Carnival
Parades in Panjim on Saturday, 21st February 2004
Photography by Menino Menezes / Augusto Morais / Frederick Noronha
Compilation and Transmission by Cecil Pinto
click on thumbnail for larger images
VIVA CARNAVAL
2004--regales crowds at Panaji on Sabado Gordo
Carnaval 2004 got off to a dewy
break of dawn. The "Alvarado' began with the 10 men Cotta brass band from Santa
Cruz led by Luis Cotta they stopped at prominent spots in the city Dona Paula
Miramar Campal Taleigao. This Brass band was started by late Jose Santano Cotta
in 1932. At exactly 1548 hrs (IST) the Cotta brass band provided a warm up to
the miling crowds along Indias longest promenade from Patto Bridge to the Old
Goa Medical College Complex to bring them in the spirits, with a happily married
couple "Cocno ani Cristao" symbolising the communal harmony. Then Hon'ble
Ministers Francisco Xavier (Micky) Pacheco dressed fancifully in red and a
bandana round his head, Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate and Pandurang Madkaikar and
Francisco (Babush) D Souza ushered in the King Momo Bondo (brother of Timoteo
Fernandes of erstwhile Tuna Sparks fame)and Queen Momo cute Ms Naina
Albuquerque.
The Government sponsored Tourism began since Mr Percival Noronha then looking
after Culture & Tourism provoked the Goa Government to lend a helping hand.
Today while the role of Government in such activities is being debated on this
ocassion the politicians insignificant except that they are provided
accomodation with thenon Goan IAS Secretaries on a huge shamiana in front of
Adil Shahs Palace the present Secretariat.
There are this year five prizes in each of the six categories and the prize
amount is in lakhs. At last coount there were 63 entries that were of some
consequence. Most of the themes were broadly based based on :
a)communal harmony viz; Visionaries of Loutolim Youth "lets all live in Communal
harmony" Youth of Uzro Raia "No racism Lets all sail together"
b)Bird Flu scare The group from
Caranzalem showed a youth dead in a coffin and people mourning there three
such floats on this theme
c)Padaria from St Stevam led by
neves Saldhana was an impressive float where the whole gamut of baking our very
traditional Goenchem Pao was on display the poders were excellent so also those
that baked the same.
d)Taste of Goa -- led by Mesais
Tavares of Algrio Bai Cardoso of Dream Merchants andNostalgios Chef Fernando of
Raia not only prepared the diishes on the float but also distributed the "xacuti
pulav" to the bystanders Mr Rudolf barretto from Benaulim provided the music.
e) the Friends Circle of Mapusa
Rajwado showed a fishermen actually casting his nest and catching fish this
artistic display won public applause
f) "Mad and Tachea Upeog" was
another attractive float that showed coconut trees and the manufacture of Goas
Feni an excellent presentation there was also the artistic display of manking
pots and grinding resembling a traditional household.
g) liqour barons -- "Honeybee"
displayed a big bumble bee then the "Derby Special" had three damsels on real
horse backs which provided amusemeent to the crowd. Directors Special was a
cast mostly of foreigners females and won adventurist almost bared all her top
to the amusement of the audience; sure liqour prowess. However Dr Vijay Mallya
the King of Good Times only had his name on the float "Pirates " St Sebastian
Boys Mapusa -- who danced to the rhythm of Viva la Carnaval
h)the junk cars yes there was an
OPEL --- Audi Gago DA 2835 a 40 year old and another Volkwagon Flower ower
GDE 3523 around 30 years old both moved mjestically andd as if to show the
generation change PAULO TRAVELS displayed an antique "Careira"of yester years
and the new Volvo version which has now entered his fleet. Paulo hails for St
Andre (Agacaim) and belongs to ex MLA Teotonio Pereira the veteran politician of
yesteryears.
i) then there were sarcastic
themes - the International Film Festival --" Goa shining "in tune with the 40
crore BJP Govt publicity India Shining" showed Goa emerging as a film city with
caricaturres of Mr Bean Mr Joddy Foster Mr Arnold and some youth shooting and
featuring films --- What next ?? for Goa
j) the world latest innovation
the SKY BUS an invention of the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd and accepted by
the Goa Government is seen to many as a
financial resouce drain -- the commentary was of the prospects of the trial run
now being assembled and replicated at the Margao Railway Station.
k) Henrys Music Cafe and Goan
Live for Music and Dance for Music were beautiful dance groups vibrant with
music that enthralled the crowd.
Carribean Fever Charles Darwin Theory of Evolution wGoan Living Concepts
Dsoshys Living Concepts.
Atleast two other Groups performed to Hindi music tunes bring a marked changed
in the carnaval revelry of yester years. It is time that Goans need to show our
Goan art and culture and not imitate others felt Andria Kosygin a Russian who
was capturing the images of Goa for posterity.
Rasta Boys Group Osborne Calangute -- mainly of foreigners demanded tat out Goan
beaches be kept clean and a warning to Non Goans to avoid harrassment to
foreignners apparently referring the recent spate of rapes of Swedes by non
Goans. SDPO Vaman Tari who was overseeing the crowd bandobast remarked
jocularly that the music and float resembled the acid parties.
There were non Goan Groups like the Haldiram of Nagpur the caricatures of
animals and men resemble a circus performance but the beat was more resembling
the Shigmotsav and did not fit in these settings. Clowns
were a[ plenty ghosts children fancifully dressed on bicycles tricycles. A
konkno dressed in pudvem an Arab an absentminded professor the ex mascot of Air
India was majestically saluting the crowd.
