The Sao Joao Festival of Goa is a yearly catholic religious event that brings in the much-awaited celebration of culture and tradition. This is when the locals deck up in new clothes, decorate their houses with flowers, and also don accessories like angel wings and flower wreaths.

But, what is the Sao Joao festival really about? Let’s dig deeper and learn about its historical significance, dates, location, the unique Goan traditions during this time and the modern celebrations across Goa.
History of the Sao Joao Festival
The Sao Joao Festival in Goa is celebrated on the birth anniversary of St. John, the Baptist. The festival is closely related to the Feast of the Annunciation which happens three months before Sao Joao
- Sorpotel – Pork offal or liver is used to make a spicy and tangy dish that is sautéd in vinegar, tamarind and local spices.
- Sannas – Sweet rice cakes made from fermented rice and coconut gratings.
- Chicken Xacuti – Usually served with Sannas, this is a chicken curry made with spices, coconut, and loads of poppy seeds.
- Pork Vindaloo – A pork curry made from sautéd garlic, ginger, and spices. The chicken is initially marinated in vinegar. It is a Portuguese dish that is very popular in Goa.
- Bebinca – A multilayered milk made with coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and flour.
- Dodol is a toffee–like sweet made from coconut milk, jaggery, and rice flour.
- Patoleo – Rice cakes that are filled with jaggery and coconut gratings and then steamed in turmeric leaves.
- Sorpotel – Pork offal or liver is used to make a spicy and tangy dish that is sautéd in vinegar, tamarind and local spices.
- Sannas – Sweet rice cakes made from fermented rice and coconut gratings.
- Chicken Xacuti – Usually served with Sannas, this is a chicken curry made with spices, coconut, and loads of poppy seeds.
- Pork Vindaloo – A pork curry made from sautéd garlic, ginger, and spices. The chicken is initially marinated in vinegar. It is a Portuguese dish that is very popular in Goa.
- Bebinca – A multilayered milk made with coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and flour.
- Dodol is a toffee–like sweet made from coconut milk, jaggery, and rice flour.
- Patoleo – Rice cakes that are filled with jaggery and coconut gratings and then steamed in turmeric leaves.
- Sorpotel – Pork offal or liver is used to make a spicy and tangy dish that is sautéd in vinegar, tamarind and local spices.
- Sannas – Sweet rice cakes made from fermented rice and coconut gratings.
- Chicken Xacuti – Usually served with Sannas, this is a chicken curry made with spices, coconut, and loads of poppy seeds.
- Pork Vindaloo – A pork curry made from sautéd garlic, ginger, and spices. The chicken is initially marinated in vinegar. It is a Portuguese dish that is very popular in Goa.
- Bebinca – A multilayered milk made with coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and flour.
- Dodol is a toffee–like sweet made from coconut milk, jaggery, and rice flour.
- Patoleo – Rice cakes that are filled with jaggery and coconut gratings and then steamed in turmeric leaves.
- Sorpotel – Pork offal or liver is used to make a spicy and tangy dish that is sautéd in vinegar, tamarind and local spices.
- Sannas – Sweet rice cakes made from fermented rice and coconut gratings.
- Chicken Xacuti – Usually served with Sannas, this is a chicken curry made with spices, coconut, and loads of poppy seeds.
- Pork Vindaloo – A pork curry made from sautéd garlic, ginger, and spices. The chicken is initially marinated in vinegar. It is a Portuguese dish that is very popular in Goa.
- Bebinca – A multilayered milk made with coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and flour.
- Dodol is a toffee–like sweet made from coconut milk, jaggery, and rice flour.
- Patoleo – Rice cakes that are filled with jaggery and coconut gratings and then steamed in turmeric leaves.
Unordered List
- Sorpotel – Pork offal or liver is used to make a spicy and tangy dish that is sautéd in vinegar, tamarind and local spices.
- Sannas – Sweet rice cakes made from fermented rice and coconut gratings.
- Chicken Xacuti – Usually served with Sannas, this is a chicken curry made with spices, coconut, and loads of poppy seeds.
- Pork Vindaloo – A pork curry made from sautéd garlic, ginger, and spices. The chicken is initially marinated in vinegar. It is a Portuguese dish that is very popular in Goa.
