Zatra of Shri Shantadurga in Goa

Goa festivals - In the rich heritage and beach city of India known as Goa, numerous festivals are celebrated. Each festival has its own feature and differs at large with the other in celebration. And one such festival where this can be seen very clearly is Zatra of Shri Shantadurga in Goa.

The Goa Zatra of Shri Shantadurga is celebrated in the month of Paush, an Indian month. This Indian month is in correspondence with the months of December and January in English. Zatra of Shri Shantadurga is observed annually. In its celebration colorful procession is taken out.


The festival of Goa Zatra of Shri Shantadurga is celebrated at the Dhargali in Pernem, Goa. On this festival devotees take their deities out of the temple for the day.

Zatra of Shri Shantadurga is also celebrated at Kunkoliemkarin at Fatorpa in Quepem in the same month. In this Zatra also a colorful procession, with thousands of devotees and tourists who flock to be present at the festival from various places, is taken out.

There are other places as well in Goa where these Zatras are given utmost importance. Some of these places are Calangute, Mangueshi, Karmali, Nagueshi, Velinga, Ramnathi, Mapusam, Kavlem, Madki, Mala-Panaji, Kundai, Mashel, Shiroda, Amona, Khandepar, Fatorpa, Borim, Mulgaon and Kapileshwari.

To sum it up, it can be said that The Goa Zatra of Shri Shantadurga is celebrated at Dhargali in Pernem.
It is also observed at Kunkoliemkarin at Fatorpa in Quepem in the same month. Three young boys, aged between 8 to 10 years, are selected from different villages and are dressed in wigs and gaudy garments to as the three Magi. They are then entrusted with gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense for the Child-God which they are required to carry up to a church located on a hillock. Inside the church is kept the figurine of baby Jesus. Their entering the church is the signal for the villagers to begin the festivities. Dance, music, fire feats, fire walking, fire eating, permeates bubbly merrymaking at the Zatra of Cansaulin. For the boys who are selected to be the Magi, this feast is no little event and preparations for the final showdown begin well in advance.