Goa Carnival, India

Start Date : 18 February 2012

End Date : 21 February 2012

Venue : Goa

Country : India

Category : Feast & Carnival In India

The Goa Carnival, an unique annual event in india that lasts for three days, is marked by music, dance, fun, colourful parades and food for travellers coming to India. Started by the Portuguese rulers, the Carnival has carved a niche for itself with a distinctive characteristic charm that can only be experienced in this tiny coastal state of Goa.

the carnival at Goa is held for three days and nights and during that time the streets come alive with color

About Goa Carnival Festival

One of the most colorful and popular festival of Goa is the Goa Carnival. This three day extravaganza, of fun, frolic, amusement and merry-making. The Goa Carnival festival is one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year. Though essentially a Christian festival, all people of Goa, irrespective of their faith and religion take part in this festival. The word Carnival has been derived from the Latin word "Carnavale" which means to throw away meat. The main highlight of Goan carnival is to have fun by indulging in singing, dancing, feasting, etc. before the 40 day abstinence period of Lent before Easter.

The history of the Goan carnival goes back to almost 500 years. It was essentially introduced in Goa by the Portuguese. The trend of celebrating the Carnival with hedonistic pleasures dates back to ancient Rome and Greece. It came to be known to the Portuguese and Spanish people with time and when the Portuguese established their colony in Goa, they introduced the concept there. Since then, the carnival is regular feature every year and a time when people all over Goa take part in it with pleasure.

Just before Easter Sunday, all Goans celebrate the carnival as a feasting and merry making time. The carnival is absolutely colorful and lively and the whole of Goa comes alive with this festival. The entire state is decorated with streamers and colorful ribbons and papers. Throughout the state, many fun parades are organized and people belonging to different communities and areas prepare their tableaus with different representations and themes.

On the opening day of the carnival, King Momo presides over the festival and "orders" his subjects to party and indulge in merry making. The mornings are dominated with singing, feasting and organizing street plays while the evenings are usually full of dancing, balls, etc. on the wide open streets. With the increase in the number of tourists to Goa, the carnival is gaining more and more popularity and is visited by a number of tourists. In a nutshell, Goa Carnival is festival that is dominated by enjoyment and merry making where people come together and spread cheer and happiness.

History of Goa Carnival

Carnival means a complete holiday dedicated to fun and enjoying as a break from the daily routine and stress of the every-day life. The word 'carnival' is originated from a Latin word 'carnelevarium' meaning 'removing the flesh' or 'raising a gala storm'.

Origin of Goa Carnival : -
The funkiest fest of India, Goa Carnival is a three-day long festival. King Momo introduced Goa Carnival just before the Lent season of the Christian calendar. According to Christianity, Lent is the 40-day period of fasting and penance before the Easter Sunday meant to purify one's soul

It is one of the eagerly awaited events of the year. The Carnival of Goa is the time to indulge in feasting, drinking and merry making. During the Goa Carnival, the state comes to life due to a multi-cultural essence. Although it is primarily a Christian festival, it is celebrated by people of all religions and culture with the similar enthusiasm.

Goa Carnival was introduced by Portuguese, who ruled over the state for more than 500 years. People from different parts of the country come to Goan Carnival to take part in the revelry and enjoy themselves. The carnival starts with a magnificent display of colorful floats. The celebrations are also accompanied by a prize distribution ceremony, where the best floats are adequately rewarded. Floats, colossal parades, bands, balls and dances together symbolize the Goa Carnival. Groups of masked revelers dressed in dazzling costumes sing and dance to the tunes of the renowned musicians. Goa Carnival ends with the popular red-and-black dance held by the Club National in Panaji. The word 'carnival' literally means to take away meat. And as the name suggests, people stay away from meat during the 40-day period of fasting of Lent that follows it.

Goa Carnival is the most famous festival in the state and has been celebrated since the 18th century. Huge colourful parades take over the state's cities with bands, floats and dances, while the evenings mean serious partying wherever you are. The final day's festivities in Panjim, which conclude with the famous red-and-black dance by the Clube Nacional are a highlight.

Become a part of Goa carnival Tour and set out for Goa carnival tour! Tours to Goa carnival includes visits to places like Mumbai and Cochin as well.

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