PONDA: Thousands of Shigmo lovers flocked to Ponda on Tuesday to witness the traditional festival organised by the municipality and Tourism Department, which commenced with colourful procession of Romtamel, floats, folk dance and fancifully dressed participants.
Fancy dress contestants wearing glittering costumes entertained a large number of people before the Romtamell and floats parade began.
Renowned artiste Vijay Desai dressed as a shepherd, along with many fancy dress participants with various concepts enthralled the crowd. Desai has been participating in Shigmo and Carnival show casing Goan tradition and culture for the last fifteen years. He said he had received around 203 prizes in these fifteen years. He was felicitated at around 57 times in Goa for his art of staging statue and fancy dress. He said his name is recorded in Guinness Book of World Records and Limca Book of World Records.
A total of 15 floats, seven Romtamell groups, four folk dance troupes and many fancy dress contestants participated in the parade.
Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner Narayan Navthi, PMC Chief Officer Navnath Sawanth, Ponda DySP Sunita Sawant inaugurated the Shigmo and float procession from Tisk Ponda.
Shigmo celebration was started by Ponda Municipal Council staff in 1981. Later, when Ravi Naik became chief minister, he encouraged Shigmo procession in State and since 1993 the government sponsored prizes for the festival.
