the goan I network
MARGAO
Saxttikars kept date with the Carnival celebrations in the commercial capital organized by the Margao Fatorda Carnival Committee on Sunday as thousands of people descended on the
Opinion Poll Square to watch the colourful floats on the Opinion Poll Square-Nehru Stadium Road.
The entire parade route was invaded by thousands of carnival revelers, even as TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai flagged off the celebration in the presence of Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai, District Collector Anjali Sehrawat, MMC Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes, councilors, Chairman of the Carnival Committee Peter Fernandes and president of the organizing committee Russel Miranda.
A number of foreign tourists could be spotted among the huge crowd of people that turned up for the parade after organizers made a concerted attempt to get in these visitors by roping in around 13 starred hotels with an offer to set up their food courts.
The parade evoked huge response with the organisers putting the number of floats to around 87, including 10 in the traditional category, club/institution (13), sponsored (two), family (15), funk cars (19) and jokers (28).
The float by Raul Pereira, Goemchim Festam, caught the eye of many a reveler as it depicted the feasts of Goa, including the popular Three Kings feast.
A group of people claiming Niz Karvi from Arossim-Cansaulim belt depicted Goa’s traditional fishing vowing to protect Goemkarponn.
Opposition to Coal and coal pollution also reverberated at the float parade with a group styled as Utt Goemkar made a fervent plea to save Goa from coal pollution.
A float from Zuem depicting painting and the traditional way of churning out lime also caught the eye of the revelers.
The TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai told the media after the inauguration of the parade that the huge presence of the crowd from Salcete shows that the change in the parade route from the Margao Municipal Square to the Opinion Poll Square was not only a success, but a decision accepted by the people at large. “We made a concerted attempt to give a boost to the Carnival festivities this year. At the same time, we did not forget the traditional Intruz. We have managed to get tourists to Margao. Saxtti occupies an important place in Goa’s cultural history. It was Saxtti that had saved Goa’s identity,” he added.
While the avowed objective behind shifting the parade route from the heart of the city to the Old Market Circle-Ravindra Bhavan-Nehru Stadium route was to decongest the city, the Old Market Circle witnessed huge traffic blockade with vehicles stranded on all sides of the circle.
