Carnival celebrations are being organised in Margao, Panjim and other venues since Saturday. The focus of these Carnival celebrations should be on reviving the traditional intruz culture. Focusing on Goemchi lok parampara (Goa's folk traditions) by way of mell, tiatr and other programmes would go a long way in presenting a different side of Goa to tourists and locals alike. Of late, the Carnival has gone too commercial with the spotlight being on current issues and Covid. Our state has a rich tradition of folklore representing 50 major folk forms besides rich sociolinguistic heritage, dance forms like dekhni and fugdi, glorious history of maritime trade and commerce, cosmopolitan lifestyle, ancient ecotheological nature worship to deities in sacred groves, ecofeminist traditions and unique socio-cultural and economic institution of Gaunkaris or Communidades. The world converges on Goa for the Carnival, it is high time it was introduced to the deeper aspects of our heritage rather than the usual fluff stuff of King Momo, music and merriment.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
