As the weather changes and spring is in the air the Goan air resonates with the songs of Shigmo. This is the local folk festival of Goa which incorporates the colours of Holi festival. Celebrated in the month of Phalgun (around March) every year the celebrations continue for around 10 days. The dance parties sing and dance to the tune of drum in the country side of Goa. There are two versions of Shigmo one is called the small shigmo (Dhakto Shigmo) and the other one is the Vhadio shigmo (Large shigmo). The performer gets dressed in colourful attires with peculiar head gears, the dance party starts to the tune of drums which are constantly beaten to a vigorous rhythm the dancers slowly get up to the rhythm singing the local Konkani Shigmo songs as the pace increases the dancers also play with small sticks somewhat similar to the sticks used in Gujarati Dandiya.

Now apart from the drum the songs and the sound of sticks clanging together takes the center stage normally the dancers are young children or youngster who lent their youthful energy to the joyous dance. After the dance performers the dancers are treated with a sumptuous meal hosted by the single host or villagers together. Next time when you are in Goa around the time of Holi then make sure to watch the Shigmo being celebrated in a countryside village of south Goa.