RavenousLegs
  • Home
  • DESTINATIONS
    • INDIA >
      • ANDAMAN ISLANDS
      • GOA
      • GUJARAT
      • HIMACHAL PRADESH
      • KARNATAKA
      • KASHMIR
      • KERALA
      • LADAKH
      • LAKSHADWEEP
      • MADHYA PRADESH
      • MAHARASHTRA
      • PONDICHERRY
      • UTTARAKHAND
    • INDONESIA
    • MALDIVES
    • NEPAL
    • SRI LANKA
    • THAILAND
    • UAE
    • VIETNAM
  • EXPERIENCES
    • TREKKING
    • SCUBA DIVING
    • SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL
    • BOUTIQUE
    • BACKPACKING
    • BEACHES
    • HIMALAYAS
    • WILDERNESS
    • HERITAGE
    • FESTIVALS
  • UnRaven
  • Reviews
    • BRANDS
    • APPS
    • PROPERTIES
    • PRODUCTS
    • GUEST POSTS
  • Contact
  • About Me

Goa Tribal Festival, Xeldem

1/20/2017

3 Comments

 

Goa Tribal Festival, Xeldem

Goa Tribal Fest gives a sneak peek into the unique culture and traditions of Goan tribal community. Goa, the smallest state of India, is most often the first choice for holiday-goers for its long stretches of popular beaches. After multiples visits to the beaches in the north as well as south of Goa, I got a chance to explore Goa beyond the beaches. I was not only surprised with the interesting culture & heritage of Goa, but was also left speechless when I saw the passion with which the local communities of Goa are trying to preserve their customs, traditions and heritage.
​ 
A part of the Goan community has put efforts into preserving the old artefacts from their traditional lifestyle, some have maintained the spice plantations that were introduced by the Portuguese and the art and music lovers of Goa are doing their bit by coming together for a common cause.

Goa Tribal Festival is celebrated every year as an effort by Christian Adivasi Sangathan towards preserving the local traditions of the Goan Christian Tribes. I attended their sixth edition of Goa Tribal Festival on 7th - 8th January 2017 at Xeldem, Goa.
Woman wearing Kunbi, traditional goan saree at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem
Woman wearing Kunbi, traditional goan saree at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem

The event was an explicit representation of the tribal culture, where the women, dressed in a traditional goan saree (Kunbi) indulged into cooking their traditional Goan food items: Fov, Ambil (nachni porridge), Pita Gulio, Pinagre, Donne, Sanna, Pattoleo, Shevyo and Soji, while the men in the playgrounds enjoyed their unique traditional tribal games: Logoreani, Ton Barani, Guli Danda. 
Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem
Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem

The women here used sign-language to communicate with us because of the language barrier. The earthen cooking and serving pots, the bowls and ladles (serving spoon) made from coconut shells creatively showcased the eco-friendly habits practised in older traditions.
Woman serving Ambil at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem
Woman serving Ambil at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem

These ladies were seen cooking on a traditional fire-place (chulha) in the traditional utensils.
women cooking in traditional goan style at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem
women cooking in traditional goan style at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem

This simple equipment is a commonly used to make rice noodles in the traditional way.
women cookin traditional goan noodles at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem
women cookin traditional goan noodles at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem

​The traditional Goan Kunbi sarees were dyed in red and black and woven in big and small squares. This is the style in which they were hanged and arranged in the olden homes.
Kunbi - traditional goan sarees
Kunbi - traditional goan sarees

These ladies demonstrated the traditional weaving techniques for mol'la (palm leaf mat).
Women weaving mats at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem
Women weaving mats at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem
 
​The lady here demonstrates the art of weaving nivoni (paddy grass weaving), san'n (brooms) and fulla fati (head bands of flowers),
Women weaving at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem
Women weaving at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem

​The man is packaging the items weaved by the ladies.
Picture

​We also feasted on Goan traditional cuisine - prawn salad, prawn curry, fried fish, pumpkin curry and rice.
Traditional Goa food at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem
Traditional Goa food at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem

We posed with the beautiful Goan tribal ladies dressed up for performing a folk dance.
Goa Tribal Festival was a unique an enriching experience for learning about these lesser known tribal communities of Goa.
Saree competition at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem
Saree competition at Goa Tribal Festival Xeldem

​Check​ this video to have a glimpse into the Goa Tribal Festival.

