Bruno Azaredo of Utorda in Salcete taluka was selected as the King Momo for the
forthcoming Carnival in Goa. “I was waiting for the opportunity to be King Momo
one day and my dream is come true,” says Bruno as he expresses happiness and
satisfaction. His first float was Hawaiian dance in 1981, which he put up and
won prizes too. Bruno is a designer in Aromatherapy and natural therapy.
When asked about who inspired him to take part in the Carnival
celebrations, he says, “Francisco Martins always inspired me with his talent
for art and love for Goa. I participated in five Republic Day floats under the
leadership of Francisco Martins and won first prizes in three floats. Francisco
is my mentor and the real King Momo of Goa.” He also urges today’s Goan Youth
to join in the carnival floats in creativity, arts and dancing and to express
their talents.
Every year, candidates have to go through a selection process to
become the next King Momo, “It was tough but a good process too as all the
concerns people were there and I adhered to all the requirements. It also
helped me as I am an artist too. By being the next King Momo, I want to bring
back the Goan culture, as somehow we are losing it at the moment,” he says.
When asked about what made him King Momo, Bruno said it was his personality,and
also his involvement for Carnival in Goa, and the Republic Day floats of Goa
organised by the Government in Delhi. This is his first experience as King Momo
in Goa.
57 years old Bruno completed his graduation in 1979 and he was
the first Goan to undertake designing and manufacturing of clothes, t-shirts,
post cards for Goa Tourism. He was also the main dancer in 1982 for Goan
culture dance and performed from 1980 to 1988 in the Republic Day parade floats
to win prizes for Goa, mostly first prizes. He also did modelling for a fashion
show alongside big names in the modelling world like Sangeeta Bijlani, Anna
Bredmeyer, Sharmila Rai Choudhury. Bruno was also the main dancer on the King
Momo float in the year 2011 and participated in the opening and closing
ceremony of the Lusofonia Games as a dancer in 2014. His hobbies include
dancing, travelling, reading, art and listening to music.
Trindade Fernandes, President of United Club of Utorda speaking
about Bruno says, “Bruno Azaredo is an important and resourceful member of
United Club of Utorda. He is an advisor to our cultural activities organised by
the UC Utorda. The members of United Club of Utorda are in jubilant mood as he
will play the role of King Momo.”
When asked about how he will change four days as a King Momo and
his message to the people. Bruno says, “Let’s wipe out sadness from our minds
for these four days. Find peace, peace is the most beautiful inner feeling,
which will bring positivity out of one. Tourists from all over the world come
to ‘Amchem Bhangarachem Goem’ because it’s a beautiful place. People should
maintain our culture and heritage and we as individuals need to take up the
issue of garbage. It’s not just the government, we, each one of us has a
responsibility to keep Goa clean.
To
conclude, Bruno says that if he receives any form of remuneration during this
Carnival time for his performance, he most definitely will donate it to a
charity.
