MARGAO
The Covid-19 pandemic did not dampen the spirit of hundreds of Carnival revellers as they kept their date with the Carnival float parade in the commercial capital on Sunday.
After flagging off the parade in the presence of District Collector, South Ruchika Katyal, SDM Jyoti Kumari, MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes, former MLA Damu Naik and others, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar asserted that the state government’s decision to hold the Carnival float parade in Panaji and Margao turned out cent per cent successful.
He, however, conceded that the Covid SOP was not strictly enforced, when his attention was drawn to the fact that the same was thrown to the winds by the revellers during the parade.
Though the crowd turnout for the float parade was less compared to last time, apparently because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the parade drew an enthusiastic response from the revellers from Salcete and outside.
As he thundered that the show must go on, the Tourism Minister said the state government had to go in for Carnival float parade in Panaji and Margao to give a boost to tourism. “We have decided to hold the Carnival and Shigmo festival despite the pandemic to ensure that tourists come to Goa. Otherwise, the tourists would prefer states such as Kerala,” he said.
“The state would have played host to foreign tourists as well if the charters from abroad had started their operations. The world wants to come to Goa for the Carnival festival to have a glimpse of our culture and heritage,” he said, adding that the floats that participated in the parade had showcased the state’s culture and Goemkarponn.
The parade began after the King Momo entourage entered the route with Sixtus Eric Dias proclaiming his decree of merry-making to the enthusiastic crowd for the next three days.
While the organizers made provision for sanitizers at the entry points, revellers sans masks at the parade route were literally the order of the day. There was apparently no instance of any violator being booked for not wearing masks.
A total of 43 floats participated in the parade, including five in the traditional category, four in family, around 17 clowns & jokers, three in sponsored category, nine in the Club and Institution category and five funk and junk category.
Chairman of Margao Carnival Committee, Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes, thanked the Deputy Chief Minister Ajgaonkar and the government for giving Madgavkars an opportunity to celebrate the Carnival 2021 in spite of the Covid situation.
Announcing the results, Chief Officer Agnelo said the first three prizes in the traditional category were won by Amchi Folam, followed by Piety Boys Youth, Calangute and Stars of Ponda.
In the family category, Indian Army, Guirdolim, Thomas Boys, Cortalim and Joseph Rodrigues, Benaulim and Khobara waddo, Calangute, won the first four prizes.
Madar Youth Club, Benaulim, Jimmy Boyz, Calangute, 777 Boys, Mapusa, won the first three prizes in the club/institution category.
