Goa is many things to many people and the foremost among the emotions the coastal state evokes is celebration. The people of Goa have an infectious spirit, which makes Goa a popular venue for any kind of celebration right from weddings to reunions or even festivals.
The arrival of the southwest monsoon in Goa leads to a spurt of greenery everywhere. This is a great time to visit if you want to see a calmer and more refreshing side of Goa. The monsoon is also a time for a certain kind of celebration, with a festival that is unique to the state. During this time Goa celebrates everything that is quintessentially Goan with the Sao Jao festival. This is the feast of St. John the Baptist and it is celebrated on June 24.
On this day, high spirited young men jump into wells to retrieve gifts thrown in by the villagers. Sao Jao is also marked by boat races that take place in Siolim, North Goa. Sao Jao, like any other Goan feast, has that captivating spirit of merriment, colour and tradition. Revelers from several villages dressed in colorful outfits assemble near a stream in carnival-colored boats and floats. In a few ways, the celebration is reminiscent of the Carnival. It is celebrated with fervor and gusto, particularly in Siolim, Anjuna, Candolim, Calangute and Assagao.
