Carnival 2002

GOA CARNIVAL 2002

FLOATS AT PANJIM 9TH FEB 2002

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THIS YEAR, QUEEN MOMO TOO
Queen Momo Introduced to join Carnival celebrations. The countdown has begun for the celebrations of Carnival, to begin on February 9, 2002 Besides the usual King Momo, this year there will be a Queen Momo for the celebrations. Large number of people will gather at the venue of the Carnival Float Parade to hear King Momo proclaim his decree.

ALVARADO
"Alvarado" a musical band will in the early hours of February 9, go down the streets and lanes playing traditional tunes reminding the people that its Carnival time. Later, in the evening on February 9, this capital city will witness the entry of King Momo followed by Queen Momo on two separate trucks leading the float parade competition. King Momo will be seen on the lead float to be specially decorated by the Department of Tourism for the purpose.

CARNIVAL FLOAT PARADES
The Carnival Float Parade will be started from the new Patto bridge and wend its way on the route along the Secretariat, Hotel Mandovi, 2 STC and wind up near Directorate of Health Services, Campal.

King Momo will also lead the floats at three other centres, Margao, February 10; Mapusa, February 11 and Vasco, February 12. Goa, particularly the four centres where the Carnival Float parades are to be organised laying more stress on the route will be well decorated to wear a festive look.

PARTICIPATION:

The entry forms for participation in the float competition in three categories are available with the chairpersons and committee members of the organising committee at respective centres. The presidents of the municipal councils of respective centres are the chairpersons of the organising committees. The government has enhanced the total prize money for each centre to Rs 2.25 lakh. IN VASCO: The Vasco Carnival Committee has decided to organize the four-day festival in the port town in a big way.

ORGANIZATION

To organize the event a committee headed by ex-dy Speaker, Mr Simon D'Souza was constituted with chairman of Mormugao Municipal Council, Mr Carlos Almeida as the ex-officio chairman. The other members of the organising committee are vice chairman, Mr Angelo Nunes; Mr Joaquim Colaco, Mr Lynton Barretto and Mr Seby Mascarenhas; general secretary, Mr Roy Rodrigues; jt secretary, Mr John Rodrigues; treasurer, Mr Caetano Antao; asst. treasurer, Mr Nazareth Carneiro and media incharge, Mr Frankey Fernandes.

FESTIVE LOOK

In an effort to give the port town a festive look, for the first time the organising committee would have prizes for the best decorated business establishments along the Carnival parade route from St Andrew's church to Tilak maidan via the Swatantra path and the municipal building. The best-decorated business should have a festive look and be well decorated from February 9 till February 12.

4-DAY CELEBRATIONS & COMPETITIONS

The four day Carnival celebration would begin on February 9 with a traditional street play from 6.30 pm onwards near the Mormugao Municipal building. On February 10, a veteran's football match between South Goa Veterans and North Goa Veterans will be held at Tilak Maidan, Vasco from 9 am onwards. The unique match would be colourful one with prizes such as the colourful dress player and the team with the best coloured funky style dress team being awarded prizes. Those interested have been asked to contact, Mr Lawrence Gomes ex-Salgaocar Sports Club player or Mr Seby Coutinho ex-Mormugao Port Trust player. Later in the evening a fancy dress competition for seniors, juniors and sub-juniors would be held near the Mormugao Municipal building from 5 pm onwards which would be followed by a musical show in Konkani.

CYCLE RACE

On February 11, a cycle race would be organized from 4.30 pm onwards. The cycle race would be followed by a Konkani Tiatr near the Mormugao Municipal building. On February 12, the day of the float parade in Vasco the day would begin with the tradition Alvarado which would being from 8 pm onwards and move through Vasco and its adjoining areas. Later during the day the floats parade would begin from 3 pm onwards with King Momo and the Queen along with their entourage. The floats would be held in categories like sponsored, traditional, club and institution, family and clowns categories. All the participating floats would be given participation fees. After the float parade a fire works display would be held which would be followed by a musical evening.

(Info courtesy news item by Navhind Times www.navhindtimes.com)

CARNIVAL FESTIVITIES:

Like in the past, preparations are on to organise Carnival festivities in a grand manner. A brass band will be played around the city on Saturday, heralding the arrival of the festivities. Despite the traditional event being overshadowed by the Konkani festival, the organisers anticipate huge crowd on Sunday when King Momo and Queen Momo entourage enter the city on the traditional route from Holy Spirit Church square to the Municipal square. A grand fire works display has been arranged after the float parade. A
Latin American band, "Obligato" will also perform the same day.