- Bebinca – A multilayered milk made with coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and flour.
- Dodol is a toffee–like sweet made from coconut milk, jaggery, and rice flour.
- Patoleo – Rice cakes that are filled with jaggery and coconut gratings and then steamed in turmeric leaves.
Ordered List
- Sorpotel – Pork offal or liver is used to make a spicy and tangy dish that is sautéd in vinegar, tamarind and local spices.
- Sannas – Sweet rice cakes made from fermented rice and coconut gratings.
- Chicken Xacuti – Usually served with Sannas, this is a chicken curry made with spices, coconut, and loads of poppy seeds.
- Pork Vindaloo – A pork curry made from sautéd garlic, ginger, and spices. The chicken is initially marinated in vinegar. It is a Portuguese dish that is very popular in Goa.
- Bebinca – A multilayered milk made with coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and flour.
- Dodol is a toffee–like sweet made from coconut milk, jaggery, and rice flour.
- Patoleo – Rice cakes that are filled with jaggery and coconut gratings and then steamed in turmeric leaves.
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- Sorpotel – Pork offal or liver is used to make a spicy and tangy dish that is sautéd in vinegar, tamarind and local spices.
- Sannas – Sweet rice cakes that are made from fermented rice and coconut gratings.
- Chicken Xacuti – Usually served along with Sannas, this is a chicken curry made with spices, coconut and loads of poppy seeds.
- Pork Vindaloo – A pork curry made from sautéd garlic, ginger and spices. The chicken is initially marinated in vinegar. It is a Portuguese dish that is very popular in Goa.
- Bebinca – A multilayered milk made with coconut milk, eggs, sugar and flour.
- Dodol is a toffee–like sweet made from coconut milk, jaggery and rice flour.
- 7—Patoleo: Rice cakes filled with jaggery and coconut gratings are steamed in turmeric leaves.
- Sorpotel – Pork offal or liver is used to make a spicy and tangy dish that is sautéd in vinegar, tamarind and local spices.
- Sannas – Sweet rice cakes that are made from fermented rice and coconut gratings.
- Chicken Xacuti – Usually served along with Sannas, this is a chicken curry made with spices, coconut and loads of poppy seeds.
- Pork Vindaloo – A pork curry made from sautéd garlic, ginger and spices. The chicken is initially marinated in vinegar. It is a Portuguese dish that is very popular in Goa.
- Bebinca – A multilayered milk made with coconut milk, eggs, sugar and flour.
- Dodol is a toffee–like sweet made from coconut milk, jaggery and rice flour.
- 7—Patoleo: Rice cakes filled with jaggery and coconut gratings are steamed in turmeric leaves.
Modern celebrations of the Sao Joao festival across the world
Goa is not the only place where the Sao Joao Festival is celebrated. It is a part of the culture of other nations where people from the Goan diaspora live. For instance, London, Canada and the Middle Eastern countries see Sao Joao Festivities on the 24th of June. The Goan communities and groups come together to spend time together on the day and also keep the ‘jumping into the well’ culture intact. Well, any nearby water body works, isn’t it? They also wear colourful Kopels and walk together in processions while praising the Lord and narrating the musical stories of St. John, the Baptist.

There is a Portuguese tradition that is not followed in Goa but is part of the festival celebrations in other countries. People use a small and soft plastic hammer to hit each other in the head. This is believed to drive away evil spirits and harmful energies.
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The Sao Joao Festival of Goa is a yearly catholic religious event that brings in the much-awaited celebration of culture and tradition. This is when the locals deck up in new clothes, decorate their houses with flowers, and also don accessories like angel wings and flower wreaths.
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FAQs
The Sao Joao Festival is celebrated on the 24th of June during the monsoon season every year.
The Sao Joao Festival commemorates the birthday or birth anniversary of St. John, Jesus’s cousin and the priest who baptised the Lord at the River Jordan.
The colourful boats or rafts are called Sangodds. They are made using wood, sticks, and bamboo and are decorated beautifully. During the Sao Joao Festival, they sail over the Goan backwaters and rivers.
Yes, tourists can participate in the Sao Joao Festival celebrations in Goa. People come here to participate in the festivities and see a side of Goa beyond beaches and parties.