Goa carnival festival

Goa – the name of the place alone is enough to invoke enthusiasm, fun and relaxation topped with ultimate cultural and adventurous inclination. If you are planning for a vacation that is filled with lively and exhilarating experience, let Goa be your next destination. And if it’s happening in February, let Goa Carnival be the icing on the cake.

Goa Carnival takes place every year throughout Goa in the months of February or March. This is entirely for the ones who are craving for some energetic vibes with a dose of cultural and adventurous blend. After all, Goa is famous for being the favorite for national as well as international tourists for its ultimate positive vibes.

The Goa Carnival got highlighted after the end of Portuguese rule in Goa in the 1960s. It began as a rural celebration and grew to be an urban floats-based parade. Though it is still celebrated in a very traditional way, commercial touchups and hundreds of different cultural doses play a significantly bigger role to make it on a level that pulls international tourists in majority.

The carnival kicks off on Fat Saturday (Sabado Gordo) and continues till Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday), a day before Ash Wednesday that marks as the first day of the season of Lent.

The annual festival of Goa is a riot of colors and energy spreading positivity all around and dominating the streets with extravagant dance and music performance. The local residents believe that Goa comes under the rule of King Momo during this carnival season, where the king preaches to “eat, drink and make merry.” The parade floats across the cities of Panjim, Margao, Ponda, Vasco, Curchorem, Mapusa and Morjim.

• The Carnival begins on the Fat Saturday evening with a grand procession headed by King Momo.
• Balloons are bobbed up in the air trailed in colorful ribbons to initiate the procession as it starts.
• There are masked parades in different parts of the destination wherein one can see entertainers, beautiful floats and participants dressed in fun costumes.
• Short gigs and plays performed by the locals to exhibit the Goan culture and their love for fun and enthusiasm.
• Horse-drawn carriages, decorated bullock carts and beautifully ornamented floats are few of the main highlights of the parade.
• Performers showcase traditional dance performances in gaudy costumes, and play electrifying music live in the procession.
• There are sports competitions, floats and parades that are open for all free of cost.
• Goa, being the hub for good food and great drinks, the carnival extensively exhibits these and more in the 3-days stretch.
• Khell or Fell is the famous one-act folk play where exciting colors are used and Intruzachim Geetam or Fella-Gitam are performed by the walking-singers that walk around and sing accompanied by local musical instruments.
• The rustic drums, called dolkas, are the attractions of the mainspring or director of the play that helps in narration during the act. Likewise, the whistle of the mestri act as a curtain-raiser to the play.
• The carnival ends with the popular color-coordinated dance where the women are dressed in red tops and black skirts and men in red shirts and black trousers while dancing in the procession.

Goa is easily reachable by air or train connected with all the major cities in the country. Please note and remember that it is the peak season of tourism in Goa during the carnival, and hence all the accommodation are full much in advance. Hence, a prior booking for hotels and lodging is suggested.

• Goa has international airport at Dabolim. Reach at the airport and from there cabs or rented cars are available for further travel.
• The airport is connected with multiple cities all over the country as well as international countries.

• Goa has several railway stations namely Madgaon, Vasco Da Gama and Thivim which are connected to different cities over a huge network of trains.
• Reach any of the stations and avail the cabs or rented car services to reach any of your preferred city for the carnival.

• You may arrive any of the metropolitans and drive to Goa by road. However, driving from Mumbai to Goa is an experience by its own. The Western Ghats are sure to hypnotize you with its eternal charm throughout the 12hours road trip down NH4.

• There are cruises that provide boat services from Mumbai to Panji.
• You can also opt for ferry services which are excellent an experience

• Tight security system is provided every year during the Goa carnival.
• Drones, CCTVs and metal detectors are present to keep a check on the safety of the participants as well as of the tourists.

Goa is a place for every individual who loves life and knows how to live happily. The Goa Carnival is the best experience those individuals must opt for, at least once in their lifetimes.