The Heritage First Festival returns for its second edition with 41 walks and workshops scheduled to be held across the state over 3 weeks. Organised by non-profit organisation Heritage First Goa (HFG) the events will be held from November 15 to December 7, 2025 to help preserve and popularise Goa’s distinctive heritage.
November 26
Pottery Workshop – Mayem
Learn all about pottery in a vaddo where generations have shaped pots, bricks, and festival icons at this hands-on pottery experience with potter, craftsperson Amar Shet and social worker, researcher Mahalaxmi Bhobe. Learn the art of moulding clay on the wheel and by hand, from sourcing and preparing the earth to firing the final piece.
Time: 8 am
Location: Mayem
Village Walk – Saligao
Indulge in the spirit of village life with artist Dr. Subodh Kerkar at this heritage walk through the charming village of Saligao. Wander past elegant homes and winding bylanes and listen to tales that bring Goa’s layered history to life, through its architecture and other aspects. This walk will show you how every Goan village is an open-air museum waiting to be explored and experienced.
Time: 4pm
Location: Saligao
November 27
Khazan Walk – Curtorim
Explore a vibrant ecosystem of mangroves, khazan lands in the Curtorim wetlands, with ecologist, marine biologist and conservationist Nester Fernandes. Learn how ancient bunds and sluice gates balance saltwater and freshwater, sustaining farms and fisheries. Amidst dense mangroves teeming with birds and marine life, discover how Curtorim has adopted sustainable practices that have shaped this thriving landscape over centuries.
Time: 8 am
Location: Curtorim
Sketch walk – Mapusa
Dive into the heart of Mapusa Market not with a shopping bag but with a sketchbook and explore the vibrant chaos of the Mapusa Market with artist, heritage enthusiast Leandra Fernandes. Capture the dynamic energy and unique characters and turn the ordinary scenes of daily life into extraordinary art.
Time: 4 pm
Location: Mapusa
November 28
History Walk – Panaji
Take a walk through the historical city centre with heritage hotelier and history
enthusiast Jack Ajit Sukhija and heritage enthusiast, writer and heritage archivist Heta Pandit. Learn about the history of Panaji, its genesis and its settlement patterns and listen to the fascinating stories about the Adil Shah Palace, the Mhamai Kamat House and the Customs Museum, concluding with a learning activity at the historic Jardim Garcia de Orta.
Time: 8am
Location: PanajiHistory Walk – Margao
Join in for a heritage walk through Margao, the cultural heart of South Goa with storyteller, geologist, history enthusiast Rajat Rane. From the grand Holy Spirit Church to bustling markets, hidden chapels and quirky lanes, this guided walk reveals the city’s layered past and lively present. Along the way, uncover stories of trade, faith, and colonial influence that shaped Margao’s unique cultural identity.
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