The state of Goa is abundant and rich in people, culture and festivals. Being an immensely multi-cultural state, its festivals and people are numerous and various. 

People:

The people of Goa are very friendly, relaxed and extremely happy-go-lucky. The afternoon siesta is an important feature of life in Goa; in accordance with it shops down their shutters from one to four. People of Goa belong to different faiths and come from different cultural backgrounds. However, they all lay emphasis on good living. Holiday Links Plane for “Goa Travel, Goa Travels, Goa Travel Guide, Travel in Goa, Goa Tourism, Tourism in Goa”.

Culture: 
Having had a multicultural past, the people, culture and festivals of Goa have been accordingly affected. The Portuguese were great church builders, their desire to spread their faith an important motivation. However, the early Hindu and Muslim settlers were nonetheless eager to populate the land with their descendents. So, what you see in modern-day Gao is a direct result of their urge. And much as the image evoked by Goa is the picture of its lush and luxurious beaches, the inhabitants of Goa are very religious-minded and conscious of their ethnicity.

Goan Food too forms an important part of the culture of Goa. Goa boasts of many different cuisines - the Konkan, the Portuguese and the Bahamani Nawabi traditions. Sea-food and rice, however, is a common feature with all these categories. Goa is abundant in different types of fish, the chief being, prawns, mussels, oysters and crabs.

Festivals:
Goa is a medley of people, culture and festivals. So, all the major religious festivals of India are celebrated in Goa. In any case, fairs, fetes, fests, feasts and festivals are quite a regular feature of Goan life. Celebration is an integral part of Goan life; and not to miss out, they also have a day to commemorate the very idea of fun andfestivity.

Blend of East & West:
 
Goa's 450 years under Portuguese domination produced a unique, syncretize blend of East and West that is at once exotic and strangely familiar: Christmas and Carnival are celebrated as enthusiastically by the 30-percent Goan Christian population as Diwali and Durga puja are by the Goan Hindus. The state's separate identity is discernible in other ways too, most visibly in its Latinate architecture, but also in a preference for a fish-and meat-rich cuisine. Another marked difference is the prevalence of alcohol. Beer is cheap, and six thousand or more bars around the state are licensed to serve it, along with the more traditional tipples of feni, the local hootch, and toddy, a derivative of palm sap. Being the highest literate state in the union territory of India, Goa has come along way now from just being a beach haven. Apart for its distinctiveness, progress in fields of Education, Information Technology and Industry have scaled to new heights and all round development. But still a lot needs to be done as bureaucracy is seen as the major hindrance towards all round development of the state

Facts on Goa : 
 
Country : Goa, India
Area : 3660 sq km
Population :
Capital City : Panaji
Airport : Dabolim (29kms from Panaji) Railhead: Madgaon (25 kms from Panaji) 
People : Goans
Language spoken : English is widely spoken and understood. Konkani (The Official State language) and Hindi are the other languages used for communication.
Religion : Hindu, Christian and Muslim
Time : Five and a half hours ahead of GMT.
Climate : Maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperature of about 15 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is upto 900 mm in the monsoons (June-August).

When to visit Goa:
 
Goa is popular throughout the year & displays its own charm in every season. Generally known as Holi, the month of Phalgun signifies the onset of what in Goa is known as Shigmo. Celebrated mostly by the masses in the close religious association of religious rites, the festival of Shigmo is accompanied by the fanfare of drum beats and the epic enactions of Mythology. Colour in vivid vibrancy hues the festivities that bedeck every area that is celebrating Shigmo.  Today, the Shigmotsav has highlighted its festivities with the performance of troupes in the form of parades and cultural dances.