Tripurari Purnima Boat Festival

This celebration of this festival takes place at the end of Diwali festival season. The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa has been promoting this festival in a big way wherein it also arranges trips for tourists interested in attending this festival. According to mythological legend Lord Krishna defeated and killed the Demon Tripur. Traditionally this festival used to be celebrated in the town of Sanquelim in North Goa by releasing lamps in the river Valvanti but in the last few years building miniature models of boats and ships of paper, cardboard or Styrofoam as part of competition has gained much popularity and has become the main highlight of the festival celebrations. The festivities take place at Vithalapur in Sanquelim, near the Pundalik Temple. As the competition progresses the competitors boats are brought and displayed near the shore and the best designed boats is awarded by the organisers of the festival. Besides the main boat competition, there are a host of cultural programmes including performances by various folk dance groups and artistes including a spectacular display of fireworks.