With Carnival just around the corner, locals tell NT BUZZ how
they would like to see the parade infused with new energy, better community participation, and a more Goan feel
NT BUZZ
The festive decor is slowly making its appearance across the state, as come Saturday, Goa prepares for four days of merry making and revelry. The festivities will kick off with the floats parade led by King Momo, which will meander through the capital city, followed by parades in other main towns over the following three days. This unique parade has for long been an opportunity to showcase the best of Goan culture and also raise awareness about
many social issues.
For many years, locals would look forward to this parade. They would don colourful attire and masks, and patiently line up along the parade route, in anticipation of a memorable time. However, in recent times, this enthusiasm has dimmed. Many no longer bother visiting this parade. Those that still do, many a times, return with complaints about how dull it seems to be getting, year after year.
So what has changed, and how can we revive the spirit of the Carnival parade again? A few locals weigh in:
We used to have little cars and little floats come from little wards from different roads. They would go around the ward and play music. It was nice, not the disturbing kind of music. And the two clubs – Clube Nacional and Clube Vasco Da Gama – would play a vital role.
I think today, there should be less involvement of the government in doing this parade. Everything is commercialised now which is sad. Carnival has always been a community festival. Let it remain that way. If people are left to do what they want, I think the community will revive the festival, back to the old days; simple, nice, enjoyable.
We might have to encourage the youth a little bit, though. Today, most youth have a habit of saying that they don’t have time. We have to urge them to keep the culture and the
festival alive.”
Alu Gomes Pereira, COO, Charters &Goa
I think what we need is a ‘People’s Carnival’, one that would involve the community, where common folk could slip into each other’s houses, play with colour, and have simple and clean fun as in the yesteryears. The Goaness in its true essence needs to be the focus. It need not be through the floats alone but also through the sincerity of purpose. I grew up on this robust spirit and would humbly wish for this revival.”
Shirlene Fernandes, assistant professor
The Carnival parade is an occasion to witness Goa’s rich cultural heritage. However, today, we’ve lost its true essence, its history, its tribute to the legendary King Momo. The locals today are troubled with the tiring loud music and the never ending traffic jams.
To bring back the charm, it could be planned keeping in mind what the locals would truly cherish – being able to spend quality time with family while learning about the Goa that once was, in all its glory. Integrating technological aspects, we could have QR codes for the audiences today to scan and read up about Goan history. And most importantly, punctuality and better traffic management should be prioritised, while ensuring that it goes back to celebrating Goa and Goans rather than just entertaining tourists.”
Meenal Bale, manager
One reason people may no longer feel excited about watching the Carnival parade is that the way they are presented does not align with how they imagine or connect with the culture. One of the reasons behind this shift is the increasing involvement of large corporate players, which has altered the aesthetics of the Carnival parade. The focus has moved from traditional elements, such as elaborately crafted floats and communal artistry, toward branding and towering stacks of speakers. To revitalise community interest and engagement, stakeholders should prioritise emphasising community participation. A valuable approach would be to support artistic projects within local communities, similar to the Bosch Parade in the Netherlands, which emphasises creative collaboration rather than mere competition. Encouraging such involvement can help restore a sense of belonging and cultural connection among participants and spectators alike.”
Diptej Vernekar, artist
Carnival in the past was more culture based, fun, and exciting. Now with the excessive media exposure, you hardly feel the excitement of going for a Carnival as most people would feel bored to see the repetitive display of floats, un-artistic commercial floats and mismanaged spectator areas. A proper parade ground and systematic display of tableaux like it happens on Kartavya Path in Delhi, would draw a better audience. Secondly, new artists especially the youth should be encouraged by the government to create works as it boosts the tourism industry. This would help develop better quality of floats. Lewd or derogatory symbols associated with Carnival could be discouraged.”
Eltrin D’Souza, lecturer
Goa’s Carnival has the potential to be a resplendent showcase of an extraordinary depth of culture. We need to rekindle this to bring forth the magic of the carnival.
The city parades specifically have been steadily losing their appeal. The themes are repetitive and so is the creative expression. There is no novelty. Also, some of the tableaux are devoid of any creativity barring a few ribbons strung on a vehicle and complemented by a generous stack of hi-decibel speakers! In contrast, the village celebrations are terrific. The Shigmo parade is far more visually-appealing.
We need to go back to the drawing board and put together a healthy combination of the veterans and youth from artistic fields, to create a Carnival that is fresh. Execution wise, we need to consider more usage of eco-friendly and re-useable materials.
Mackinlay Barreto, founder, Local Beat
I used to go for Carnival every year as a kid with either my grandfather or dad. We’d see the floats and even participate. Today’s scene though, is sad. One of the biggest changes is how commercial it has become. The focus on the rich diversity and culture of Goa has reduced. The music too has switched from Goan classics to EDM. There is less creativity in the floats. Carnival used to be about community, culture, and art, but today it seems more like a business. A greater focus on the community and focusing on the local cultural aspects would bring back the charm of Goa’s Carnival. Also involving more of the Carnival legends in the decision making could inspire authentic age old decisions, like bringing back musicians, artistes, and actors of yesteryears.”
Johann Da Silva, equity research analyst
(With inputs from Adithi Sharma, Kalyani Jha, and Christine Machado)
