The biggest festival of Goa-Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi ( known as “Chovoth”) the biggest festival of Goa, and it celebrated lavishly. It is the most auspicious and important festival of the Hindu community in Goa. . Ganesh Chaturthi in Goa usually falls on the 4^thday of Bhadarva of Hindu calendar in August/September.

Celebration

Ganesh Chaturthi in Goa , symbolized by the worship of clay idols of Lord Ganesha. Its celebrated for a minimum of two days and can go up to 21 days. The clay idols come in various sizes and are very intricately painted. The height of the idol rages ¾ inch right up to 70 feet. Preparations for the festival begin days in advance. Men get busy with decorating houses while women start preparing sweets.

The festival begins at home with the purchase and ceremonial installation of a clay murti (statue). Families decorate a room by putting a matoli (a wooden canopy) adorned with flowers, seasonal vegetables and fruits before God , brought home and placed on an altar. The room , brightly lit with fairy lights adding to the cheerful hues of the decorations. The Ganesh idol stays for 1 ½,5,7,9,11 days. 

Pooja And Aarti

They do pujas sing artis(devotional hymns) together accompanied with Gumot. Some family members get together and make a rangoli at the entrance of the house or in the courtyard. Hindu families invite their friends to join in their family celebrations. Children and adults enjoy an array of fireworks.

Traditional Food

Traditional foods prepared during this festival are different at each and every days. One can see different items of food such as Chanya Tonak, Kobi Bhaji, Puri, Saar, Udidmethi, Shevya Kheer etc. Most popular sweet dishes, particularly modak, known to be Ganesha’s most favourite sweet, mangane, laddoos and neuvryo, with coconut and jiggery being the star ingredients.

When the festivities draw to a close, it is time to say goodbye. This known as Visarjan of idol.The beating of drums and chants of ‘Ganapati Bappa Morya’, then idol , taken to a water body- a lake, river o the sea- and immersed, from where it believed Ganesha returns to his parents on Mount Kailasha.

If you walk around the main cities of Goa you will see huge idols placed in significant areas. This known as Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav. The best Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav can be seen in Marcela, where big idols of Ganesh are made of different materials which attracts the eyes.