Describing the wonder years of Carnivals gone-by Tony Dias painted a vivid picture of the traditional Carnival. “During my childhood, as part of traditional Carnival, my dad used to take me on a bullock cart, my uncle playing the guitar and my dad playing the violin. All children and youngsters in our area followed the procession. It was something different that we had done, during those days.”
Asked to flag the changes that have overtaken the traditional Carnival, Tony said,
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“But nowadays it has all changed. Now we are getting more people involved. We get sponsorships because, without money we cannot have a good Carnival. We require participants, we require someone to fund, to organise floats. For the Carnival parade we need floats and floats cost money.”
Describing the process by which government got involved in the Goa Carnival, Tony said, since floats cost money, the governments got involved. “Initially it was all done by people. Then the Tourism Department came in and now the Carnival it is only getting larger,” he said.
“Apart from the floats we have different activities. At the Samba Square we got live bands performing and doing something different for Carnival. And I request all the youth to come and join, so the tradition of the Carnival remains alive. We are only getting old people. In Panjim, however, some youth are taking part along with the seniors at the Carnival,” Tony pointed out.
Asked to comment on the change he has seen over the years, Tony said, “It has changed because more and more people are involved. Secondly, the government is funding the Carnival so that it improves and rises to the level of an international festival.”
“Initially only local people and few youngsters would be involved. Now it’s getting more participation and with the involvement of the Tourism Department, they want to make it bigger for tourists to come to Goa”, he added.
Asked for suggestions to improve the Goa Carnival, Tony said the Carnival can get better with government participation, sponsorships and organising more events apart from floats, and entertainment. “There should be revival of Khell Tiatr, the Alvorada is already added. Local stakeholders such as people and various hotels should take part and promote Carnival in a big way. Most importantly, more youngsters should get involved along with seniors, stakeholders, sponsors and government should all get together to make Carnival more beautiful. Viva Carnival! Viva Goa! The happening place for Carnival in India is only Goa,” he concluded.
