Cultural Heritage of Goa: Music, Dance, and The Gadyachi Jatra Festival
Humans across the world flock to Goa in search of solace, meditative practices, spicy rave parties,
merrymaking, and seclusion. While this diversity is fed well by the arrangements managed by Goans,
a significant chunk of travellers are not aware of the state's cultural heritage.
Apart from the well-known fact of the Portuguese ruling Goa and the spread of Christianity, followed
by the increased population of Hindus and Muslims in the region, few know about Goa’s folk music,
folk dance, traditional art forms, and cultural festivals.
While you crack open the mandatory cold beer on the beach, soak yourself in the waters of Morjim in
the North or Patnem in the South, and treat your tummy with the famed delicacy of rice and fish curry,
there’s no harm in knowing a thing or two about the raw cultural heritage of this holiday state.
Whether you merely know about or you get the opportunity to witness or partake in their cultural
celebrations, expect to be amongst only a handful of travellers aware of these lesser-known realities.
Folk Music & Dance of Goa
Fusing influences from eastern and western traditions, Goan music and dance has developed a truly
entertaining and unique charm for the present generation. It’s usually performed at weddings by
taking inspiration from the tales of catholic Christians and stories of locals whose neighbourhoods
haven’t even seen the shadow of tourism in Goa.
Ghode Modini is one such folk dance that pushes your vision back to the days of valiant warriors,
horses and hand-made weaponry.
While this genre played with background tunes through a dhol, the Dhangar dance was more centred
on the religious spectrum and indulged the shepherds in paying their respects to Bhira Deva, their
trusted folk god. These dancers decked themselves in white dresses, vibrant handkerchiefs and wellmade turbans. The best time to catch these performances is during the Navratri period.
Add in the inclusion of rarely heard musical instruments such as Ghumat, Samel, and Cymbal during
the ethereal lamp dance, and you’ve got yourself another item on your Goa-trip bucket list.
Remember, the Shigmo festival calls for this performance, and the manner of precision displayed while
balancing brass lamps overhead will instil goosebumps.
Another standout cultural sighting is when Ovi music plays during wedding ceremonies. Typically,
ladies takeover the vocals during the Sado and Chudda ceremony while showering coconut pulp milk
on the to-be-married.
Back in the day, preachers of Christianity added in biblical stories and relied on Ovi music to spread
awareness of the religion amongst locals.
Traditional Festival in Goa: Gadyachi Jatra
Amongst the many traditional festivals celebrated in Goa, Gadyachi Jatra is a fascinating one that
expresses thankfulness to demons and spirits. Coming under the umbrella of the Shigmo festival and
translated to rally of the gade, the term gade is of great significance to the festival.
Fact: The festival initiates in front of the Mahadev temple.
Goa-bred people from villages such as Pilgao, Sal, and Savai-Verem don white dhotis during the rituals.
Also, the men wearing these dhotis are referred to as gade. There is a belief that these gades are
mediums possessed by the deity’s spirit.
Did You Know: The worshipped demon is called Devanchaar.
Held over three nights, this festival gets spooky when the details are unveiled. From demon-like
statues scattered around specific areas of Goa, midnight gatherings on a full moon night and under a
mango tree trunk, calling of spirits through the collective narration of chants, and the apparent
sighting of a light shed by the Devanchaar, there’s also a strange hide and seek situation going on the
forests.
If you get to witness these festivals somehow, don’t dare venture into the forests to look for the
unreturned Gades. The remaining gades take care of that part of the festival as only they are granted
holy protection during such endeavours.
Fun Facts About The Gadyachi Jatra Festival In Goa
Here are some fun facts about the fear-inducing yet nail-biting rituals of the Gadyachi Jatra festival in
Goa:
• In the Sal village, from 64 Gades, now only 52 participate.
• It’s celebrated each year in February or March during the 12th month of the year (Phalguna)
as per the Hindu calendar. This is in Sal Village in the Bicholim region.
• At Betal temple situated in Poinguinim village within South Goa, the celebrations slightly vary,
and the festival is conducted in April after every 3rd year.
• The gades venture into the forests and return with mud pots known as Karyoo. Surprisingly,
not all come back.
• The missing gades are believed to be held by the Devanchaar. Even more startling, they are
lying down stiffly when found.
• Whichever gades cannot be woken from their trance go through a ritual involving materials
from a surrounding cemetery.
• No gade has any recollection of the events of the three nights.
Verdict
We’ve shared a secret that some say would’ve been best uncovered. All you curious travellers now
have some food for thought questioning those countless beers or probably a more insightful chat with
a local regarding such festivities, dance, and musical elements of Goa’s uncharted cultural heritage.