A New Year’s Eve nowhere else, but in Goa

Goa has been attracting tourists for long to spend their New Year’s Eve in this famous beach city of India by the Arabian Sea. Live music, food, beer, fun, frolic, parties, sun, sea and the sand – that’s the perfect facet of Goa during Christmas and New Year bash. However, Goa has had security threats around Christmas and New Year celebrations in the past.

Concerning the safety of visitors, security has been beefed-up along beaches including Calangute, Baga, Anjuna and Candolim where hundreds and thousands of tourists are seen partying every year.

According to media reports, the state police have issued advisories to hotels, beaches and even beach shacks to install all necessary security equipments including CCTV camera and metal detector door frames. All guests checking in to hotels will be photographed for security reasons and police has ensured their presence everywhere along the coastal belt, media reported.

Amidst tightened security, as happening events by the beach side will usher in the New Year in this state on western coast of India, here’s a list of attractions you must look forward to while in Goa on New Year’s Eve:

Night parties at Anjuna beach

The Portugal culture in Goa brought night parties to this smallest Indian state in 1960s and now Anjuna beach rocks with popular night parties every New Year. Enthused with dance performances, live band shows, traditional Goan cuisine and drinks throughout the night Anjuna beach party offers fun at galore. Goa’s folk music Mandos and Dulpods, Konkani songs and special Goan liquor, Feni (prepared from coconut or cashew apple juice) add to your New Year’s bash. In fact, this local specialty is a must at every party in Goa.

Anjuna is also the most popular spot among hippies for Trance party marked by Goa trance music. Anjuna beach is located at about 18 kilometers from Panaji, the capital city of Goa.

Sunburn at Candolim beach

Don’t be afraid of Sunburn, we are not referring to a “suntan” here but a popular music festival that’s beginning on December 27, this year at Candolim beach in North Goa. Recognized as one of the top music festivals in world, Sunburn will have Candolim Beach in Goa blaring out in music as some of the world’s top DJs, including Ferry Corsten and Brian Transeau take on the console.

Sunburn party is supposed to be one of the biggest parties in Asia that attracts thousands of music lovers from across the world. Tickets’ prices vary from $50 to $200.

Goa Rave Parties

With tourists hording the Goan beaches that become a host to numerous musical programs, Rave parties are a craze in Goa on a New Year’s eve. People sing, dance as Goa Trance music is played through the nights. Such Rave parties are held every night around the holiday season through Christmas to the New Year. Remember drugs are a strict no-no here and elsewhere in Goa as “Police can definitely take action if there are apprehensions that drugs are consumed at the venue,” Ravi Naik, state home minister said in a statement recently.

Cruise Parties

Yet another major tourist attraction, cruise parties are increasingly capturing the fun of New Year celebrations in Goa, with most of the cruise liners offering partying option on. Food and drinks are on offer in abundance, while music and dance seem inevitable in a Goan cruise party.

This year, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) is offering entertainment like DJs, dance, fireworks, games, prizes and party on-board Santa Monica that will cruise in River Mandovi alongside the city of Panaji. This ‘partying while cruising’ in River Mandovi offer begins from December 31 at 10 P.M. onwards and tickets are priced approximately between $35 per individual and 65$ per couple.

Goa beach Shacks

Still away from the loud parties, if you want to spend New Year’s Eve in Goa quietly, beach shacks offer cheap and peaceful celebration with a traditional flavor. Bonfire, beachside barbeque, Goan food, Goa trance music, of course the Feni and echoing of the waves sounds perfect for a calm beginning to a New Year.