The roar of the sea crashing on golden beaches, the cry of seagulls, the gentle murmur of rivers, the swish of wind playing on palm trees… Goa sings with many voices. And similarly Goa dances too.

The playful ballet of sunlight dancing on an azure sea, the solemn waltz of swaying palm fronds, the delightful salsa of Dolphins in the water and the frisky dance of raindrops on the pavement. Not surprisingly, this dance and music of Goa finds its reflection in the dance and music of its people. A most enriching experience for any traveller would be a cultural tour of Goa.

Music-
Mando: Nowhere does love flourish as well as in the romantic land of Goa and nothing can express with love as beautifully as the Mando. Love songs which blend both Portuguese and Indian music styles, they are traditionally sung by the Catholics of Goa. The perfect accompaniments to the Mando are the ever-present guitar, the violin and Ghumat, a traditional Goan percussion instrument. The Mando evolved in the 1840s and is an essential part of Goa heritage.

Ovi: Traditionally the Hindu women sang the Ovi songs as part of the wedding celebrations. Later, with the advent of Christianity, biblical elements were incorporated into the Ovi songs.

Suvari: As any Goa travel guide will tell you, Suvari is the folk music of Goa. The stress in Suvari is on tune and beat, as there are very few spoken words. It is essentially orchestral in nature using many instruments including the Ghumat, Cymbals, Shamel and Shehnai.

Contemporary Goan Music: From calypso to rock, from pop to the legendary Goan trance, local Goans enjoy a whole range of popular styles of music. Music is preferred live, and great musicians abound in every street corner.

Dance-
Goff Dance: A harvest dance performed during the month of March. Peasants dance with cords to make elaborate colourful braids. This dance is truly one of the important Goa sightseeing attractions.

Kunbi: The dance of the Kunbi tribal women is one of the earliest dance forms of Goa.

Lamp Dance: In this incredibly difficult dance, dancers balance lamps on their heads. This is usually performed during the Shigmo festival.

Mussal Dance: A warrior dance. Kshatriyas of Chandor perform this dance holding their traditional weapon – the Mussal.

Dekni: Performed by women, to a unique blend of traditional and western music.

Corredinho: A Portuguese folk dance, popular among Goa’s traditional aristocracy.