Three day Goa carnival begins
March 6th, 2011 - 6:32 pm ICT by ANIPanaji, Mar.6 (ANI): The annual carnival festivities began in Goa today amid much excitement in Panaji, with thousands of people gathering to watch the float-parade led by ‘King Momo’, an honorary fantasy-figure, who pronounces the decree ‘eat, drink and be merry’ during the carnival.
This year the carnival will be held from March 6- 8.
Locals as well as foreigners were seen enjoying as artists dressed up as King Momo and his followers waved to the crowd from gaily decorated trucks.
The Portuguese introduced the carnival during their 451-year-old rule here. It is one of the eagerly awaited events of the year and a time to indulge in feasting, drinking and merrymaking, prior to the commencement of Lent period of 40 days of austere lifestyle.
A hallmark of the much-awaited three-day festival was the parading of colorful tableaux depicting the cultural heritage of Goa and the influence of Portuguese. It was a colony of Portugal for over two centuries until 1961.
The Goan Carnival is one of the major attractions for domestic and foreign tourists, which adds to the Goan economy. (ANI)
- Goa carnival begins March 5 (Lead) - Feb 11, 2011
- 11 hurt in accident during Goa's carnival parade - Mar 09, 2011
- Carnival celebrations kick off in Goa - Mar 05, 2011
- Goa's carnival festivities in limbo due to polls - Feb 09, 2012
- Goa's four-day carnival begins March 5 - Feb 11, 2011
- 11 injured in accident during Goa's carnival parade (Lead) - Mar 09, 2011
- Carnival celebrations allowed in Goa, with poll rider - Feb 16, 2012
- Goa carnival to begin without Brazilian Samba float - Jan 20, 2010
- King Momo leads Goa carnival to colourful start - Feb 13, 2010
- Three-day Goa Carnival begins - Feb 22, 2009
- After Carnival, Goa goes into Shigmo festivities - Mar 21, 2011
- Carnival kicks off in Goa - Feb 21, 2009
- Younger Goans in Portugal prefer movies to culture - Jun 02, 2011
- Portuguese language could help build bridges: Goan author - May 30, 2012
- Goa freedom fighters attack Portuguese envoy - Apr 26, 2011
Tags: carnival, carnival festivities, centuries, commencement, crowd, cultural heritage, excitement, followers, foreigners, goa, goan carnival, hallmark, king momo, lent, locals, portugal, portuguese, tableaux, tourists, trucks