Resident of Goa or visiting this state, GoGoaNow is your one stop to the sights, sounds and taste of Goa. Here you can plan your weekend or your holiday with things to do, see, visit, eat and drink.
From exhibitions, concerts, dance, food and drink to performing arts, libraries and more, GoGoaNow is the definitive guide to events in Goa.
Featured Events
The Indo-Portuguese Friendship Society (IPFS), Goa, in collaboration with the Fundação Cidade de Lisboa, has announced its upcoming Portuguese language courses from July 1 to November 30 to be conducted in both Panaji and Margao branches. Limited seats. Details: 9552596875.
Up Next
The Indo-Portuguese Friendship Society (IPFS), Goa, in collaboration with the Fundação Cidade de Lisboa, has announced its upcoming Portuguese language courses from July 1 to November 30 to be conducted in both Panaji and Margao branches. Limited seats. Details: 9552596875.
Essentially Goa
The marigold man of Goa
With a deep understanding of agriculture and a desire to bring locally grown marigold flowers to the Goan community, Amona-based farmer Krishna Sinari has embarked on the high-tech venture of marigold farming. RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT Inspired by the need for locally grown marigold flowers, Krishna Sinari, the owner of Prakriti Farm Products, has started a high-tech venture of marigold farming in a 3,000-square-meter plot. With a total of 5,000 plants, his farm boasts vibrant yellow and orange marigold flowers. The inspiration behind choosing marigold flowers as the primary crop stems, he says, is that even though Goa has a suitable environment for its growth, a majority of the flowers are brought in from other places. “Marigolds are essential for Diwali celebrations. So I chose to start my own marigold production to meet the local demand,” says Sinari, who holds a diploma in agriculture and has done various courses to enhance his knowledge in the field. Currently enjoying his first marigold harvest, the next crop of flowers will be during Diwali and later for Tulsi Vivah. After that, he will move on to the next crop. Sinari has previously cultivated hybrid chillies and lady fingers and plans to explore other […]
Traditional sweets of Goa
We have all heard about the famous Goan fish thalis, prawn curries, sorpotel, chicken cafreal, and vindaloo. Now it’s time to celebrate the sweets of Goa. The people of Goa still make traditional sweets from recipes passed down from generation to generation. Here are some of the famous traditional sweets of Goa: Bebinca This is a type of layered pudding. The ingredients which usually go into it are all-purpose flour, eggs, sugar, coconut milk, nutmeg, and ghee. It takes time to prepare this lovely dessert as each layer has to be baked first before adding the next one. Bebinca usually has 7 to 16 layers. In many places, it is served with vanilla ice-cream. You can eat all the layers at once or peel one layer at a time and savour each one. [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] Dodol Dodol is made using coarsely ground raw paddy rice flour, black jaggery, coconut milk, and cashew nuts. The coconut is ground and the juice/ milk is extracted. It is traditionally cooked on firewood. The end result is a pudding-like sweet which almost melts in your mouth. It is mostly made for Christmas. Sugar isn’t used and so dodol gets its taste from the delicious Goa […]
Chorizos- The King of Sausages
Pork sausage is one of the traditional food items of the Goan cuisine. It is mostly loved by the Catholic community of Goa. Pork sausage is basically a boneless pork meat that is seasoned with the required spices and is marinated with vinegar. This mixture is then kept in an earthen vessel over a period of two days. This process allows all the spices and the vinegar to blend properly with the raw meat. The filling is then stuffed into casings which are made up of a layer of intestines of beef meat. They can be eaten boiled, fried, as pork chops and as a pie filling in sandwiches. The most common dish that is prepared by using the sausages is the ‘Choris pao’; bread stuffed with sausages. Pork sausages are easily available in New Margao Municipal market, near the old Margao Municipal building and the Mapusa Market. Pics Credit – Shivang Mishra I NT GOGOANOW.COM [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget]
Backpacking Guide: Old Goa
Old Goa is a small town in the North Goa district. Portugal-styled churches are famous for their architecture and impeccable history behind them. Old Goa, best known for its churches, is the perfect place to be for the traveller who wants to drown himself in the beautiful Portugal architecture of Goa. NT GoGoaNow gives you a sneak peek into some places you should visit when in Old Goa! …. …. …. Basilica of Bom Jesus As you enter Old Goa, you’re definitely going to see the monumental Basilica of Bom Jesus. The church was consecrated in May 1605 by Fr. Alexia de Menezes, the Archbishop of Goa. The church is a magnificent example of Baroque architecture in Goa. The church is well known as it embodies the relics of St. Francis Xavier, who lays to rest in a silver casket within the church. The relics are taken down every 10 years for an exposition which calls forth millions of devotees. The architectural monument comes under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. …. Se Cathedral The Sé Cathedral de Santa Catarina, known as Se Cathedral, in short, is known to be the largest church in Asia. The majestic church stands strong before […]
Under the jackfruit tree
When I close my eyes, I’m often transported to our old house with its traditional clay-tiled roof, where my entire childhood was spent happily with my grandparents and the lovingly tended trees that surrounded it. Our quiet afternoons were spent playing Bhatukali, the kitchen-kitchen game under its deep green and tranquil shade. Along with children, the tree also hosted parties for its guests: the birds. It was always a treat to our eyes to spot birds like the paradise flycatcher, grey hornbills, leafbirds, and orioles peeping through its thick, glossy leaves. Locally known as Fanas, the jackfruit tree is quite a useful tree in Goa and across many tropical regions. It is the state tree of Kerala and is held sacred in many cultures around the globe. In Goa, its roundish, thick and lustrous leaves are collected and stitched together with coconut sticks, to craft traditional plates (patravali). These patravalis are deftly crafted and stored throughout the year, ready to be used during village functions and other large community gatherings. Having a jackfruit tree around is like having a companion to the house. One can smell its sweet fragrance permeating the surroundings, although at times it can also be fetid. […]
