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Know about the Carnival Goa
In Goa Carnival is an annual celebration that brings joy and excitement for a limited period each year . It lasts for a few days before Ash Wednesday signaling the beginning of Lent a time of penance and abstinence leading up to Easter Sunday. Originally rooted in the concept of putting absent flesh in Old Italian, Carnival has evolved to become a vibrant and culturally significant event in different parts of the world . This article explores the rich traditions of Carnival in Brazil and Goa, highlighting the transformative power of the festivities the reversal of social roles, and the emergence of social satire.
Goa Carnival Festivals
Every year, Carnival brings pleasure for a short period of time, lasting five days in Brazil and four nights in Goa, culminating on Ash Wednesday the beginning of Lent. Traditionally , Lent was a season of penance and abstinence lasting 40 long days leading up to Easter Sunday.
The term “Carnival” originated from the Old Italian phrase “carelevvare,” which means to put away flesh. Carn refers to flesh, while leavare means to remove. However, levare can also mean to raise, which may be how Brazilians interpret it, as they seem to elevate the festivities.
Goa Carnival Celebrated. Men, women, boys, Girls & Dances
A writer assigned to report on Carnival in Rio de Janeiro was astonished by the way it was celebrated. Men, women, boys, and girls would each go their own way, doing their own thing without remorse or inhibition. Afterward no questions were asked and no lies were told. The revelers returned to their humble homes in the slums the landowners to their beautiful ranches and the samba clubs immediately began preparations for the next year’s processions, balls, and street dances.
The Goa Carnival is a vibrant celebration where men, women, boys, and girls come together to participate in lively dances and festivities.
The Goa Carnival served as a great equalizer. Early accounts , although based on hearsay, provide an educational insight. White masters would dress as black slaves while the actual slaves often brought in from Mozambique would cover their faces with flour and wear high stilts. For those three fleeting days, everyone delighted in being larger than life. While the whites and blacks mimicked each other the local inhabitants watched in awe from the sidelines as social roles were reversed.
Over time, as the imperial regime softened and inhibitions diminished, Carnival evolved from being an opportunity to masquerade as someone different to a time of camaraderie . Crude mimicry transformed into social satire. Playwrights in the villages crafted plays called Khel (meaning play in Konkani) that incorporated anecdotes, events and criticism .
Goa Carnival experience
The Portuguese Governor-General along with his family and entourage used the event as a diplomatic gesture. They showered the crowds with poudre de riz and confetti and happily received the same in return. At the Carnival balls the governor-general danced with whomever he pleased, provided the lady agreed. Anyone was free to ask the governor-general’s wife for a dance, and if they danced the tango, they did so intimately cheek-to -cheek and hip-to-hip.
Carnival was once a mood, an immersive experience where everyone participated. From sunrise to sunset and back to sunrise again , people sang, danced, changed costumes and partners. They serenaded their loved ones, and debutantes giggled and gathered at their first masquerade bal l, escorted by their guardians . Those who found love during Carnival often married after Easter.
Quick Facts of Goa Carnival Festival:
- Celebrated in: Goa
- Goa Carnival : A Musical Celebration
- Highlights: Colorful processions and a fun, lively atmosphere
- Capital: Panaji
- Festival Time: February
- Presided by: King Momo
The best time to visit Goa is in February when the state gets ready for the carnival. The Goa carnival is an eagerly anticipated event where people put aside their worries and simply enjoy themselves for three whole days.
The Goa carnival is all about having fun. Colorful processions and elaborate floats fill the streets. People sing, dance, and wear masks, creating a lively and flamboyant celebration that is unique to Goa.
The tradition of the carnival in Goa dates back to the time of King Momo. He introduced the Goa carnival just before the Lent season, which is a period of fasting and penance in the Christian calendar, somewhat like the fasting before Ramzan Id in the Muslim calendar. The Goa carnival typically starts on Sabado Gordo (Fat Saturday) and ends on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday), which is the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.
During these three days, the streets are packed with people, and it’s a vibrant and joyful celebration for both the locals and the tourists who choose to visit Goa during this time.
Among all the festivities and feasts in Goa, the Carnival and Shigmo are the most lively and eagerly awaited by the masses. The Goa Carnival is a 3-day festival filled with color, music, and entertainment, suitable for people of all ages. The legendary King Momo presides over the state during these three days, and the streets come alive with vibrant celebrations.
There are street plays, songs, dances, and impromptu performances that entertain the enthusiastic crowds. People often wear colorful costumes and masks, adding to the festive atmosphere. Countless competitions and cultural events take place throughout these three days. Instead of the traditional use of flour, eggs, fruit, and water, people often playfully smear each other with colors.
The Goa Carnival is a unique celebration that isn’t observed anywhere else in India. While it declined during the years of Portuguese rule, it made a resurgence after Goa’s liberation, drawing thousands of tourists from all over the world each year. It’s a time of joy, music, and vibrant festivities that showcase the spirit of Goa like no other event.
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