Goa, one of the most visited tourist destinations in India celebrates the Diwali festival with great merriment and fanfare. But unlike in other parts of India, the festival in this state is a one day affair and has a special Goan flavor.
The Diwali festival in Goa is marked by Narkachaturdashi, wherein huge effigies of Narkasura the demon, are made and burnt at dawn. The effigy making is an elaborate event with people of a locality gathering together and making paper Narkasur (demon) filled with grass, wastepaper, and crackers. This is taken out in the evening with a huge crowd following with music, and jeering. Everywhere in Goa people can see huge Narakasur wearing paper clothes and armed with swords and other armaments on this day. The procession then stops a selected place and burn the effigy with jeers from the crowd. Diwali is also known as 'Dhaakti Diwali' in Goa.
In the past, after this ritual of burning the Narkasur, the Hindu menfolk returns homes to be massaged by their wives / mothers an oil and 'utnem'. The entire family then visits the local temple and enjoys a feast of traditional and contemporary sweets together. One cannot miss the traditional 'Fauv' prepared in different varieties. The 'Taakantle' and the 'Dhudaantle Fauv' (Curd Fauv and Milk Fauv) along with 'Aambadyaachi Karam' are some of the dishes which require special mention. This ritual is however followed by only a few households nowadays.
There is an interesting legend that is associated with the Narkachaturdashi celebration in Goa. Narkasur was an evil Rakshas (demon) whose chief delight is to terrorize and kill people. When Lord Krishna came to know about it, he decided to free the people from the Demon. Accordingly, he killed him and even today people celebrate his death as Diwali.
Apart from that, the city is aglow with candles and a riot of fire works and firecrackers. They lit up their houses with 'pontis' and hung 'akash divas' above their houses. Bhaubija (celebrating brother-sister bond) and the New Year day are also celebrated as part of Diwali festival in some parts of Goa. Exchanging Diwali gifts and sweets are an integral to celebrations in Goa.
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