Festa do Povo: Festival to Showcase Goan Heritage, Food, & Culture
The well-known community festival, Festa do Povo, returns to Panaji again, to promote Goan culture and heritage. The festival is coordinated through community involvement, with assistance from the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and Imagine Panaji, along the pedestrian walkway lined with mangroves at Patto Plaza near the Spaces building. Residents from various wards in the city, who reside in heritage homes and blocks, participate in the festival’s planning. What food can you expect here? It ranges from Goan-Portuguese to Hindu Saraswat to Muslim dishes, cooked by local home chefs, Panaji restaurants, and even international chefs. The food section of the festival showcases Goa’s rich culinary diversity across various religious communities. Additionally, a special Feni bar and beverage station featuring local drinks will enhance the festive atmosphere. Day one (December 14) will feature traditional Shigmo dances and children’s craft activities curated by Bookworm, a -book store for children. Participants can enjoy a variety of performances, including the Kaustubha Ballet, the beloved Stuti Choir, the traditional dekhni dance, and enchanting melodies by the Sound of Music. On the second day, December 15, there will be brass band performances, percussion displays, and carol singing by students from Nirmala School. This […]
An unforgettable culinary journey
The new menu at Fortune Miramar will leave you spoilt for choice with fascinating options from cuisines around the world SHERYL GONSALVES | NT It was a day when the sun struggled to shine through the clouds. The rain beat down against my helmet and didn’t show any signs of letting up. However, even though there were partially waterlogged roads and traffic jams, there was one thing that kept me going – I was invited to try out the new menu at Fortune Miramar curated by executive chef William Dias. The new menu themed ‘Savour’ took two months to curate. Entering the Orchid restaurant in the hotel was a sight for sore eyes. The classy bright interiors were a welcoming visual contrast against the gloomy skies. My colleagues and I enjoyed the colourful mocktails brought to our table and then started digging into the Mezze Platter which had a variety of different dips like Muhammara, Hummus, Tzatziki, Olive Tapenade, Cauliflower Tartar, and Fatoush Salad. They were perfect flavour bombs with spicy and creamy notes. The crispy pita bread elevated the eating experience by providing texture. Mezze Platter We then had Malai Broccoli which was marinated in cashew cream, yoghurt, and […]
An eco-farm with thrills and adventure for the first time in Goa
For the first time in Goa, an eco-farm will be opening which consists of more than just a farm or spice plantations. People can come here and admire the farm and get thrills as well. The construction of SharvRaj Eco-farm at Padoshe Sanquelim in Sattari taluka will be in five phases. The first phase will be inaugurated on 9th March 2019 at 4 pm. It will be open to the public from 10th March 2019 onwards. The first phase is built in an area of 10 acres. The farm consists of horticulture, rainwater harvesting, vegetable cultivation, borewell recharge, different types of irrigation methods, medicinal herbs, water management, organic fertilizers, and more. Those who love adventure will be able to find it at the eco-farm’s adventure park which has features such as Burma bridge, climbing net, rope net crossing, catwalk net, sliding net, log swinging bridge, tyre climbing, and rock climbing. Their water park facilities are a water play station, family slide, spiral slide, multilane slide, and so on. Another attraction of SharvRaj Eco-farm will be the thrill rides- sky cycling (the first in Goa) and zip lining. Other activities include horse rides, bull cart rides, archery, etc. They will be […]
A tribute to the cashew
Dedicated to the people of Goa, Goan musician O’luv has come out with his new music video ‘The CASHEW song of Goa’ Goan musician O’luv has released his new music video single ‘The CASHEW song of Goa’ on his YouTube channel O’luv Goa. The video has been created over a span of three months, with site visits to understand the process and to draw inspiration for the lyrics and to create the visuals. From the picking of the tree-ripened cashew apples with the ‘tochni’ or ‘kantto’ [ a stick with a spur or thorn near the tip], to the separation of the nut from the cashew apple for the extraction of the juice at the ‘kollbi’, to the fermentation and the two distillations at the ‘battie’ using the traditional clay-pot ‘lavnni’ as the condenser, most of the processes involved are covered in a song. The aim of the song is to celebrate the cashew (anacardium occidentale) that came from Brazil and became one of our own in Goa. We have found a number of uses for the tree, its nut and the cashew apple and it is now an integral part of the Goan culture and traditions. It is used […]
Delightful Summer Fruits of Goa
The heat is intense but it’s the time of the year that seasonal fruits are available in plenty Seasonal fruits are popular among locals in Goa, especially during the summer. With the popularity of social media, these summer fruits are searched on Google and tracked down in the markets. This has increased demand and has caused the prices to go up. Mangoes, the king of fruits, have always been the favourite. The ‘Mankurad’ is so superior that in the Panaji market, people spent about Rs 4,000 a dozen after the mangoes came to the markets in March. The rates have stabilised but ask the elders around and they’d say, “People would give them to us for a song (free). We never had to think twice before buying Mankurad mangoes but today it’s out of the common man’s reach.” Raw mangoes are coveted too. Used for pickles, preservatives and to go along with urrack with some salt and chilli, the markets are flooded with raw mangoes. ‘Panne’ is a cooler made from raw mangoes. Fresh tender cashews (bibbe) are used in various recipes. These cashews are plucked and peeled to get tender cashews. A favourite of Goans, there’s so much joy […]
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