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| THE GOA
CARNIVAL |
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| Celebrated In
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Throughout Goa |
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| Following
Festival after two days :
Easter |
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| Carnival in Goa is a non-stop 3-day festival
of color, song and music, providing a healthy entertainment for all, young and
old. The soothing climate, full of fun- 'n' -frolic, which the Carnival
generates, is much longed for. It does not matter whether one enjoys or see
others enjoying. There is enthusiasm and happiness all around. |
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Meaning Behind Carnival
The word 'carnival' is said to be derived from the Latin 'Carne', meaning meat,
and 'Vale', which translates to 'good-bye'. Some also link the word to
'Carnislevamen' or 'the pleasures of meat', focusing on the enjoyment of meat
during the festivities, before the abstinence that follows during Lent.
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| Another hypothesis suggests that the word came
from 'Carrus Navalis', the horse-drawn, boat-shaped carriage that was paraded
during the Roman festival Saturnalia, in honor of Saturn. It carried men and
women in fancy dresses, wearing masks, and singing obscene songs. It is
possible that the present-day concept of a carnival emerged from this parade. |
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Originination Of The Festivity
The Goa Carnival is an integral part of the Portuguese
heritage of the state, which was a dominion of Portugal till 1961. The carnival
epitomizes the fun-loving culture that is characteristic of Goa. It was
introduced by the erstwhile rulers as a rowdy celebration in which flour, eggs,
oranges, lemons, mud, sand-filled gloves along with dirty water, various
liquids and glue were aimed at passersby. Used pots, pans, and other kitchen
utensils were also thrown out of windows. Perhaps this was done to discard the
old and the dirty before the Lenten fast. |
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| Fierce battles were waged in the streets, with
plaster-of-Paris eggs, wax lemons, corncobs and beans. Blows were dealt out
liberally, with brooms and wooden spoons. It was also an occasion for unchecked
eating. People gorged on rich food at lavish feasts, and convents distributed
cakes and pastries. Though celebrated for only three days, the preparations for
the festival would take many days, and build up to a frenetic pitch by the eve
of the carnival. The carnival in Goa still retains the core of the original. A
King of Chaos is elected, called King "Momo". He presides over the three-day
festivities, which attract visitors from all over India and abroad. |
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A Musical Extravaganza
Street Plays, songs, dances, and
unrehearsed farces mocking the establishment are performed before an
enthusiastic, responsive audience. Floats depicting popular lullabies and
nursery rhymes make a whimsical and colorful sight on the streets. In the three
days of celebrations, cultural functions and competitions abound, and are
judged by specially selected people. King Momo distributes the prizes to the
winners.
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| The contestants wear colorful costumes and
elaborate masks. Amidst the outrageous dresses seen on the street are some made
of sheer, transparent polythene. In the fun-filled ambience, people smear color
on each other, instead of the flour, eggs, fruit and water that used to be used
in earlier times.
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Everyone's Invited
In Goan villages, however, the festivities have a more indigenous flavor.
Though celebrated by the Christian population of Goa, the carnival's only
relevance to Christianity is that it is celebrated before Lent. The festival
today has no religious undertones and has come to be a cultural highlight of
the state, rather than of the religion. |
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