Goa Carnival 2008

Panaji, Feb 2 Dazzling colours, vibrant crowds and attractive tableaux carrying revelers dancing to the tune of zingy music formed part of the parade held in the city this evening kicking off the statewide three-day Carnival under the reign of King Momo.

The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat along with the Tourism Minister, Mr Francisco (Mickey) Pacheco and the city mayor, Mr Tony Rodrigues travelled in a specially decorated vehicle to new Patto bridge to flag off the parade.

The parade, which was delayed by more than an hour, was led by the tableau carrying King Momo with his queen and dancing belles. The technicolor procession began after King Momo read a decree proclaiming his rule for next three days, appealing to the public to eat, drink and make merry during the festival period.

The next two floats sponsored by the Consulate of Brazil in Mumbai, which formed the highlight of the parade, had replica of a magnificent ship which signified the arrival of Portuguese discoverers and the mystical sea Goddess, ‘Yemanja’, a highly venerated cult figure which represented the bountiful generosity of the sea, the only means of survival for the fishing community from Brazil. These floats were followed by a bevy of Brazilian dancers with attractive headgears consisting of blue-white feathers performing Samba.

The parade also included a large number of tableaux based on the themes like Goa as well as environmental and social concerns.

A float participating in the parade displayed the traditional art of pottery as followed in Goa, complete with live demonstrations by some senior village potters and followed by a replica of bullock cart carrying the pottery products.

Another tableau which was based on the theme of Goan fishing village, combined people as well as cardboard cutout figures reminding the large crowds which thronged the streets about the bygone days when coastal villages of Goa were buzzing with fishing activities. Yet another float presented a typical toddy-tappers’ village.

The ‘Keep Goa Safe’ float decorated with a bright rainbow had giant replicas of butterflies, with a large-sized ant posing as King Momo. Some more floats carried giant sized creatures like chameleon, frogs and even mermaids.

The parade which included 81 floats in four categories -- traditional, junk cars, sponsored and clowns -- were interspersed with participants enacting various characters like pirates, brides and grooms, clowns, jesters and so on, brass band, Kunbi dancers, etc.

Among the dignitaries who watched the parade were the Consul General of Portugal in Goa, Dr Paulo Neves Pocinho, the Chief Secretary, Mr J P Singh and the St Andre MLA, Mr Francis Silveira and Goan singer, Remo Fernandes.

BY HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, FEB 2 — Carnival may have been a winner on Saturday with a few organisational glitches, but the Brazilian troupe that was the crowd puller failed to enthuse with many calling it a “damp squib”.
Revelry, pageantry and music marked the river front near the Old Secretariat after Chief Minister Digambar Kamat flagged off the main colourful float of Goa Tourism at 4.45 pm in the presence of Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco and other dignitaries.

Atop the float was King Momo, who was flanked by a foreigner dressed in white. As is the tradition, Momo pronounced the customary decree setting the pace for fun and merry making till February 5 after which begins the season of Lent, a 46-day period of fasting and prayer preceding Easter on March 23.

The more-than-anxious crowd waiting patiently for the Brazilian float which followed the main float was disappointing when it finally appeared. Though colourful, it hardly reflected any makings of a Brazilian carnival as the dancers accompanying the float were hardly seen performing like the Brazilians do.
However, the Goan cultural floats were a treat for the eyes reminding many of the fading customs and traditions among Goans. Prominent among the customs displayed were that of kumbhars (potters), paddekars (coconut pluckers), nustekar, etc.

Even as King Momo’s float arrived near the Old Secretariat, many people had spilled onto the path of the float parade with the weakly set up barricades and police failing to control them. Surprisingly, not a single float was seen portraying anything on SEZs and other issues as the GTDC had made it amply clear no controversial issues could be highlighted at the event. However, a float was seen depicting tree cutting, an activity which has pops up in the State now and then.

People were seen complaining about the long gaps between the floats and at one point of time Mayor Tony Rodrigues was seen telling the crowd to make way for the revelers. The police too, who tried to make sense to the people, couldn’t do much to keep them behind the barricades.