One group which perhaps did not make it on the visual media of prominent TV
networks like ANI Star TV DD was the group of street children performing a dance
-- they are members of the El Shaddai UK based with branch in Goa. This NGO
takes care of the street children their motto is "loving caring and sharing" .
The children were applauded as they performed excellent dances -- but their
outfits were of normal street children. Yet another group was of CRY --
warning the paedophiles to stay of children -- apparently referring to the
Freddy Peats case.
Carnaval in Goa despite its ups and downs has indeed become the State festival
since 1964 Late Vasco Alvares, late Roberto Alvares Timoteo Fernandes Chico
Fernandes Percival Noronha Pascoal Menezes of CMM and
after 1984 it Francisco Martins and Hotel Mandovi and Hotel Samrat proprietors
that Armando Gonsalves famed junk car carnaval or peoples carnaval.
Today with the changing demographic composition of the state the incidents of
throwing cocotes smearing ones faces with talcum powder or the indigo is unheard
of.
Water balons are however still prominent but the polcie scout for such
mischievous games as many accidents have resulted. Thus Sabado Gordo will come
to an end with a performance by midget Amalia Dias a kunbi group from Quepem who
has performed before internationally our traditional zagor. The 49 anniversary
of the Festa de Leques and Varca Traditinal dance, followed by khell tiatros in
villages like Loutolim Nuvem. At Chandor the Mussel dance and at Orlim the
tradtional carnaval pageantry still attracts crowds.
So viva Carnaval and watch the nex parades at Margao VascodaGama Quepem Mapusa
and for the first time at Calangute.
A large foreign crowd mainly Russians, Japanese and European tourists took pot
shots at the performers. The credit for the success of the show goes to the
organisors Pnaji Caranval Committee Timoteo Fernandes Napolean D Souza,
Joaquim Teles the Deputy Director of Directorate of Inforamtion & Technology who
has been associated with the caranval since yester years from Panaji promenade.
However according to some of the visitors they felt that the crowds unlike in
Brazil or El Salvador or France or New Orleans merely stand behind barricades
and smile as the performers pass by there should be particpation and less of
uniformed policing, to add more punch and soul to the parades.
from the Pato ---
Campal promenade
Godfrey J I
Gonsalves
Borda Margao Goa
ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT-FREE. MAY BE REPRODUCED WITH CREDIT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER.
ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT-FREE. MAY BE REPRODUCED WITH CREDIT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER.
Calangute comes alive to its first-ever Carnival float parade
NT Staff Reporter http://www.navhindtimes.com
Panaji Feb 24: Calangute came alive at twilight today as it ushered its first-ever Carnival float parade through a floodlit street, wired from start to end, to playing synchronised music.
A prosperously fat King Momo, whose daily attendance of the 4-day Calangute Carnival with his cabinet of four ministers ensured strict compliance with his diktat of fun and frolic, led the parade atop his sumptuous beachside mobile villa.
“We hope the Carnival promotes tourism in Calangute and also gives the local people a chance to have fun,” said village sarpanch, Mr Joseph Sequeira. The parade route, from the Kamat Holiday Homes till the Calangute football ground was lined with spectators including a large number of western tourists.
For the Calangute Carnival, the setting of King Momo’s float was apt. Situated near an ocean of blue-curling waves, his beachside villa came complete with beach chairs under a parasol and a hammock tied to two coconut trees.
In the individual category, Carnival connoisseur Mr Agapito Coutinho looked regal. Posing as a king, he came attired in rich golden robes, sceptre and a crown. The Arpora Saturday Night Bazaar ‘’family’’ was there with their float titled, ``The Goan Melting Pot.’’ Besides Goans, the float had Europeans and two real Lamani women. The float’s message, ``No religion, no politics, no creed, no race, no caste, only people.’’
Ubaldo’s Beef Shop was a cart occupied by a bridal couple and pulled by an ox. It plugged an environmental theme, “Save Fuel, Keep Petrol Clean.” The Children’s Rights in Goa (CRG) float sought to spread its message of compassion and justice for children.
The African Safari depicted gorillas with amazing likeness to the beasts and a float by the Visionaries of Loutolim railed against “crab mentality.” In the usual cross-dressing by a male, there was only one big-busted, fat-bottomed “auntie.”
Though the parade was short on floats, (Mapusa also had its Carnival float parade today), it was high on enthusiasm. At least six interconnected music stations blared the same music throughout the route.
US-based make-up artist, Ms Amber Sibley attracted queues of people wanting to get their faces done up in Carnival paints for free. Organisers informed Ms Sibley was nominated for the Oscar award in 2001 for her work for the film Shadow of the Vampire.
As the float parade wound up at the Calangute football grounds, celebrations started anew with a music fiesta by the beachfront. Famed musicians such as Ranjit Barot, Pandit Dinesh, Goa’s Forefront band and the Platinum Band from the Philippines were set to enthrall revelers in the night.
The Calangute Carnival celebrations that began on February 21 also featured some innovative entertainment like the 1000-egg omelet on Fat Saturday, the Red Hot Salsa dancers and Fire Eaters on Salsa Sunday and the Hindi orchestra and 1000-chilli-and-pao feast on Mirchi Monday. Mr Sequeira informed that Calangute would shortly celebrate the Shigmo festival. He said the Carnival and Shigmo would henceforth be an annual feature in Calangute.