On February 11, a dance troupe will perform while khel tiart will be staged in the evening. A number of traditional dances are scheduled in the city during the three days and the festivities will wind up with the traditional Adieus Carnival dance on Tuesday night.

KALA-RANG FESTIVAL:
After a day's break on February 13, music will again take the centre-stage from February 14 onwards when the four day Kala-Rang festival organised by Kalaangan festival committee under the Chairmanship of the Urban Development Minister, Digambar Kamat will get going.

The highlight of this festival, organised in association with the West zone cultural centre, Udaipur and Directorate of Art and Culture, will be the felicitation of noted music composer and Padmashri awardee Dr Bupen Hazarika. Bharat Natyam performance by Leela Samson, vocal recitals by Shubha Mudgal and Aarti Nayak, Odissi performance by Madhavi Mudgal, Tanjavur Nirtya Prabhand by Kalavardhini, Pune will feature during the festival. According to festival committee secretary, Rajendra Talak, the festival will enable people to witness and enjoy great performances and make Margao a "Mecca" of cultural activity. The minister also said the introduction of this festival, now being held in the last two years, should certainly put Goa on the cultural map of the country.

Bondo to add spice to Panjim floats Bondo, the extremely versatile Goan percussionist, who dominated the Goan music scene during the eighties, will be back in Goa this year for the Carnival with a specially formed Goan tribal ensemble. With Bondo, the organisers have received a shot-in-the-arm as a serious attempt is being made to revive the Carnival of yesteryears. The jovial Panjim boy was a household name in Goa before leaving for a distinguished stint in Europe and America as a touring Indo-Latin percussionist. While abroad, he has played for famous Latin musicians and groups, Flamenco guru Paco da Lucia and Bela Fleck, the Banjo wizard from the US, Embryo and Ketama, a leading Flamenco Salsa band from Spain, besides a host of other world famous musicians. Bondo will be presenting a vibrant repertoire of rhythmic music for the Carnival floats in Panjim on February 9, titled 'Bondo Mania'. He will be backed by a 23 piece tribal ensemble playing traditional Goan percussion instruments to specially selected Goan folk songs with a Latin Samba touch.

Bondo recently jammed up at a concert featuring India's leading percussionists in Mumbai to mark the death anniversary of tabla maestro Ustaad Ala Rakha Khan. At the concert Bondo jammed up with Zakir Hussein, Trilog Gurthu, Fazal Qureshi, Taufic Qureshi, Ranjit Bharot and Shivamani.

After the Goa Carnival, Bondo will be touring China and Macau, before
returning for a concert on 21 February with Luis Banks in Ahmedabad.
(courtesy: O'Heraldo)

A tame buildup to Carnival this time
CYRIL D'CUNHA / Times of India

With two days to go for the carnival fever to swamp Goa, there is nothing in the air to indicate the flurry of excitement and good times, a la Brazilian style, that is otherwise the hallmark of this nationally declared festival.

In the wake of the September 11 tragedy in US last year, the attack on Parliament in New Delhi and the hotting up of the Kashmir issue, the tourist-starved starred hotels, especially those dependent on foreigners, are now hoping for the Carnival to come to their rescue.

They have already started a vigorous advertisement campaign, with attractive `Viva Carnival' offers during the four days of expected revelry starting from February 9 to 12.

The Old Anchor, a Dalmia Resort, for instance, has asked its patrons to `make sure you've got a freaky partner by ur side', at the same time warning all doting fathers, brothers, and possessive sisters, daughters, wives to please stay away.

The government and the Tourism Department, on its part, are taking a lead role by organising the float-parade competition, led by a rotund King Momo, patron of good cheer and bonhomie, with Queen Momo in tow.

While the Panaji parade will be held on February 9, the towns of Margao, Mapusa and Vasco, will stage theirs on February 10, 11 and 12 respectively. In the capital city, the parade will start from the new Patto Bridge and then wend its way along the Secretariat,
Hotel Mandovi, 2 STC and end near the Directorate of Health Services.

Prize money for each centre has been enhanced to Rs 2.25 lakh.

Vasco, a man who has seen it all over the years, said that in recent years, the flavour of the celebrations has been lost. ``It is no longer a people's carnival'', he lamented.

An echo of his lament is also heard from others as well, who agree that the festival has now degenerated into a commercial fracas, from what it was in the early years, when residents of different wards staged mock fights with flour-filled `coquettes' (small missiles) and coloured water, in a care-free merry-making, all in fancy dress and weird make-up. The groovier it was, the better.

