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.
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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

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

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

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

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

​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

These ladies demonstrated the traditional weaving techniques for mol'la (palm leaf mat).

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

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

​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

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

​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.

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My favorite things to do and places to visit in Goa