Once, Goa was dominated by the agricultural communities. The farmers toiling hard in their fields during the winter season to cultivate their Rabi crop (Vãigan) sought relief through entertainment and religious celebrations. Shigmo was how they got a chance to relax after their day’s tire and toil.
Throughout Goa, the Shigmo festival has an important place in the cultural landscape of the land. Though the non-Brahmin communities are mainly involved in the celebration and rituals of the Shigmo, in today’s times one may see Brahmin communities participating wholeheartedly in the various performances of this festival.
During the sixteenth century, when the Portuguese conquered Tiswadi, a ban was introduced on the celebration of the Shigmo.
All over Goa Shigmo is celebrated in the month of Phalguna, but only in Dongari of Mandur, Tiswadi, it coincides with the carnival of the Catholic community and is known as ‘Intruz' which is derived from ‘Entrudo' meaning carnival. As the Shigmo was abolished by the Portuguese in the whole territory of the old conquests, it only survived in Dongri under the disguise of Carnival.
The farming communities celebrate Intruz in Dongri with the same fun and frolic as that of Shigmo with the blessing of their presiding deity Shashti Shantadurga. Despite bans on various indigenous celebrations, our forefathers efficiently managed to carry forward and celebrate Shigmo under the name of Intruz.
In Goa, there are two types of Shigmo performances observed. The first Shigmo which takes place from the first half of Phalguna is known as the Dhakto Shigmo whereas the Shigmo that takes place from the full moon day of Phalguna is known as VodloShigmo. The Dhakto Shigmo is mainly observed by the villagers of the Zuari basin whereas VodloShigmo is by the villagers of the Mandovi basin. Mallikarjuna temple of Shristhal is associated with the village communidades of Canacona, Nagarshe and Palolem. From times immemorial the deity Mallikarjuna is not only related to villages of Canacona but also to villages of Karnataka like Hosali, Mudgeri, Makkeri, and Kharge which are the parts of the Karwar region offering gratitude to Mallikarjuna.
The Avatar Purush of the temple of Mallikarjun, from the full moon day of Pausha, pays visits to the Karwar region. Devotees welcome the procession with the utmost joy. After spending two and half months in Karwar, the procession returns to Canacona on the seventh day of Phalgun. On the return journey of insignia of Mallikarjun, devotees scattered in various areas of Canacona Welcome the celebrations.
In many villages of Canacona, villagers assemble near the temple to invoke the deity by reciting ‘Naman' wherein they sing folk songs praising the gods. These folk songs are sung by locals in tunes passed down the generations.
Loliyem has a temple dedicated to Keshav. Villagers sing the ‘Naman' and perform folk dances as they proceed in a procession across the whole village by presenting folk dances in large groups to the tune of traditional folk musical instruments.
In Poinguinim, Loliyem and other villages of Canacona, the Bhagat and Velip communities annually observe the Viramel, a unique dance form performed on the ninth day of Phalgun until the full moon day of the same month.
Shigmo is one of the most vibrant and colourful festivals celebrated in the Indian state of Goa. This Hindu festival is a blend of cultural, religious, and social celebrations, and is eagerly awaited by the people of Goa. With its colourful parades, traditional folk dances, and elaborate costumes, Shigmo is a time of joy, happiness, and community spirit.
Romat Dance is a dance-cum-procession performed during the Shigmo Festival. The name Romat is popular in northern Goa, but in central Goa, it is known as ‘Mell’. The streets and villages are crowded with a large number of people on the day of the event.
Each dance team from a different village dances as they escort the procession with huge banners, decorated sticks and umbrellas. The parade moves toward the temple of the presiding deity or to the house of the landlord. The thundering beats of dhols and tashas, accompanied by the colourfully dressed performers hold the attention of viewers. Romat is a unique dance form of Goa that is a combination of dance and street show. The group of dancers and musicians in this dance move in the form of a procession. Instruments like big drums and cymbals are used for the performance and the dancers dress up in resonant attire complete with glitters and sparkles. While the procession moves forward huge banners and colourful sun shades carrying different symbolic expressions are carried by the crowd through the procession. It is one of the most popular dance forms of Goa and a fun-filled experience to witness.