Carnival precedes Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of 40 days of the ascetic season of Lent. The Goa Carnival celebrations, unique on the West coast, with vibrant costumes and over 100 floats traditionally attract lakhs of tourists. This year’s Carnival coincides with Valentine’s Day and the theme revolves around ‘Cupid and Love’.
Traditional float parades will also spice the four day extravaganza at Margao, Ponda, Curchorem, Mapusa and Shiroda. The street festival will see animated dancers, masquerading characters with spectacular costumes, dancing through the streets alongside giant floats and bands.
The Panjim Carnival float parade will be flagged off by Chief Secretary Kewal Sharma in the presence of Tourism Secretary R K Srivastava, Tourism Director Ameya Abhyankar and GTDC MD Nikhil Desai.
The traffic department has, made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth flow of traffic. The Carnival floats will be lined up on the Ribandar Causeway – from Divja Circle to Ribandar-Merces junction and thereafter from 2:30 pm, these will be allowed to park at the starting point at Old Secretariat from where the actual procession will start at 3pm. The floats will culminate at Kala Academy after which all the floats will be parked at Bandodkar football ground.
A tourism official said that cultural programmess and other extravaganza such as Carnival dances such as Red and Black will be held on February 15 followed by Argentinean Band Rico Samaya’s performance on February 16 in Panjim.
While traditional Khell tiatrs will be performed in Margao, other entertainment programmes will be held in Mapusa, Vasco, Ponda and other places. King Momo and his entourage will lead float parades in Panjim, Margao, Vasco and Mapusa.
The Tourism department has decked the city with theme decor such as ‘Love Goa’ and ‘Celebrate with Goa’ to ensure that tourists imbue the essence of traditional Goa. Brass bands, carnival caricatures, cultural performances and glimpses of life in Goa form part of the décor.
Though the government does not expect an impressive number of tourists like last year, due to postponement of Food and Cultural Festival which was earlier scheduled from February 13-17, it expects a turnout of roughly three and half tourists.
