PORVORIM
Carnival fiesta kicked-off in the State on Friday, with a huge crowd witnessing the first Carnival float parade in Porvorim.
Over 25 floats took part in various categories at the parade, organised by the Porvorim Carnival Committee along the Service Road.
The parade began from the Institute of Hotel Management at around 5 pm, though the official timing was 3.30 pm and concluded at the ACDIL high school.
The parade was flagged off by Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, Saligao MLA Kedar Naik, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar and State BJP President Sadanand Shet Tanavade.
The floats which received appreciation from people were ‘Save water’, ‘Save Frogs’, ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’ and the King Momo’s float.
Later speaking to media persons, Union Minister Shripad Naik sated the carnival parade in Porvorim was a curtain raiser to the statewide Carnival parades which begin from Panaji on Saturday.
“Carnival has no connection with religion and there is no restriction that it should be conducted on a particular day. I personally feel there is no harm in also organising carnival parades at other places in the State,” said Naik.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte stated that Carnival is festival of the people.
“Porvorim is a growing constituency where many government departments are located. The carnival at Porvorim is a precursor to showcase the carnival celebrations in the State. A Carnival parade has been organised at Morjim, while this year’s Food and Cultural Festival has been shifted to Mandrem, instead of Panaji.”
“At Panaji, mostly domestic tourists and locals attend this food festival but at Mandrem, we will have international footfalls also, as a lot of foreign tourists visit the Mandrem-Morjim coastal area,” said Khaunte.
