the season of jatras begins soon after the Vhadli Diwali festival, especially with the ‘Tulsi Vivah’ ceremony.
Held at various temples across North and South Goa, these jatras are occasions to offer prayers to the family patron deities of Goans. However, the jatras are not limited to any particular community or family; they are open to everyone who wishes to attend and seek the blessings of the deities. These celebrations not only bring together local residents but also attract people from other towns who visit the temples for darshan during the jatrotsavs.
The list of jatras in Goa is long. This year, the first jatra will take place at the Kamleshwar Devasthan in Korgao on November 9, followed by the Shree Navdurga Jatra at Madkai and the Shree Vetoba Jatra at Borim on November 13. The Kalotsav at Shree Shantadurga Ballikarin in Quepem and the Shree Dev Mauli Jatra at Shiroda will be held on November 16.
“Our Kuldevi is Shree Shantadurga at Kavlem, and our entire family attends the utsav every year on Vasant Panchami during the jatrotsav. We feel guilty if we miss it for any reason. All my family members have great faith in Goddess Shantadurga, who has protected our family for generations,” says Vandana Borkar from Margao. She also visits the Shree Ramnathi Devasthan during Shravan, as it is her maternal deity.
As Shree Damodar at Zambaulim Devasthan is the ‘Rakhandar’ (guardian deity) of all Madgaonkars, the Borkar family attends the annual Gulalotsav in Margao. Such deep faith is commonly seen among most Hindu families in Goa, regardless of caste or creed.
Kalidas Bandodkar from Khadpabandh, Ponda, eagerly awaits the annual Madkai Jatra at the Shree Navdurga temple in the month of Kartik. “We celebrate it as a family get-together, attend the processions and rituals, and feel immense joy to be in the presence of our Goddess on this auspicious day,” he says. Kalidas also visits the Nageshi Jatra at Bandora on Kartik Purnima.
People from Ponda also attend the ‘Jayanchi Jatra’ at Mardol, during which the entire temple sanctum is decorated with the local flower ‘Jayo’. Those who grow and sell these fragrant flowers do not sell them that day. All the flowers that bloom are offered to the Goddess instead. This jatra is very popular, and people from outside Goa also visit to witness the beautifully decorated temple.
Goans enjoy attending famous jatras even outside their hometowns. The Fatorpa Jatra, also known as the Shantadurga Kunkallikarin Jatra, draws thousands of devotees from Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The festival includes rituals such as offering ‘padd’ (two coconuts, green bangles, cloth, rice, fruits) to the Goddess and colourful processions with ornate chariots. During the jatra, the temple complex comes alive with stalls selling clay vessels, clothes, khaje, chane, flowers, and snacks. The festive spirit fills the air in an event that has become part of Goa’s cultural heritage.
A jatra is a traditional Hindu temple festival, and each temple has its own unique way of celebrating it. The Lairai Jatra at Shirgao attracts devotees from outside Goa for its fire-walking ritual (Agnidivya), where devotees known as Dhonds walk over burning embers. Celebrated on Vaishakh Shukla Panchami, this spectacular ritual follows days of fasting and devotion.
Another well-known festival is the Gadyanchi Jatra at Sal, which includes a spirit-invocation ritual. Similarly, the Ghadanchi Jatra at Calangute features offerings of thousands of banana bunches. The Jatra at the Shri Devaki Krishna Temple in Marcel coincides with Shigmo and honours Lord Krishna. The Kamakshi Jatra at Shiroda is another important festival, featuring rituals, prayers, and processions. Every Amavasya, thousands visit the temple to fulfil their vows.
The Shisaranni festival in Canacona includes the unique ritual of cooking rice in pots placed on the heads of devotees, with fire lit between their heads. Vasco’s Saptah is among the most popular jatras, attracting huge crowds for the darshan of Shree Damodar, the protector of Vasco city. Shree Mangueshi Jatra is celebrated during Mahashivaratri.
Bodgeshwar Jatra in Mapusa will be held on January 12, usually during the month of Paush. The Hanuman Jatra in Mala, atop Altinho Hill in Panaji, is another major celebration dedicated to Lord Hanuman. It includes rituals, processions, and cultural performances, highlighting the city’s rich heritage. The temple also holds historical importance.
Goa’s jatras are vibrant celebrations of faith and devotion. They showcase the deep bond between devotees and their deities. These festivals include prayers, bhajan-kirtans, traditional music, dances, and plays through the night. People share community meals and make offerings (garanhe) to seek blessings for their families. The temple complexes come alive with processions, palkhis, naukanayans, and jala kridas, when the idols are taken out to meet other deities in nearby temples.
Goa’s jatras beautifully combine faith, tradition, and celebration. They bring communities together, strengthen family ties, and keep alive Goa’s rich cultural heritage for future generations.
