Shigmo festival
Shigmotsav is one of the popular Hindu festivals in Goa. Shigmo is celebrated in the month of Phalguna (March), as per the Hindu calendar. The festival commences with Naman (Naman are the songs sung in chorus during the festival) by villagers from the ninth moon day to the full moon day. From the 11th to the 15th moon day, they gather at the village temples with their multi-coloured attire, flags, torans, and column-like red-spotted “Dwajas”. The fifth day of the Shigmo festival is the day of rejoicing. This day is called “Rang Panchami”. Red powder (Gulal) is profusely used by the people for the celebration. Jot is a kind of song sung too, while the talgadi is a folk dance performed during the Shigmo. Dol and tasha are the drums, some of which can be huge in size, that people travel with from door-to-door, dancing to their sound. Money is placed in the plate carried by the performers, and a song called the tali is sung after this is done, wishing the donor well. On the last day of the festival, it is believed that a spirit enters these people who dance, and this is known as the gade padne. Mand Thevane refers to a collective bath taken after the festival comes to an end.
Sugrishmak is the sanksrit word from which the word “Shigmo” bears its origin; later, it was called Suggimaho in Shourseni, and today it’s called “Shigmo” in Konkani.
Shigmo is more traditional and Goan. In recent years, the state government has offered its support for public Shigmo float parades in Goa. These floats are made up of traditional folk dances, street dancers, and floats depicting religious scenes. A spectacular Shigmo parade is held annually in Panjim City. Float parades are also held in major cities like Vasco, Margao, Mapusa, and Ponda.
