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VIVA CARNIVAL!
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A select number of artistes from Liverpool performed alongside Goans in a wonderful choreography and the addition of a helicopter flying overhead added to the fun
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PANAJI: It was yet another colourful and delightful sight as the fun-filled festival of Carnival got underway at the capital city of Panaji on Saturday evening. With teeming crowds lining up on either side of the road along the River Mandovi, the parade was flagged off by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Guest of Honour Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza in the presence of Nilesh Cabral, Chairman, GTDC, Siddharth Kunkolienkar, Chairman, EDC Ltd and Shubham Chodankar, Mayor, Panaji.
In keeping with tradition, the reigning King Momo (Shalom Sardinha) declared the four day festival open and proclaimed it as "a time to swing and sway to the rhythm of the Samba". This year, noted actress Palomi Ghosh of Nachom ia Kumpasar fame, shared the float with him and sang the title song of the film much to the delight of the crowds.
The parade this year also had an international touch with UK based Brouhala International and Arts Organisation teaming up with Goa Tourism Development Corporation to lend a South African and Liverpool cultural feel to it in addition to the Goan feel. And the efforts of this was evident in the lead float with a select number of artists from Liverpool performing alongside Goans in a wonderful choreography and the addition of a helicopter flying overhead only added to the fun.
The well organised but lenghty parade which spanned almost three hours saw some wonderful floats with themes related to Goan culture like Goencho Mando and Sunboys of Quepem, and environment related themes like the Maddar Youth Club float on saving trees and the float by Generation boys of Calangute. The FC Goa float was also a huge hit eliciting cheers from everyone.
Apart from the main attraction, mime artist Drupad Gaonkar and his team entertained the crowds prior to the parade while people could also get their faces painted in keeping with the Carnival cheer.
The Carnival parade will now move to Margao on Sunday and then to Vasco and Mapusa.
