GOA CARNIVAL, INDIA

Goa Carnival is one of the most important festivals of India. The 'Carnaval’, a three-day fest, which had its birth in Goa during the era of King Momo is exclusive to Goa. Carnival is a time for gallivanting. Singing, dancing and masked people mark the uproarious and glitzy Goan celebration.

The carnival is organized in February, when the renowned king Momo takes over the state and the streets come alive with music and color. This commences the weeklong event, which is a time of rampant festivity and merriment. The festival has been celebrated since the 18th Century.

The word carnival comes from the Latin word-carnelevarium, which means 'putting away the flesh'. Carn meant flesh, and leavare meant to remove. This festival of Goa usually starts off on Sabado Gordo (Fat Saturday) and concludes on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday)-the eve of Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of the season of Lent.

Carnival is a time for fun and leisure. Vibrant demonstration and lavish floats parade the streets. Goa Carnival is unique to itself as it inculcates various aspects of Goan culture, traditions and lifestyle. Street Plays, songs, dances, and unrehearsed farces are performed before enthusiastic, responsive spectators. Floats portraying popular lullabies and nursery rhymes make a fantastic and colorful sight on the streets. During the three days of celebrations, cultural functions and competitions are held, and are judged by specially chosen people. King Momo takes the responsibility of distributing the prizes to the winners.

The participants dress in colorful costumes and complex masks. The unconventional dresses seen on the street are usually made of sheer, transparent polythene. In the fun-filled ambience, people spread color on each other. In earlier times, people used to throw flour, eggs, fruit and water on each other

In the villages of Goa, the festivities have a more native flavour. Though it is a festival of Christian community but in present day it is celebrated by people from all communities and races. The Carnival presents to the world the rich cultural heritage of Goa, which in many ways has been influenced by Portugese. Goa attracts both Indian as well as foreign tourists during the Carnival. The Carnival has now become an integral part of Goa’s identity.