The Museum of Goa (MOG) marks its tenth anniversary with Festivals of Goa, a large-scale exhibition celebrating the state’s diverse cultural and artistic landscape. Featuring more than 100 artists and over a hundred artworks, the exhibition runs at MOG, Pilerne, from November 9 to January 18, 2026.
Curated under a unified theme, Festivals of Goa explores the state’s shared histories, interfaith practices, and living traditions through photography, installations, multimedia works, and community art. The show is divided into four sections: Where We Gather, Festivals as Playgrounds, Side by Side, and Seen/Unseen. Together they portray how Goans negotiate modernity, memory, and identity through celebrations that bridge faith and community.
“Through this exhibition, we aim to turn our gaze toward Goa’s arts and introduce visitors to the many festivals—both macro and micro—that shape our cultural landscape,” said Sharada Kerkar, Director of the Museum of Goa. The show includes works by artists such as Ramdas Gadekar, Viraj Naik, Chaitali Morajkar, Harshada Kerkar, Siddesh Chari, Sonia Rodrigues Sabharwal, Verodina Ferrao De Sousa, Asavari Gurav, Daniel D’Souza, and Nalini Elvino de Sousa.
Image 1:5: A striking Narakasur installation on display during Festivals of Goa at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne.
Image 2: A guest gazes at a giant matoli exhibit during the preview event of Festivals of Goa at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne.
Highlights include Where We Gather, a collection of community projects featuring a Narakasur effigy, a crochet Christmas tree, and a giant Matoli installation. Festivals as Playgrounds, curated by MOG’s Children’s Art Studio, presents works by young participants reflecting on creativity and celebration. Side by Side examines artistic responses to Goa’s known and lesser-known festivals, while Seen/Unseen, a photography section curated by Prashant Panjiar, Indrajit Khambe, and Sharada Kerkar, focuses on the unseen labour and devotion behind each festivity.
Speaking on MOG’s journey, founder and artist Subodh Kerkar noted, “India is home to 1.4 billion people, yet only a small fraction are connected to contemporary art. The Museum of Goa was born from the need to democratise art and make it accessible to all.”
Since its inception in 2015, MOG has collaborated with over 500 artists globally and hosted more than 600 exhibitions and events. Attracting around 70,000 annual visitors, including 12,000 students from Goan schools, the museum continues to serve as a vital platform for cultural engagement.
Festivals of Goa stands as both a celebration of the Museum of Goa’s decade-long journey and a tribute to the state’s dynamic cultural identity.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
