Background

Carnival marks the celebrations before the month of
Lent, which characterizes fasting or abstinence from
meat

Carnival celebration reverberates with echoes of
pagan culture dating back to Roman Saturnalia and
feasts of Apollo in Greece

The Goa Carnival for instance has turned out to be a
major tourist attraction drawing thousands of tourists
from all over the country
Culture

This carnival cum festival was first started in Goa in
the year 1961

It was initially celebrated by King Momo, one of
the legendary Chaos kings of the state and is one
of the Portuguese festivals

Since the state has experienced the reign of
different Portuguese rulers for more than 500
years, this festival reflects some of the Portuguese
lifestyle
Dance and Music

Dekhnni, Fugdi, Corridinho, Mando etc. are some
of the traditional art forms

Also, many classical singers like Kishori Amonkar
and Jitendra Abhishekicome from Goa

Goa is also known as the origin of Goa trance
which has given birth to Psytrance as well
THEATRE

Natak, Tiatr and Zagor are the chief forms of
Goa’s traditional performance arts

Stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata
along with other social subjects are narrated
with songs and dance
Food

Rice with fish curry is the staple diet in Goa

Goan cuisine is famous for its rich variety of fish
dishes cooked with elaborate recipes

Khatkhate, an exotic vegetable stew is very famous
during festivals

Most popular alcoholic beverage is feni which is
prepared through the fermentation of the fruit of a
cashew tree

Goa has a rich wine culture as well

Wine is famous for it’s healthy benefits and on
festivals and events it is consumed as a symbol of
celebration
GOA CARNIVAL

The Carnival is unique to Goa in India, and was
introduced by the Portuguese who ruled over Goa
for over four centuries

This large scale celebration, known as Intruz takes
place in the city of Panaji

The Carnival is celebrated for three days and nights,
when the legendary King Momo takes over the state
and the streets come alive with music and colour

Huge parades are organized throughout the state
with bands, dances and floats out all night on the
streets, and grand balls held in the evenings
Activities

This procession will be flocked by dancers, bands of
troubadours dressed up as fortune tellers, hawkers,
women, and older men in funny clothes

The preparations for the carnival begin from
December. And even a week before the carnival, a
few boys and girls dressed up in masks call upon their
friends while playing on the banter

Carnival comes to an end with the famous red and
black dance where women dressed in red tops and
black skirts and men in red shirts and black trousers
dance with bands in a colourful procession
Goa Carnival Speciality

The one-act folk plays known as Khell or Fell take on
exciting colours during the carnival in Chandor where
Intruzachim Geetam or Fella-Gitam are sung by the
walking-players that go about the village, with
accompaniment of musical instruments

The sound of violins, drums, cymbals, ghumats (a Goan
percussion instrument), saturate the air

The dolkas, a sort of rustic drum, acts as the mainspring
or director of the play, punctuating the story, whereas
the whistle of the mestri (producer like) serves as the
curtain-raiser to the play
Goa Tour Packages – Carnival 2016
Go through the Goa tour packages to have a fun-filled experience
this Goa Carnival!