4 Must-attend festivals that bring Goa to life in the monsoons

We're almost halfway through the year 2025. If Goa isn’t on your travel list yet — or if you're still figuring out when to go — now is the time to start planning!

The monsoon season is just what you're looking for, bursting with festivals, colour and culture. Here’s your guide to experiencing Goa at its rain-soaked, festive best.

But first, let’s do a quick recap of what you might have missed so far, this year.

True to tradition, the Feast of the Epiphany was celebrated in the villages of , Cansaulim (South Goa) and Reis Magos (North Goa) in all its age-old charm at the start of January. A few weeks later, with the scenic backdrop of Old Goa, the Monte Music Festival brought soul-stirring melodies to life.

Move over to March, and we had Carnival (or Carnaval) bursting with colour and energy on Goa’s streets, followed by Shigmotsav, where crowds danced in rhythm to the beats of the dhol and tashe, a spectacle of the State’s well-kept heritage.

VIVA CARNAVAL: Earlier this year, Goa came alive with the vibrant celebration of Carnival.

If you're excited to soak in the vibe, here’s a look at four major festivals that come alive during the best season of all — the monsoons.

SOAK IN TRADITION: Jump into the monsoon spirit with 'Sao Joao'.

SAO JOAO

If you’ve ever visited Goa during the monsoons, you know it’s a beautiful time. As the rains paint everything in hues of green, the state of Goa comes alive with some unique celebrations, commencing with Sao Joao.

Marking the feast of St John the Baptist on June 24, the joyous revelry takes to the streets, across villages, celebrating newlyweds with heartfelt serenades.

If you want to experience Sao Joao in its truest form, visit the villages of Siolim and Aldona, where the festival is celebrated with tradition and an infectious spirit.

Men and women, wearing kopels (headgear made of flowers and leaves), jump into wells and ponds, symbolic of St John the Baptist leaping with joy in his mother's womb upon the visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was carrying the unborn Jesus.

If you want to experience Sao Joao in its truest form, visit the villages of Siolim and where the festival is celebrated with tradition and an infectious spirit.

BOND WITH THE RIVER: Experience 'Sangodd', a unique festival coming up this June.

SANGODD

A few days following Sao Joao, there's another celebration that locals partake in — . Observed on the feast day of St Peter and St Paul (June 29), this festival too is deeply rooted in the traditions of Goa’s fishing community.

On this day, canoes or fishing boats, are decorated and tied together to form a platform, on which the statue of the saint is placed. The river is blessed, and in some places, the boats ferry people across the river for short rides.

This celebration is truly a beautiful reflection of the bond between the people of Goa and the sea. Sangodd is popular in areas like Candolim, Ribandar, Divar (all in North Goa) and Assolna and Ambelim in the south.

MUDDY AFFAIR: Immerse yourself in fun-filled mud games at 'Chikal Kalo'.

CHIKAL KALO

Have you heard of Goa’s unique 'mud festival'? In July, locals await the Chikal Kalo festival, where you get to know so much about devotion by getting dirty through fun-filled games, and rolling in wet mud. This festival commemorates Lord Krishna's playful nature, and is celebrated at the in Marcel, North Goa.

On the main day of the festival (often held across two or three days), the participants (men who have oiled their bodies) partake in devotional prayers, take a parikrama around the temple and dance to the beats of local musical instruments.

Regardless of age, people play in the muck, smear mud on each other and indulge in traditional games like Gilli Danda and Dahi Handi. It’s a truly fun experience, where you see faith, fun and bonding like never before.

FESTIVAL OF FLAGS: Parades, music and lots of fun at the annual celebration of 'Bonderam' in Divar.

BONDERAM

A village affair, it started as a commemoration of a historic protest of the Portuguese era, when villagers rebelled against colonial rule by pulling down flags used to mark boundaries — mocking the very symbols of control.

The festival of Bonderam comes from the Portuguese word bandeira, meaning flag, which has evolved over the years into a celebration of parading flags, floats, fancy dress and other attractions.

A village affair, it started as a commemoration of a historic protest of the Portuguese era, when villagers rebelled against colonial rule by pulling down flags used to mark boundaries — mocking the very symbols of control.

Celebrated on the last two Saturdays of August, Bonderam is celebrated twice on the island of . The Malar Bonderam kicks off early in the day with activities, workshops, a Goan lunch, a walk around the village called the Bonderachi Pasoi, followed by a fancy dress competition and the annual float parade competition.

The other Bonderam is organised by the Piedade Youth Association (PYA) of Divar. It is held on a grand scale, with more floats and a larger setup. However, both offer a peek into Goa’s festive traditions, and end with a beat show, where bands and DJs keep the energy alive.

Apart from these festivals, Goa boasts of several other cultural celebrations like the held on the seventh day of Ganesh Chaturthi in Cumbarjua among others. Such diverse Goan and localised celebrations make for unforgettable memories.