Goa Carnival
Goa Carnival - Quick Facts |
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Location: Throughout Goa Goa Carnival 2012 : 8th - 21th February 2012 Following Festival After Two Days: Easter |
| Carnival in Goa is a non-stop 3-day festival of
color, song and music, providing a healthy entertainment for all, young
and old. The soothing climate, full of fun- 'n' -frolic, which the Goa
Carnival generates, is much longed for. It does not matter whether one
enjoys or see others enjoying. There is enthusiasm and happiness all
around. |
Meaning Behind Goa Carnival |
| The word 'carnival' is said to be derived from the
Latin 'Carne', meaning meat, and 'Vale', which translates to 'good-bye'.
Some also link the word to 'Carnislevamen' or 'the pleasures of meat',
focusing on the enjoyment of meat during the festivities, before the
abstinence that follows during Lent. Another hypothesis suggests that the word came from 'Carrus Navalis', the horse-drawn, boat-shaped carriage that was paraded during the Roman festival Saturnalia, in honor of Saturn. It carried men and women in fancy dresses, wearing masks, and singing obscene songs. It is possible that the present-day concept of a carnival emerged from this parade. |
History of Goa Carnival |
| The Goa Carnival is an integral part of the
Portuguese heritage of the state, which was a dominion of Portugal till
1961. The carnival epitomizes the fun-loving culture that is
characteristic of Goa. It was introduced by the erstwhile rulers as a
rowdy celebration in which flour, eggs, oranges, lemons, mud,
sand-filled gloves along with dirty water, various liquids and glue were
aimed at passersby. Used pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils were
also thrown out of windows. Perhaps this was done to discard the old and
the dirty before the Lenten fast. Fierce battles were waged in the streets, with plaster-of-Paris eggs, wax lemons, corncobs and beans. Blows were dealt out liberally, with brooms and wooden spoons. It was also an occasion for unchecked eating. People gorged on rich food at lavish feasts, and convents distributed cakes and pastries. Though celebrated for only three days, the preparations for the festival would take many days, and build up to a frenetic pitch by the eve of the carnival. The carnival in Goa still retains the core of the original. A King of Chaos is elected, called King "Momo". He presides over the three-day festivities, which attract visitors from all over India and abroad. |
Goa Carnival Today - A Musical Extravaganza |
| Street Plays, songs, dances, and unrehearsed farces
mocking the establishment are performed before an enthusiastic,
responsive audience. Floats depicting popular lullabies and nursery
rhymes make a whimsical and colorful sight on the streets. In the three
days of celebrations, cultural functions and competitions abound, and
are judged by specially selected people. King Momo distributes the
prizes to the winners. The contestants wear colorful costumes and elaborate masks. Amidst the outrageous dresses seen on the street are some made of sheer, transparent polythene. In the fun-filled ambience, people smear color on each other, instead of the flour, eggs, fruit and water that used to be used in earlier times. |
Everyone's Invited |
| In Goan villages, however, the festivities have a more indigenous flavor. Though celebrated by the Christian population of Goa, the carnival's only relevance to Christianity is that it is celebrated before Lent. The festival today has no religious undertones and has come to be a cultural highlight of the state, rather than of the religion. |
Suggested Tour Packages
Tour
Code: GTT - 001 Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights Destinations Covered: Mumbai - Goa - Cochin - Mumbai |
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Tour
Code: GTT - 005 Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights Destinations Covered: Goa - Panjim - Cochin - Munnar - Periyar - Cochin |
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Tour
Code: GTT - 006 Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights Destinations Covered: Goa - Panjim - Savoi - Panaji |
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