Tripurari Purnima Boat festival to take-off at Sanquelim, Goa

Panjim – Goa Tourism in association with Art and Culture department is all prepared to celebrate Tripurari Purnima Boat festival on the banks of river Valvanti at Vithalapur village, Sanquelim Goa. This festive celebration will mark the end of Diwali in Goa. The festival will take place on November 17 at Sanquelim village, Goa.Tripurari Purnima is the full moon day during the Karthik month, according to the traditional Hindu calendar.

The boat contest that takes place during this time is one of the main highlights of the festival and draws a large number of spectators and participants from all over Goa. Diyas or lamps are placed in the water before the boats enter. The boats are miniature replicas of actual ships while others are traditional crafts mostly made of thermacol and cardboard. This colourfully lit up scene forms a a visual treat for the large numbers gathered.The festivities will take place at Vithalapur in Sanquelim, near the Pundalik Temple. The river Valvanti which flows nearby makes it an ideal spot for the boat competition. The celebrations start in the evening as the palanquin of Lord Vithal is brought, amidst chanting and accompaniment of traditional music, to be placed on the banks of the river where it remains until the end of the boat competition.

Apart from the boat competition, there are a host of cultural programmes which includes songs by well known Goan artistes and performances of various traditional folk dances such as Goff, Dhalo, Tonyamel, Veerbhadra, Samai dance etc. As the competition progresses the competitors boats are brought and displayed near the shore.

The entire Vithalapur village is perfectly lit-up and has the ambience of a typical Goan Zatra celebration. The grand finale has a spectacular display of fireworks on a full moon night. The organisers of the Tripurari Purnima festival award prizes to the best designed boats.