Date:26/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/26/stories/2006022601332000.htm

National

Goa comes alive with Carnival spirit

Prakash Kamat

It's fun and frolic unlimited for three days across the State, with tradition to the fore

Annual event traced to Portuguese times

King Momo ushers in "three-day mock rule"

PANAJI: The three-day Carnival, Goa's annual festival of fun, frolic and merriment, began here on Saturday. A colourful procession of floats paraded to the chants of "Viva Carnival" and to the rhythm of music and dance along the main streets. Crowds of tourists as well as locals witnessed the four-hour-long event.

Led by King `Momo,' the mythical King of chaos, and his entourage that included Queen Momo, the procession with over 40 floats enlivened the afternoon. King Momo ushered in his "three-day mock rule" with a message: "fun, frolic and merriment." With commercial floats banned this time, the event was rid of obscenity: it was clean fun.

The celebrations began with the "Alvorada" going round the city and its surroundings to the sound of music since early in the morning.

Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Wilfred de Souza flagged off the parade, which had an emphasis on floats with traditional themes. Joaquim Teles, chairman of the carnival committee, told The Hindu: "This is meant to revive Goa's rich tradition and culture." Many of the floats depicted the State's traditional activities: fishing and agriculture. Folk dances such as "dhalo", "phugadi" and "jagor" had a robust presence.

One highlight was the participation of a group from Switzerland, "Elfer Frosche," and two floats presented by physically challenged persons. A few social groups joined the event to promote their messages. Float parades will be taken out in Mapusa, Margao and Vasco da Gama on Sunday. The Candolim-Calangute-Baga coastal belt will have non-stop parties, dances and music.

While the Carnival in the cities is supported by state tourism and the hospitality industry, in rural Goa, where Catholics abound, the fun is more spontaneous. Festivities involving khel-tiatro shows (Konkani folk drama) go on for three days.

The Carnival is traced to the Portuguese. Its origin is traced to the Latin word carne, meaning meat, and vale, which translates to `good-bye'. The focus is on the enjoyment of meat, before the period of abstinence that follows during Lent, the time of fasting and penance in the Christian calendar.