VIVA CARNIVAL.......................
GOA CARNIVAL - A THREE DAY SAGA
Come February and you will find excitement bubbling across Goa…the reason…well, Goa is dressing up for the carnival. It doesn't take much time for this small Indian state of Goa to get into the carnival mood, basically the party mood.One of the most popular festivals of India, the Goa carnival, a three-day fest, had its birth in Goa during the era of King Momo. He ushered in the Goa carnival just before the Lent season (Lent is the period of fasting and penance in the Christian calendar and corresponding somewhat to the Mohammedan fast before Ramzan Id). This festival of Goa usually starts off on Sabado Gordo (Fat Saturday) and concludes on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday)-the eve of Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of the season of Lent.
The word carnival comes from the Latin word-carnelevarium, which means 'putting away the flesh'. Carn meant flesh, and leavare meant to remove. But levare, could also mean to raise, perhaps the Brazilians wanted to interpret it as raising a gala storm. Brazil was the first country to play host to the carnival. Carnival is a festival of revelry and fun observed in many countries around the world, though its actual form varies from country to country. The exact reason behind the carnival is not known but it appears the carnival had its genesis in a human necessity-that of giving itself a complete holiday from the mundane cares and problems of the daily world. Carnival in Goa is much tamer when compared to the carnival in the other countries, but a madness of sorts nevertheless. Until a few years ago it was promoted by the state authorities as a Christian festival and large and small manufacturing and trading corporations, ever eager to use any means to sell their products literally took over the processions of Carnival floats, balls and street dances. In fact, for those four nights and three days they ruled over Goa. Manufacturers of beer, liquor, cigarette, and other consumer products used and abused the Goan Carnival to sell their wares. The church and social activists then suddenly took energetic initiative to put an end to the reckless exploitation of Carnival and adolescent boys and girls. As a result, carnival in Goa is now what it was meant to be: a people feast. And no more a spectacle to lure tourists and consumers.
posted by Sachin @ 10:45 AM
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