Have fun at the Goa Carnival 2012

Goa is the paradise on earth, which any beach lover and traveler would love to a

visit.This is the queen of beaches, and is one of the most popular travel destinations in this part of India. Come here and enjoy not only the pleasures of the region but also participate in the festivals that are so much a part of this place.

The Goa Carnival 2012

The Goa Carnival is one such event that attracts tourists from afar and is popular across the world. This festival is an event that is extremely awaited for and is the most famous festival and event that is celebrated with great pomp and show. Started in the year 1961, by the Portuguese this is a carnival where you have a lot of singing, feasting and dancing. With great merrymaking, the carnival was first celebrated by King Momo, the legendary hero. The Goa carnival is one event that showcases the best events and traditions that so much are a part of this festival. This year the festival starts from 18th February so I have decided to go there and enjoy to my heart’s content. I had been there the last time,  and I had the  great time of my life enjoying the pleasures of Goa the land of dreams.

History

Carnival is a festival that is celebrated before the Lent period as traditionally during Lent people abstain from meat. The 40 days of lent signify the 40 days that Lord Jesus spent in wilderness. Consuming good and rich food in a big party ambience is a way of preparing for Lent.

The Goa Carnival is the most eagerly awaited festival of Goa and was initially attended by the locals. Today it stands tall in the list of festivals and is attended by the entire world. It has become a popular festival across the globe over. So if at all you want to see Goa and get the best out of your travel pleasures here, then be a part of the Goa Carnival here in this land of absolutely fascinating moments. The three day extravaganza was essentially a Christian festival and all people of the region used to take part irrespective of religion, faith and caste. The main feature of the Goa Carnival is to have fun. This is normally done before the abstinence period of the Christians during the forty days of Lent before the festival of Easter. History has it that this trend of celebrating a Carnival comes from Greece and Rome and then it came to be the main forte of the Spanish and the Portuguese who began to establish their hold over Goa over a period of time. The Carnival since then became a regular part of the life in Goa and people really put in all their time, energy and effort on this festive period of three days in Goa.

So the word carnival coming from the world “carnelvarium” or removing the flesh does full justice to the Goa Festival which is the ideal way one could unwind, rejuvenate and relax. Such festivals take out the stress from one’s life and the total atmosphere of fun and frolic that is present is very infectious for all who attend this lovely occasion.

Events

The streets would seem to come alive and the colourful, lively atmosphere would completely regale you with the pleasures of a colourful carnival which could happen only in the Goa Carnival. The nights and days seem to float in absolute luxury and harmony as the festival comes to life. With many thousands who come to this land of excitement, thrill and relaxation, the Goa Carnival is an experience with its own share of fun filled moments. So this region famous for its sun kissed beaches and the rarest festive atmosphere is a place to be in, and the ideal locale to visit if you want to have the best festival experience.

King Momo presides over the festival on the first day and “orders” his subjects to have a lot of fun. The mornings normally have a lot of feasting, singing and merry making and the evenings are filled with balls and dancing etc in the open streets of Goa. Certainly Goa comes across as the funkiest festival of India and has many people rooting to attending this in large numbers.

So when I visit goa, I have decided that I am going to let down my hair and have fun. Just before Easter Sunday, all the Goans celebrate the carnival as a merry making time and as a time for feasting. Filled with colourful ribbons and fritters and other such decorative papers all over, Goa represents a great land of color and harmony during this time. There are various tableaus that are presented and the audience goes berserk with happiness and thrill when they experience the best.

Celebrations also have a prize distribution ceremony and the best floats are given rewards. There are colossal parades and balls and bands which symbolize the harmonious nature of the festival. Goa Carnival ends with the popular red and black dance that is held by the Club National at Panaji.

So get geared for the best performances of music and dance and see some of the best short plays that are enacted and composed by the participants here. The lovely music, the vibrant parades, the funky music and the jazzy atmosphere is what I am looking forward to and it is something I certainly do not want to miss. Do You?

The Goa Carnival is a much awaited event in this part of India and involves lot of fun and merrymaking.