Goa farmers celebrate ‘Shigmo’ Festival

Goa farmers, through a colourful parade, celebrated the ancient Shigmo Festival that markes the onset on spring. The celebrations included colourful street floats, folk music and dances, sword dances and lively spraying of dry colours, while the procession passed through the streets of Goa.

The five-day festival began with Holi celebrations on March 1. Shigmotsav, which is celebrated annually by farmers and rural folk after the harvesting season, saw hundreds of performers attired in traditional outfits and colorful turbans playing dhol (Indian drums) and chanting the names of various Hindu deities.

S S Pilgaokar, one of the organisers of the event, said : “This festival starts after the harvesting is over and this festival is celebrated traditionally by Goan farmers. They celebrate their harvesting.” ”They go to each other’s houses first and thereafter their groups, which are called ‘Rommatamel’ visit each other’s villages and then they celebrate it. This is the significance behind the celebrations of Shigmo, he added.

The festival has emerged as a symbol of communal harmony over the years. The parade also included martial art dances like ‘Ghode-morni’, or the horse dance, which is popular in the region.