P.S. I was invited by Goa Tourism Board to experience the #GoaTribalFest.

Related posts:
​

Picture

Portuguese Heritage Colony in Fontainhas

Picture

Salim Ali bird Sanctuary in Chorao Island, Goa

Picture

My favorite things to do and places to visit in Goa

3 Comments
Dharmesh
1/29/2017 13:34:58

Travel develops a connection to either a place/culture/tradition/people in one's mind and emotions. Everyone,everywhere has some narrative to tell us, thats what travelling brings it to us. There it stands different than commerical touring. Hoping to know more of different traditions and cultures from your blogs in future.

Reply
vinayak paranjpe
2/3/2017 09:43:28

wonderful! I am totally unaware of this culture and traditions of Goa. Do Goa Tourism Board advt. this anywhere? will try visiting next time.

Good luck for the next venture.

Reply
VEENA PATWARDHAN link
6/24/2021 12:10:12

Hello Medhavi,
I enjoyed going through your very informative post. I'm interested in the food you sampled at the Festival. Could you tell me the ingredients that went into making the tribal breakfast food - ambil - which was served at the festival?

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Picture
    Namaste! I'm Medhavi Davda.
    I travel to Evolve..
    In Nature, I confide..
    I find my calling in the Himalayas..
    In the Oceans, I meditate..

    ​
    A High-Altitude Trekker & PADI certified SCUBA Diver, I love exploring the heights and depths of the planet with my regular doses of mountains and oceans.
    ​
    Discovering myself & life through nature, adventures, travels, sports and dance has been an addiction since my existence!

    Quite fond of the  natural & cultural diversity of India, I've travelled extensively in my own country before exploring international destinations.
    ​
    I had left my 9+ yrs of career in Software Industry in a quest to make a living out of my passions. I packed my basics in my car (gave away the rest) and lived in different parts of Himachal Pradesh for 16 months. This invaluable time taught me to experience life from a broader perspective.
    ​
    I'm currently living in Mumbai to work with an Adventure Travel company as a product manager for Scuba Diving. I continue living a minimalistic life.

    RavenousLegs on Instagram

    Powered by Curator.io

    RavenousLegs on FaceBook

    Ravenous Legs

    RavenousLegs on Twitter

    Follow @RavenousLegs

    Recent Posts

    Scuba Diving in Maldives - Laamu Atoll
    ​

    Travel to Sri Lanka amid economic crisis? Media and Reality: My first-hand experience

    ​7 Days Active Travel Itinerary for Sri Lanka - from Sunrise on the East Coast to Sunset on the West Coast

    Annapurna Base Camp Trek from Ghandruk Village - the shortest route to ABC Trek

    Bandipur - a charming Newari heritage town in Himalayas

    Khajuraho Temples: symbolism of sacred union of the divine - feminine energy & masculine consciousness

    Walking along the heritage town of Orchha - a hidden gem of Bundelkhand
Subscribe to RavenousLegs
​   Socialise with me
​RavenousLegs © 2022. 
​All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • DESTINATIONS
    • INDIA >
      • ANDAMAN ISLANDS
      • GOA
      • GUJARAT
      • HIMACHAL PRADESH
      • KARNATAKA
      • KASHMIR
      • KERALA
      • LADAKH
      • LAKSHADWEEP
      • MADHYA PRADESH
      • MAHARASHTRA
      • PONDICHERRY
      • UTTARAKHAND
    • INDONESIA
    • MALDIVES
    • NEPAL
    • SRI LANKA
    • THAILAND
    • UAE
    • VIETNAM
  • EXPERIENCES
    • TREKKING
    • SCUBA DIVING
    • SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL
    • BOUTIQUE
    • BACKPACKING
    • BEACHES
    • HIMALAYAS
    • WILDERNESS
    • HERITAGE
    • FESTIVALS
  • UnRaven
  • Reviews
    • BRANDS
    • APPS
    • PROPERTIES
    • PRODUCTS
    • GUEST POSTS
  • Contact
  • About Me