The Goan Carnival

 It is also spelt as Carnaval, in areas where Portuguese is spoken and is also known as ‘Intruz’ (from Entrudo, an alternative Portuguese name for Carnival). The word Carnival has been derived from the Latin word “Carnavale” --- ‘carne’ meaning meat and ‘vale’ translates to “farewell to meat”. So, it pinpoints the approaching season of Lent when people avoid meat for 40 days. So, carnival feast was the last opportunity to wine and dine with cheese and meat before the period of abstinence.

The legendary King Memo is a King of Chaos. He proclaims, on a Saturday, his decree for a carefree non-stop revelry under his rule --- 'kha, piye and majja kar' - eat, drink and make merry. So, people drink the cup of joy on Fat Sunday, Rose Monday and Shrove Tuesday.

King Momo’s procession is a musical extravaganza. It is supported by fantastic floats, depicting mirth, provoking scenes and foot-tapping songs/tunes. It is manned by gymnastic groups; dancing troops. It inches and pinches along the streets, in slow time; through a thousand glad eyes of many hued crowd, who, in order to get a glimpse of King Momo’s procession, toss their heads in glee like Wordsworth’s golden daffodils.

As I was born in little Goa, when alien government was in power, I witnessed the Carnival in these Goan shepherd villages. In those good old days of my childhood, a handful of musicians and singers gathered in good fellowship with the sole aim of preparing a Carnival “Kell” (street plays). For three days and three nights, under the blazing sun and starry sky, the troupe used to move in a dancing walk to the tune of blaring trumpet and beating drums through the swaying green coconut trees.

It is said, “What we sow, we reap”. Therefore, this King Momo’s parade faced Jose and Mari’s tirade. Some said it is commercialized after the liberation of Goa and is nefarious in its style. It is vulgarized by female dresses with big cuts on skirts and short blouses which reveal almost the whole body. And the effect of such Jills’ dresses on innocent Jacks’ soul is very disastrous. So, the Church opposed the Carnival and cautioned girls to think before they take part in a function.

But those who advocate the free reign of King Momo’s devilish Saturnalia said, ‘evil lies in the eyes of the beholder’. They encourage girls to take part in the carnival floats; they requested the girls to ignore the frowns of critics, for critics are those who have failed in art. But good men said, “If supporters think that bad joy of life is good; then they will never know what good joy of life is. So, puritans caution parents not to allow their daughters to be devoured by flesh wolves. We should never stop to argue with temptations for we will have to yield to it at the end.

As ‘temptation hath music for all ears’ it charms many. Today Goa’s Carnival has crossed the state’s frontiers and attracts thousands of people from around the globe. It generates a windfall for the state tourism industry. Just because other countries are making money with immodesty one should not be foolish and greedy to lose innocence in one’s country.