THE GOA CARNIVAL
Celebrated in the month of : February
Merriment : Festival of Color, Song and Music
Carnival in Goa is a non-stop 3-day festival of color, song and music,
providing a healthy entertainment for all, young and old. The soothing
climate, full of fun- 'n' -frolic, which the Carnival generates, is much
longed for. It does not matter whether one enjoys or see others enjoying.
There is enthusiasm and happiness all around.
Meaning Behind Carnival
The word 'carnival' is said to be derived from the Latin 'Carne', meaning
meat, and 'Vale', which translates to 'good-bye'. Some also link the word
to 'Carnislevamen' or 'the pleasures of meat', focusing on the enjoyment
of meat during the festivities, before the abstinence that follows during
Lent.
Another hypothesis suggests that the word came from 'Carrus Navalis', the
horse-drawn, boat-shaped carriage that was paraded during the Roman
festival Saturnalia, in honor of Saturn. It carried men and women in fancy
dresses, wearing masks, and singing obscene songs. It is possible that the
present-day concept of a carnival emerged from this parade.
Originination Of The Festivity
The Goa Carnival is an integral part of the Portuguese heritage of the
state, which was a dominion of Portugal till 1961. The carnival epitomizes
the fun-loving culture that is characteristic of Goa.
It was introduced by the erstwhile rulers as a rowdy celebration in which
flour, eggs, oranges, lemons, mud, sand-filled gloves along with dirty
water, various liquids and glue were aimed at passersby. Used pots, pans,
and other kitchen utensils were also thrown out of windows. Perhaps this
was done to discard the old and the dirty before the Lenten fast.
Fierce battles were waged in the streets, with plaster-of-Paris eggs, wax
lemons, corncobs and beans. Blows were dealt out liberally, with brooms
and wooden spoons. It was also an occasion for unchecked eating. People
gorged on rich food at lavish feasts, and convents distributed cakes and
pastries. Though celebrated for only three days, the preparations for the
festival would take many days, and build up to a frenetic pitch by the eve
of the carnival. The carnival in Goa still retains the core of the
original. A King of Chaos is elected, called King "Momo". He
presides over the three-day festivities, which attract visitors from all
over India and abroad. 
A Musical Extravaganza
Street Plays, songs, dances, and unrehearsed farces mocking the
establishment are performed before an enthusiastic, responsive audience.
Floats depicting popular lullabies and nursery rhymes make a whimsical and
colorful sight on the streets. In the three days of celebrations, cultural
functions and competitions abound, and are judged by specially selected
people. King Momo distributes the prizes to the winners.
The contestants wear colorful costumes and elaborate masks. Amidst the
outrageous dresses seen on the street are some made of sheer, transparent
polythene. In the fun-filled ambience, people smear color on each other,
instead of the flour, eggs, fruit and water that used to be used in
earlier times.
Everyone's Invited
In Goan villages, however, the festivities have a more indigenous flavor.
Though celebrated by the Christian population of Goa,
the carnival's only relevance to Christianity is that it is celebrated
before Lent. The festival today has no religious undertones and has come
to be a cultural highlight of the state, rather than of the religion.