An integral part of the celebration was the `Fell'
(street plays), which was full of sarcasm.

The commercial version of the Carnival, starting from the '70s, took a beating, when the Church came out strongly against the sponsored float parades, urging parents to stop their children from taking part in them.

They also made it clear, that this was a pagan celebration, which had nothing to do with the Lenten season, beginning with Ash Wednesday, which falls this year on February 13, observed by Catholics till Easter. This actually led to the cancellation of the Carnival for a brief period.

The government, however, could least afford to kill the goose that laid the golden egg, and have been pursuing with its promotion till today, as Goa is the only place in India where the celebrations are held on this scale.

Clubs, institutions and hotels, have also cashed in with several dances and fancy dress competitions, but nothing on the scale held in Brazil, Germany, Spain or Portugal.
(TOINS)

Traditional floats set to rekindle Carnival spirit of yore By A Staff Reporter

PANAJI, Feb 8: Traditional King Momo's Carnival parade will reign on Panaji's streets tomorrow with the Panaji carnival committee in association with the tourism department laying stress on the traditional floats to rekindle old-time Carnival spirit.

The parade will be flagged off by the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar in the presence of the Tourism Minister, Mr Filip Neri Rodrigues and the Panaji municipal council chairperson, Mr Ashok Naik, at new Patto bridge at 3.30 p.m. Nearly 85 floats in six categories are expected to participate in the parade.

The alvorada will begin in Panaji and suburb from 6 a.m. morning thus heralding the beginning of Carnival. The entire parade route has been decorated with giant size butterflies and flags to give a festive looks. Mr Carlos Fernandes of Panaji has been selected as King Momo while A 21-year old model and choreographer, Ms Eva Colaso will be introduced as Queen Momo first time.

As usual this time also there are six categories: sponsored, traditional, cub/institutions, family, clowns and fun junky cars. The first three prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000, respectively will be awarded to winner floats.

For family categories, the first three prizes of Rs 10,000, Rs 7000, and Rs 5000 will be awarded. In clowns category, Rs 3000, Rs 2000 and Rs 1500, Rs 1000 and Rs 500 will be awarded. For fun junky cars, three prizes of Rs 5000, Rs 3000 and Rs 2000 will be awarded.

The 3-day cultural programme will be organised at Azad Maidan, here while the prizes for the floats will be given away to the winners on February 12.

(Navhind Times)

Countdown for Carnival revelry begins

Countdown for the Carnival celebrations which kick off from Saturday and is billed as revival of the yesteryears Carnival, has begun with preparations for the floats parade going on in full swing.

Carlos Fernandes of St Inez, has been selected as King Momo, while the organisers have kept the name of the Queen Momo — introduced for the first time — under wraps.

The mood is upbeat, as the response for the float parade is expected to be very good.

"In fact, 70 forms have already been collected by the participants," Mr Joaquim Teles, president of the Panjim Carnival Committee said, adding that at least 75 entries are expected this year.

Last year there were 63 entries. Altogether there are six categories namely traditional, club/institution, sponsored, family, junk cars and clowns.

In order to discourage commercialisation of Carnival, it has been decided by the committee, to charge participation fee for floats in the commercial category, according to the secretary of the Panjim carnival committee, Mr Napolean F D’Souza.

"No commercial float will be allowed to participate without payment of participation fee," he added. The committee feels, Mr Teles informed, that the Carnival parade is not organised to promote anybody’s product.

The entire route from KTC bus stand to Campal, near Directorate of Health Services, will be decorated with flags and huge colourful ‘butterflies’. Besides, to set the mood for the Carnival, music will be played all along the route from 10 in the morning till the parade is flagged off, Mr Telles further added.

The Goa government has increased the grants for Carnival from Rs 1.95 lakh to Rs 2.25 lakh this year.

The floats parade will be flagged off by the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar at 3.30 pm in Panjim.

The Panjim Carnival Committee besides presenting King and Queen Momo’s parade on Saturday, will also organise various programmes at Azad maidan, Panjim till February 12.

A dance competition will be organised in two categories for children in the age group of 6-8 years and 9-12 years. Any kind of dancing including folk, rap can be performed by the participants in the contest named ‘Tropical dance competition’.

Khel tiatrs by Agnelo D’Costa of Navelim will be staged namely Ghou and Bhail, Aum Gunaukari and Devachem Dhenem at 7 p.m.

