Goa has a sizeable number of Hindus who light the entire coastal state, especially temples, during the five-day Diwali festival. They decorate their homes and offices with colourful rangolis, wall paintings, and decorative pieces. They seek blessings from their elders, send good wishes, and exchange sweets and gifts with their family, friends, neighbours, and all acquaintances. However, Diwali celebrations in Goa aren’t limited to temples and homes. It also includes fireworks, themed parties, and festive shopping.
Burning the effigies of Narakasura is the biggest highlight of Goa Diwali festival. Narakasura was a demon king who terrorized the people during his rule. People worshipped Lord Vishnu to save them from terror. Vishnu killed Narakasura with his Sudarshana Chakra. Today, that day is celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi. It falls on the second day of the five-day festival.
People craft towering effigies of Narakasura for celebrations and set them on fire at an auspicious time. Made from bamboo hay and paper and painted in vivid, intimidating colors, the effigies represent the terror of Narkasura. The effigies are paraded around villages before taking to the venue. Also, competitions are held for making the best effigies to encourage the participation of local youths. People come in large numbers to see the burning effigies and wish each other Goa Diwali.
Diwali in Goa starts with the Lakshmi Puja on the third day. Goddess Lakshmi is the deity of wealth and prosperity. People offer Lakshmi Puja to the goddess and seek her blessings. It is a ritual to worship the goddess Lakshmi on the third day of Diwali Goa. Following the tradition, people clean and decorate their homes and offices to welcome the goddess Lakshmi. At night, they light earthen lamps and decorate their entrances with flowers to welcome the deity of wealth.
Temples are also cleaned and decorated with colourful rangoli, flowers, and earthen lamps for Lakshmi Puja. People visit temples to offer prayers, fruits, and sweets to the goddess Lakshmi and seek her blessings. Following are the most visited temples during Goa Diwali festival:
Shree Mangeshi Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is one of the largest and most frequently visited temples in Goa. It hosts a special puja for the Diwali festival.
Shree Shantadurga Temple: Located in Ponda, the temple belongs to the Goud Saraswat Brahman Samaj. During Diwali, all Hindus in Goa visit this temple to offer Lakshmi Puja.
Mahalaxmi Temple in Panaji: The temple committee hosts grand celebrations for Lakshmi Puja for devotees in the nearby areas.
Diwali is a festival of lights and sweets. People light their homes with earthen lamps and offer sweets to family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbours. Offering sweets is an integral part of Diwali celebration in Goa. Sweet shops add items of different flavours and offer special festive discounts to attract buyers. The following sweets are specific to Diwali:
Fov: Rice is beaten with jaggery and coconut to prepare fov. It is a sweet dish mostly homemade. Some people also serve it with spiced potatoes and onions.
Godshe: This traditional Goan sweet is made from rice, coconut milk, and jaggery to serve during festive feasts.
Neureos (Karanji): Locals bake crispy pastries and fill them with coconut, jaggery, and dried fruits to give them a sweet flavour.
Ladoos and Barfis: These are traditional Indian sweets often flavoured with coconut or dry fruits for a richer taste.
Beach shacks, resorts, nightclubs, and bars invite people to celebrate Diwali in Goa. They make special arrangements for fireworks and host themed parties for celebrations. They offer live music, games, food, and drinks. The tradition of gambling on the night of Diwali leaves the casinos brimming with enthusiasts. Calangute, Baga, Candolim, and Palolem beaches are the centre of attraction for Diwali-themed parties. People visit beaches to enjoy fireworks shows and beach parties with family and friends. Also, the pleasant weather, clear sky, and calm sea make the fireworks show more enjoyable. The fireworks light the sky and fill the ground with multiple colours.
Diwali celebration in Goa is incomplete without shopping. Diwali is the festive time when people buy new clothes and fashion accessories for parties. Also, they invest lavishly in decorative items. It is the time when people overspend on small items like curtains, tablecloths, sofa covers, linens, and kitchen items. For this reason, shopkeepers set up shops on streets and attract people with lucrative discount offers. The entire state turns into a big shopping mall for Diwali shopping.
Demand for Goa villas for rent becomes high during Diwali holidays. Tourists prefer staying in villas that they can decorate like their homes. Also, they host themed parties for family and local friends. Celebrating Diwali in a villa is a unique experience for tourists. If you have plans to visit Goa during Diwali, you should also rent a villa that you can use as your home away from home. For maximum enjoyment, you should stay in a beachfront home from where you can enjoy the fireworks.
A 3 BHK villa in Goa can accommodate a small family of up to six members. It features a lush front lawn, a spacious backyard for outdoor parties, an expansive swimming pool for pool parties, a fully-fitted kitchen to cook your meals, and a tastefully decorated and equipped living area for entertainment. You will get all the luxuries and facilities to enhance your vacation pleasure in a villa. It will cost you more than a hotel room, but it is worth the price.
Diwali is a national festival celebrated with much fan and fervour. Also, people add local traditions to make Diwali more exciting. In Goa, people burn effigies of Narakasura and enjoy beach fireworks and Diwali-themed parties. They visit temples for Lakshmi Puja and prepare Goa famous food like Godshe and Neureos at home. Tourists stay in rental villas to celebrate Diwali like locals.
The Luxury Castles provides multiple range of Luxury villas in Goa with private pool for rent to make your vacation memorable.
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