This year’s King Momo, Cedric da Costa has seen Carnival from his childhood in Margao and while it has changed over time, his main aim as the leader of the festival is to bring people together in the festive, joyful and colourful season
DIANA FERNANDES
As a child growing up in Aquem, Margao, Cedric da Costa remembers Carnival being synonymous with the St. Sebastian Chapel feast, family gatherings, and the big Carnival float parade.
“Every year, after the feast mass we would rush home for the feast lunch with our relatives who would come together and then rush to Margao for the Carnival. One of my most memorable moments of Carnival was troubling my father to buy me a water gun, Carnival hats and balloons to make water balloons at the feast fair,” he shares.
The festival has also brought with it star struck moments for him. In 1995, even though da Costa and his friends couldn’t afford tickets to the famous Navelim dance, they settled for standing at the venue entranceand managed to get a glimpse of the then recently crowned Miss World Aishwarya Rai. On another occasion, he and his friends were watching the floats near the Holy Spirit Church when two tourists crashed into them. The duo turned out to be actresses Raveena Tandon
and Ritu Shivpuri.
This year, being selected in the role of King Momo who will lead the Carnival festivities has brought with it even more joy. “It’s a top-of-the-world kind of feeling where you’re already on top of the float and now, the sky’s the limit. To see and look at all the people from children to the seniors, it’s a cloud nine sort of feeling,” he says.
Although he has been associated with Carnival as an emcee for parties and dances, it was only around two years ago that da Costa’s friend Roussel Miranda and later Alexandre Moniz Barbosa encouraged him to apply for the role.
“It became a kind of mission for me. I was new to the process last year and stood third. I didn’t qualify but there was a very capable King Momo chosen. This year, even on the day of the auditions, I was reluctant to go but I went and the six other contestants were equally good,”
he shares
The audition consisted of a 20-member committee which included the tourism director and managers as well as representatives from Carnival committees across the state. After several rounds of auditions and two tie-breakers, da Costa finally won the title of ‘King Momo 2026.’
Since then, he has been on a mission to reach out to people, encouraging them to come to watch the float parade and participate with their friends and family. “I’ve done several outreach programmes to reach out to children, the elderly, traditional occupations like bakers and fishermen and families. The Kunbi cloth is something that I am supporting, and the ghumot is the instrument that you will see on the float as well. I am putting a story to everything, even my outfit has a
story to tell,” he says.
King Momo is also encouraging the youth to put a spin on his slogan ‘Amchem Goy, Amcho Lok, Amcho Carnival, Viva Goa Viva Carnival’ with a Carnival anthem challenge.
Having seen the Carnival festivities of the past, da Costa also notices how things have changed for the better. “It was a different thrill when we were young, but it still has the same vibe today. Just like in the past, the ghumot, khell tiatrs and floats are still there today. In the past we didn’t have phones, but today that too is helping to promote the festival. In the middle there was a slump; people were not interested in the floats because they were monotonous, commercialised and lacked creativity,” he says.
Over the years, he notes, the Tourism Department has also taken a lot of effort in reviving the quality and standard of the floats and this has led to people coming on the streets. “Post COVID-19 there have been categories, rules and guidelines that have come in and that helps maintain decorum, boost creativity and control vulgarity. It is up to us now to keep up the legacy. Our Goans are taking it to other parts of the world. Tourists are coming to see it and helping the industry,” he says.
What excites him the most however is the joy it will bring on the faces of the attendees. “I am excited to meet and lead the people and the floats and it will be exciting to see even the smallest child in their mother’s arms or the senior citizens in his wheelchair led by his children waving out to me,” he says.
“Carnival is rooted in the psych of every Goan, be it in Goa or abroad. Many times, it’s been said that it is a Catholic festival, but especially in Margao, the love I’ve got from people especially my Hindu friends has been amazing. Irrespective of caste and religion, people have understood that Carnival is a very ethnic Goan festival,” he says.
As for the preparations, the first step, da Costa says he had to do, was “come down from my sky high feeling and take a breath.” Then began the work on the costume, which will reflect the colours of Carnival, and a mascot, which will be revealed in the week. The vehicle is going to surprise
everyone, he adds.
