| Shigmo
Shigmo or Shimga is the Goan expression of the sprit of spring around
the month of March, very close to the carnival. The focal hour of its
celebration is the full moon day of the month of Phalguna. Shigmo is the
time for the home coming of the brave, who had left their firesides with
the Dussehra. For the farmer and the shepherd, it is the time of rebirth
of nature and for the warriors, the time of return of man. Ceremonial
thanksgiving, processions to temples and shrines, songs, dramas and dances,
bonfires, masquerades and abuses, festoons, banners, colours and sweets
are in plenty on this occasion. Rang-panchami gets merged into the celebration
with the throwing of colours in a boisterous manifestation of gaiety.
The other manifestations of Shigmo in Goa are the Romatt
or Mell, Goff and Tonnya Mell, Dashavatari Khell and Kalo plays and dances.
These are performed in most of the rural areas of Goa where Hindus predominate.
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