Shigmo Festival of Goa

Shigmo festival, also known as Shishirotsavaa is a famous spring festival of Goa. It is celebrated around the month of March every year. The date of the festival is set according to the Hindu lunar calendar hence the date varies every year.

Shigmo Festival Variants

There are two variants of this festival.

Vhadlo (Big) Shigmo

The celebration of Vhadlo Shigmo starts on the full moon day and then continues for five days. Unlike Dhakto Shigmo it is celebrated by all Goan people.  

Dhakto (Small) Shigmo

Dhkto Shigmo is celebrated by the rural class of Goa. Farmers of Goa celebrate this festival together after their winter harvest is done. It begins five days before the full moon and then finally ends on the full moon day. 

Celebration of Shigmo Festival

During the festival, all people gather in one place and sing songs together. Naman and Jot songs are sung in the gathering. The locals also dance to celebrate the festival. Dances include Hanpet, Talgadi, Gopha, and Lamp Dance. During Dhakto Shigmo people dance and celebrate the festival together whereas during Vhadlo Shigmo they devote their time to God. They bath deity dress them in nice clothes and then offer food. 

Villagers also prepare parades to show their culture and beautiful art forms. The parades are full of art and crafts such as Gjode Morni (a martial art dance form), musical instruments, various types of jewelry, and painted masks. Artists also showcase mythological events and scenes of the stories. In recent times some competitions are introduced too to encourage people to take part in the festivities.   

The origin of the festival began as something to celebrate after the harvest was done and villagers had some time to kill. They took this time to spend with their loved ones while singing, dancing, and laughing. Shigmo can be called the Holi festival of Goan people as they play with dry colors (Gulal) during the festival.