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Dhalo Festival In Goa - Importance Of Five-day Vandevi Festival In January

Dhalo festival of Goa observed in Paush month (December – January) is dedicated to Mother Nature. The annual festival begins on the shukla paksha ekadashi day (eleventh day during the waxing phase of moon) and ends on the purnima or full moon day. Dhalo Festival 2025 date is from January 10 to January 13.

The festival is dedicated to Vandevi or the forest goddess. The final day festival is also known as Malani Purnima. The festival coincides with the end of vaigan or rabi cultivation season.


The festival has its origin to people who lived in and around forests. They depended for their livelihood. The festival is essentially a sort of thanksgiving to the all providing Mother Nature.

The festival is popular in Bicholim Taluka and Pernem Taluka and there are several temples of Goddess here like the famous Dhakti Vandevi Prasanna and Vhodli Vandevi.

As part of the festival, women decorate the tulsi plant with pedestal. The tulsi vrindavan symbolically represents the forest goddess – Vandevi.

Women offer prayers for peace and prosperity in their families. Women sing folk songs and perform folk dances for days especially in the evening and night.

There is no discrimination in the festival. Women of all ages, single, married and widowed take part in the festival.

The pujas are performed near forests, groves or near big tree with large canopies. It is believed that the huge trees are abode of Rashtroli, a local deity. The most preferred tree is the banyan tree. In some regions it is believed that Gangaldev, a local deity, resides in the banyan tree.