THE 1997 CARNIVAL IN GOA
KING MOMO Proclaiming his reign of fun & frolic over the land - Photo Courtesy Alister Miranda Special Thanks to "The Herald Team"
Four centuries of Portuguese rule influenced Goa's culture and till date the Carnival left down by them is celebrated with pomp & gaiety. The word Carnival comes from the latin word 'Carne" meaning flesh and lasts for more than 3-days before start of the lenten period.
Carnival time in Goa means a time of merry making & fun and celebrations include float parades, dances, Khells, fancy dress masquerade parties etc.
CARNIVAL CELEBRATIONS IN GOA AT A GLANCE :-
The Floats Parade in Panjim :
On 08th February Panjim, Goa's Capital City was a buzz of activity as people from all walks of life including a lot of foreign & desi tourists thronged the streets from the Patto bridge to Kala Academy's Auditorium at Campal eagerly awaiting start of the Floats parade. The same commenced around 3.30 p.m. with the Fire Brigade Brass band playing ear catching nostalgic tunes. The brass band was followed by King MOMO (Leslie Carvalho) atop his decked up chariot waving out to the crowd and proclaimed his reign of fun & frolic over the land. About 47-floats participated in the four hour long parade and depicted Goa's culture in forms of various folk dances. Floats depicting various other issues to save Goa's natural beauty, stop destruction of the enviroment, AIDS etc. were also displayed.
The floats were judged in various categories :- In the Children's category, Andrea Mangalat (Carnival for Health) won the Ist prize. In the Family category, Hillary Sanches & group stood first while in the sponsored category Merlene Fernandes was the topper.
In the Clubs & Institutions category, the friends circle of Bastora's float showing a train passing over the Konkan Railway route won the Ist prize. This was quite an innovative idea and really commendable as it showed people from different parts of India using the Boogeys on wheels as a means of conveyance (or for converging on Goan soil ? ).
In the Clowns category Lourenco J. Fernandes, a suited Goan Gentleman sporting a white beard and holding a life like dummy of a Lady (made of bamboo, cloth, sticks & springs) in a dancing posture stood first.
In the traditional category, the Desterro Eves showing different types of traditional Goan Weddings won the first prize.
Dr. Wilfred D'Souza, the Dy. Chief Minister of Goa gave away prizes to the winners.
This year's Floats parade had a mixed reaction from the crowd and in a way failed to impress as the same did not live up to expectations, people who thronged the streets of Panjim yearning to catch a glimpse of the floats of yesteryears had to go home unsatisfied.
Although stated by the organizers that Commercial houses will not be allowed to take part in the floats parade the same did slip in with some Companies advertising their products.
As promised this year the floats were sans drugs, drinks, vulgarity & other controversies which had raised ire of quite a number of people in the past.
The INTRUZ in Margao :
On 09th February, Margao - Goa's commercial capital witnessed the traditional floats parade organized by the Margao Municipal Council. Various Goan dances like the Kunbi, Mussoll dance (from Chandor) besides other folk dances were performed. This gave one a glimpse of the traditional Carnival. The Intruz Nite with Anamika the girl of Catwalk fame as the main attraction together with other programmes was held in Margao by the M.M.C. Other programmes included the treasure hunt etc.
INTRUZ at the 'BIG FOOT' in Loutolim :
On 10th February, the Big Foot Dance Floor in Loutulim wore a festive look with colourful flags & paper masks adorning the place for the Intruz celebrations being held there for the third year in succession.
The programmes included mask-making for Children, Fancy dress competitions in different age groups and the traditional Khell(s) performed by travelling troupe of artistes / actors.
Other programmes included the Kunbis dancing rhythmically to the tune of the Ghumot & Khansallo. The Fuggdi dance by sari clad hindu ladies was also performed.
All the enertainment was provided free of cost to the local populace numbering more than 2500-plus. As per Maendra J. Alvares (the mastermind behind the Ancestral Goa project) the main aim of organising the Intruz celebrations was to generate goodwill amongst the Villagers of Loutulim and keep spirit of the Carnaval alive.
Dances & Beat shows were held at various places around Goa but the main attractions were :-
- The Varca Carnival Eve dance organized by the Varca
Sports Club.
- 'Festa de Leques' at Sinquetim (Navelim).
- The 'Red & Black' dance at Panjim organized by Clube Nacionale.
- The 'Adeus Carnival' dance held at Fatorda (Margao).
Other celebrations in Goa included Khells or satirical street plays held around the Villages of Goa and avidly enjoyed by the Village folk.
Gaudily dressed young Boys (with masks) called "MONES" moved about from house to house banging tin can drums further serenaded in the spirit of Carnival.
The Carnival of '97 & that of yesteryears : Looking back on the Carnival celebrations over the years, in the past arrival of Carnival was very much looked forward to and the atmosphere or air used to be charged up with excitement and a lot of fun used to be had by one & all. This ingredient certainly was missing as a lot of commercialism has slipped in into the Carnival of today. Nevertheless people having fun & celebrating Carnival with various forms of entertainment keep the spirit of the fiesta called Carnaval alive till today.
Goa Carnival in Pictures
Corredinho Dance at The
Floats Parade in Panjim
One of the floats showing the
Feni Distilling place
The
Konkan Railway - Prize Winning Float
The Floats winding its way
through the streets of Panjim
INTRUZ'97
The Mussoll Dance Floats
The Kunbis Dancing
A Participant at The Fancy
Dress Competition
The
"INTRUZ QUEEN" - Goa Answer to KING MOMO ?
The Kunbi Dance at The
Intruz Margao Floats
The
"MONES" or Masked Revellers
The "GOFF" Dance
at Intruz'97 Margao Floats
This Clown Won The Crown
Wellington Dias - Goa.
Special thanks to the 'Herald Illustrated Review team', Cosme I. Dias Maendra J. Alvares, Alister Miranda, Savio Coutinho and all other people who made it possible for me to compile the above.
For more information you can email Wellingtion Dias wtcd@usa.net