Gulal festival of Goa is associated with the Shigmo festival and is observed in the month of Phalgun. This unique festival is celebrated at Shri Damodar Temple of Zambaulim in Goa. Although the exact origins of the festival are unknown, it has been celebrated for many years. During the Portuguese regime, Christianity was imposed on the people of Goa, and the Hindi and Muslims were forbidden from practicing their customs and rituals. Despite the ban, the Hindus managed to keep their traditions alive and continued to observe their rituals in secret.

Story Behind Gulal Festival of Goa

During the Portuguese rule, some temples, including the temple of Shri Damodar in Margao, were destroyed. The devotees made an attempt to relocate the idol of Damodar, but it was not feasible to move the entire linga. Therefore, they transported only a portion of the top to Zambaulim, located in Sanguem, where a new temple was constructed, and the linga was placed in the garbhakudd (a sacred chamber) there. In the past, Gulal was organized by 10 families, but since 1927, a committee called the Mutt Gram Sanstha Hindu Sabha has been established, which is responsible for arranging this festival. As a result, the responsibility of commemorating Gulal was transferred to the people of Margao with the establishment of this committee.

What Happens at Gulal Festival of Goa, Jambaulim

The Mutt Gram Sanstha Hindu Sabha owns a hall in Margao called Shri Damodar Hall, which is the starting point of the festival. The festivities commence with the coconut pooja at the residence of Mr. Purshottam Keni. This ritual is performed because it is believed that when the linga was transported from Maddel for safety reasons, it was kept overnight at Mr. Keni’s house before being taken to Zambaulim early in the morning.

As part of the tradition, a coconut is placed at Keni’s house where devotees gather to recite prayers or garane. The next day, devotees carry the coconut to Zambaulim, singing and dancing to musical tunes. This marks the beginning of the Zambaulim Shigmo festival, which lasts for seven days and attracts a large number of devotees. The festival is particularly significant on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

The Tuesday of the Zambaulim Shigmo festival is the most important day, attracting devotees from neighboring areas. A huge crowd gathers at the temple to witness the grand procession of the palki carrying the idol of Lord Damodar. As the procession proceeds, people shower gulal on the idol. Those carrying the palki as well as the devotees get covered in vibrant colors. Getting smeared with gulal is considered an auspicious and joyous part of the festival.

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Monday marks the arrival of the committee members who sing hymns and praise the Lord with chants of Govinda, jai, jai while bringing the idol of Damodar into the hall (Sabha Mandap). On the next day, after applying gulal and taking a bath in the pond called panto that is formed by the water of Khushavati River in the temple premises, they bring the idol back to the temple. The festival culminates on Wednesday afternoon after the final ceremony of dhulpet, where gulal is thrown on the idol.

The day of the main festival witnesses a complete shutdown of commercial activities in Margao. Shop owners and devotees of Damodar visit Zambaulim to pay their respects to the Lord. This causes all shops they run to close down their shutters. The committee responsible for organizing the festival offers lunch to hundreds of devotees throughout the seven-day celebration.

If you are planning to visit Goa, do plan such that you can witness this amazing Gulal festival of Goa. It is worth experiencing this event once and you will see the cultural side of this tiny state as well.

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