Goa Celebrations
Posted by Brody on May 22, 2009Carnival is one of many festivals and celebrations that take place in Goa every year. Though it is one among many, it definitely stands out in its popularity and spectacle. It takes place prior to Lent in March or late February and is truly a one of a kind event in Goa. It’s tradition dates back to the 18th century when settlers from Portugal brought it with them to the country. Since then, the traditional European based holiday has fused with Indian culture to become a unique style of carnival, though many of its elements haven’t changed. The event includes numerous parades and floats and takes place over a three-day period. There are other forms of entertainment as well including dance and drama. Festival food is available and integral to the fun of the people who are lining the streets for this huge party. Carnival is a great time to be visiting India and tourists staying in Goa beach hotel can expect to have a great time. They may want to know that a common etymological definition of carnival comes from two root words carne, meaning meat, and vale, meaning good or goodbye. What this literally means to participants is that it’s time to enjoy the meat before Lent and the fasting that will accompany it. What is also means is a time of great revelry and abandon.
Early morning risings will be easy when guests awake to the sounds of bagpipes and cymbals playing up and down the streets. They can either go down to the street and enjoy the parades up close or watch from a window in their hotel room. What they’ll see is plenty of musicians who are colorfully dressed behind the instruments. Crowds gather early in the streets to watch these performers and floats pass by. Many people join in and run along with them. Tourists and residents alike enjoy the spectacularly elaborate masquerades that are intended to accompany the live bands every night. All of the activity fills the streets completely and often leads to enormous parties that last throughout the night. Another popular nightly activity is the elaborate balls that are held in various clubs. On the final night of carnival there is the grandest ball of all at the Clube Nacional. One of the highlights of this final evening is the traditional Red and Black dance. The importance of carnival is not lost on the Goans. They love the holiday and begin preparations for it in December, months before the festival will occur.
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