On the last day, a Fancy Dress competition will be held in three categories — 2-5 years, 6-11 years and 12-17 years at 6 pm entry forms of which are available at Club National, Panjim.

(O'Herald)

Carnival festival at Mapusa from Feb 8

MAPUSA, FEB 6 — The carnival celebrations in Mapusa will be held from February 8 to 12 at the Lord Bodgeshwar Temple ground.

Besides various competitions like fancy dress, group dance etc, the 5-day festival will include folk dances, orchestra, magic shows, solo singing and musical extravanzas involving popular beat groups.

The main carnival floats parade will be held on February 11. The float parade will commence at 4 pm from Altinho Mapusa and will wind up at Bodgeshwar grounds after passing Mapusa taxi stand. While Rs 30000 will be awarded for

The winner of floats parade will be awarded Rs 30,000 while the first and second runner up will be awarded Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively.

A carnival festival organising committee has been formed under the leadership of Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza and chairperson Michael Carrasco.

The following are the other members of the organising committee: Sudhir Kandolkar, Oscar D’Souza, Ubaldo Braganza, Jerry D’souza and Prabha Vernekar (all vice chairmen); Sandip Falari (treasurer); Ratnapal Salkar (jt treasurer); Hemant Barros (secretary); Alphonso Braganza (jt secretary); Nelson Carvalho (convenor of the float parade committee).

Meanwhile, in a press note issued by the Secretary Hemant Barros interested parties like beat groups, orchestras, folk dance troupes, solo singers, musicians etc who would like to participate in the festival should contact Micheal Carrasco on ph 252440,
Nelson Carvalho on ph 252537 or Ubaldo Braganza on ph 250181.

Carnival revellers make merry in Margao parade
From Our Margao Bureau / Navhind Times

MARGAO, Feb 10: Carnival spirit was unleashed in South Goa this evening with the colourful foat parade in Margao being witnessed by thousands of people from across the district. City streets came alive as the parade consisting of 55 floats wended its way from
Holy Spirit to the Municipal building.

Carnival revellers, both locals and foreigners in thousands lined the route of the parade. People from balconies, children on shoulders of their elders and youth climbed trees to witness the colourful pageantry.

High-decibel music by live bands enthralled spectators, with a brilliant display of guitar strumming, beating of drums, colourful outfits and gaily decorated vehicles. The main attraction was the fireworks display held almost at the end of the show. Fire works were also on show during the parade to entertain the revellers. Compared to last few years, this year the crowd was bigger and men in uniform were kept on their toes.

Clowns pranced and danced on the main road occasionally shaking hands with the spectators, sprinkling of confetti and distributing sweets. They even threw bottle openers and measuring scales for small children.

King Momo who was followed by Queen Momo read out the decree to their subjects for making fun and merriment during the next three days. They helped spread the Carnival spirit among the people by waving and shouting Viva Carnival all along the route.

This year in all 55 floats paraded down the streets of Margao. According to organisers 17 of them were in traditional category while 10 were in sponsored group and 7 each were in family and clown category. In club category 9 floats participated while in institution category 5 participated. “I am Peace Laden not Bin Laden” was a message which caught the attention of the spectators. Few floats also depicted social themes, childrens rights, war, environment, about keeping Goa clean etc.

Some floats including sponsored ones had interesting displays on environment, tradition, love and peace and other human values. Among the traditional floats those depicting fishermen with nets and fishing gear were greatly appreciated.

Tourism Minister, Mr Philip Nery Rodriques; Power Minister, Mr Digamber Kamat; Minister for Panchayats, Mr Manohar Azgaonkar; Fatorda MLA, Mr Luis Alex Cardozo; chairperson of Margao municipal council (MMC), Ms Kamlini Poinguenker, additional collector and chief officer of MMC, Mr Gokuldas Naik; Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Mr Sanjit Rodriques; MMC councillors and government officials were present for the Carnival parade.

The parade started in time as declared by the organisers and concluded at 8 p.m. South Goa district police pressed into service one platoon of the Goa Reserve Police (GRP), eight police officers and 52 policemen to oversee traffic arrangements during the festival.

Police when contacted said that no untoward incidents were reported. At some places despite police attempts to maintain order, the bamboo barricades were breached by the surging crowd.

Credits

Photos by Menino Menezes

Many Thanks
To Expressions - The Flower Shop (Cecil & Beatrice Pinto)

For Assisting Goa-World

Goa-World Team :
Gaspar Almeida
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