Goa Carnival The Sweet Taste of Goa Culture

Goa Carnival, held in February, is the most festive time to holiday in Goa. Rea through to know more about the history, culture and festivities that make the Goa Carnival, a famous holiday attraction. 

The annual Goa Carnival is one of the most awaited festivals in the country. Held just before Lent, in the mid of  February and March, the festivities are celebrated for three days. Colorful parades, lively processions, foot tapping music and exotic dance performances are some of the main elements of this carnival that draws tourist attention from all over the world. This is one of the most busiest festival season in Goa, therefore advance reservation is a must.

About Goa Carnival

The history of Goa Carnival goes back to the times of the Portuguese, who introduced this festival in Goa, more that 500 years ago. The origin and nature of the carnival can be traced to the hedonistic feasts of ancient Rome and Greece, where its started in the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, and became popular for their singing, dancing and drinking. The term Carnival means ‘to take away meat’, thus people do not consume meet for 40 days.

Also called as Intruz, the celebration of the carnival is held at Lautolim, a small town in Salcette taluka of South Goa. Though it began as a christian celebration, but today the festival find influx of Hindus revelry and western influences as well.The festival precedes the 40-day abstinence period of Lent and gets concluded Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday)-the eve of Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of the season of Lent.

The Festivities

During the annual Carnival festival of Goa, people are dressed in the most striking attire. The person portraying himself as King Momo, also known as King of Chaos, presides over the whole event. People dressed in combat uniform waging an artificial war and huge trucks filled with young people staging various tableaus or equipped with buckets of colored water throwing them at the spectators is not an unusual sight. 

The festival takes place of Fat Tuesday (i.e. beginning on or after Epiphany and ending on the day before Ash Wednesday. Celebrated with great pomp and show, the carnival celebration is managed by the Catholic church and involves a mass gathering and religious artifacts are paraded. Huge masquerades with live performances of bands and dances all night long on the streets of the state capital, is not an unusual sight during this festival. The parade is hosted by Panaji, while every town hold their own parades. The parade starts at Panaji and further in Margao, Mapusa and Vasco.

There is Fat Fat Saturday Dine and Dance that happens in Varca in South Goa and is one of the most spectacular event. 

The festival starts with a spectacular display of colour floats, followed by dancing troupes, people dressed in dazzling costumes, humongous parades and even prize is awarded to the best float. The famous red-and-black dance held at the Club National in Panaji, marks the end of the celebrations.

The Goa Carnival is a unique festival as it is not celebrated in any other part of the country. Be a part of this three day festivity and frenzy and enjoy a spectacular escape from the mundane routine.

To get more information on Goa tours and honeymoon in Goa, visit India Travels Guide website

Source: http://www.mustseeindia.com/articles/goa-carnival-the-sweet-taste-of-goa-culture/1454