Ponda: Thousands of people flocked to Ponda to witness the city’s carnival float parade on Monday.
Many floats were aimed at raising awareness about social and environmental issues. Some of the messages put across were: protect the environment, save trees, corruption-free Goa, and traditional farming and other occupations.
Industries Minister Mahadev Naik, South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, and the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) flagged off the parade in Upper Bazaar; the parade went past the Ponda police station and culminated at the Aguilar Ground.
Menin Pereira and Tanushka Irena were King and Queen Momo. From atop their float, which led the parade, they appealed to the people to enjoy the carnival festivities.
Meanwhile, the organizers were unable to handle the crowd. Several people stood in front of the floats to take photos, while the police, instead of controlling the crowd, preferred to watch the parade. There was also traffic congestion at some places due to improper planning by traffic police.
