The three-day carnival festivities will kick start in the state on February 26. More than 50 countries celebrate their own Carnival traditions that are unique to their customs. In the past Goa too used to celebrate the festivities in its own way depicting its culture. This included the “Intruz” which was the traditional way of celebrating carnival. But over the years carnival became commercialized and the float parade became the centre of attraction. The glorious traditions of the state need to be showcased once again during the three-day event. In the past, merry-makers used to roam the streets with men dressed as women and the youngsters used to throw powder and water balloons on each other. They used to shoot each other with pea-shooters (fotash). All these activities need to be revived. ‘Zolminivello khell tiatr’ are concerts held on the ground without any stage settings and need to be revived. This was very popular in the villages and used to draw large crowds. Then there is the age-old ‘alvorado’ which is music played by locals in Goa at the crack of dawn in order to herald the good times to come during carnival. This musical show also needs to be revived in the cities and the villages. The float parade also needs to give more stress on the traditional activities of Goans like farming, fishing, making of Feni and other such traditions. Goan carnival needs to promote “Goenkarponn”. It would be in the fitness of things to rename ‘Goan carnival’ to “Goencho Intruz”.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
