About the Carnival

The Goa carnival is one of the most awaited festivals, of Goa, celebrated every year in February. The Goa Carnival is a non-stop 3-day festival of color, dance and music, providing a healthy entertainment for all age group. The week-long event was started as a local festival, but its popularity now attracts thousands of people from all over the country. As the festival is celebrated mainly by the Christian, but people of other religions also take part with equal enthusiasm. The roots and nature of the Goa carnival, dating back to the ancient Rome and Greece. These kind of carnivals were begun in the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, which became famous for their music, dance and drink. Apart from Goa the carnival is not celebrated anywhere in India, and once its popularity was declined even in Goa. With the Liberation of Goa, the carnival got a new initiative, and now its draws large number of tourists.

Origin Of The Carnival

Goa Carnival, was introduced by the Portugues who ruled over the region for more than five hundred years. The festival is now an integral part of the state, which was a ruled by the Portuguese till 1961. The carnival highlight the fun-loving culture of the state, which is the characteristic of Goa. The Goa Carnival was initiated by the erstwhile rulers as a rowdy celebration in which flour, eggs, lemons, oranges, mud, sand-filled gloves, various liquids and glue were thrown over passerby . In addition other items like used pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils were also used as throwing items. It is believed that this was done to discard the old and the dirty before the Lenten fast.

What Happens During the Festival

The Goa carnival three days and three nights festival starts in February, when the legendary king Momo takes over the state. The week-long festival, is a period of unbridled festivity and merry-making, that has been celebrated here since the 18th Century. During the festival the streets of Goa come alive with bright colours, lively processions, floats, the music of guitars and attractive dances. Big parades are organized, the local bands dance and floats out all through the night on the streets and grand balls held in the evenings. On the final day the festival ends with the popular red-and-black dance organized by the Club National in Panajim.

Cultural Activities The preparations for the Goa Carnival starts during the months December and January. Local boys and girls plan and design their fancy costumes for the festival. In the one week festival floats depicting popular lullabies and nursery rhymes make a beautiful and colorful sight on the streets. The participants wear color costumes and massive masks. People smear color on each other, with joy and happiness, in earlier times instead of color, flour, eggs, fruit and water were used. Several cultural functions and competitions are organized during the carnival, and winners are judged by specially selected people. King Momo distributes the prizes to the winners.

How to reach there

By Air : Dabolim airport (30 Kms) in nearest airport from Panajim. Direct charter flights are available from the European countries, domestic flights are available from cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai etc.

By Rail :Vasco-da-Gama, 30 Kms away from Panajim, is the major railhead. Panajim railway station is connected to Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad etc.

By Road : Good network of roads connect Goa with rest of the country. The State Transport Corporation run luxury and ordinary buses within the state.

Where to Stay

The hotels in Goa offer plenty of accommodation options. The hotels range from star, deluxe to economic hotels cater to the needs of the travellers.