Nearly seventy one floats partook in the float parade in the commercial capital
of Goa - Margao this evening which lasted for two hrs commencing at 1638 hrs.
Interestingly with just eight commercial floats beer mobile food products-
those that were the traditional floats depicting our "niz goencars" in
occupations like fishing, pottery ( mud pots Kumbhars) toddy tappling (renders)
etc won appreciation from one and all These traditional floats were of a
rich content and provided a good opportunity for the younger generation who may
have not seen such life-styles to understand the traditions of most Goans
and the soul of true Goencarponn.
The floats were accompanied by traditional Goan music, and that too added color
and high spirits to the festivities.
Preceeding the King Momo float were our "traditional political clowns" Joaquim
Alemao, Francisco Sardinha, Digamber Kamat, they have a record of stabbing
one another in the political arena but were seen today as comrades in arms.
The Bralian-India -Goa troupe did not provide the required stimulus to the
floats many suspected their origins and interestingly they seem to be promoted
by an outstation ensemble mostly non goans who accompanied them in the Goa
Tourist Development Corporation buses and were transported at the Holy Spirit
Church venue at Old Market the starting point of the parade.
In fact one Austrian couple who spoke to this writer after the event was fuming
over the misrepresentation of facts of the Brazilian troupe - they confessed to
have missed the show yesterday and were keen in watching a Samba performance a
la Rio but this one -- " oh a trumped up one" not worth watchin... " they
remarked. Was the Tourism Minister Mr Francisco (Micky) Pacheco and the GTDC
Chairman Mr Shyam Satardekar misled to belived their Brazilian origins one
wondered??
The crowds were all in carnaval attire faces painted masks and scarfs. Gas
baloons were every where and outstation hawkers made an impressive kill selling
mascaras clown caps etc to the pestering children and adults
There was a lot of merriment at the Rua Pe Miranda near the Catholic Syrian
Bank where enthusiastic collegians threw water on unsuspecting passers- by this
provided the Carnaval spirit which will end on Shrove Tuesday.
Children were amazed to watch various caricatures in different attire. Of
course the quick movement of the floats resulted in the floats ending at 630
hrs much before sun set. But unlike yester years the weather was extremely
pleasant the surging crowds were stomping their feet to the tunes of
traditional Goan music.
Then came the fireworks which was indeed lent a colorful VIBGYOR ( rainbow )
in the dark skies amd was most interesting .
The city was spruced up with huge cariacatures arches right from the entrance
of the city Old Market near the KTC bus terminus upto the over century old
Margao Muncipal Building which was tastefully decorated so was the stage
settings. The music provided by Status - 4 with Sonia Sirsat belting out
traditional Konkani music with the immortal Chirs Perry numbers and to enthuse
the migrant up North Indian croud there was a Punjabi hit song . The impetus
to the two hours show witnessed by a large crowd was lent by Mike Mehta (Adv) a
Konkani playwright, interestingly he ensured that Goan centric music in our
mother tongue Konkani alone was provided and the crowd with a sprinkling of
foreign tourists enjoyed the rhythm. Sonia proved to be the charming darling
of the crowd with her excellent rendition of songs -- truly a voice -- of a
nightingale remarked an American national who had video recorded the entire
parade on his mobile camera.
The Carnaval committee headed by ex Chairperson Ms Piedade Noronha (an ST
herself ) took a momentous decision this time to do away with the fancy dress
and other inconsequential programme but instead provide for "khell tiatrs"
Councillors were also geared up in their Caranaval attire a welcome move indeed
which was appreciated by all. However one feature which was notable was the
clear soft polarisation restricting the festivities to the Catholic community.
The police were present in large numbers but they had an important agend to
ensure that traffic bottle necks Behind Loyola and the Rua Abade Faria was
cleared owing to congestion caused by the incoming trains and crowds moving out
after the parade.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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