Panaji: Going back to the yesteryears, the curtain raiser for the Goa Carnival opened at Porvorim on Friday with bullock carts instead of fuel-powered vehicles and live musical instruments instead of loudspeakers.“Back in the day, King Momo would arrive in a bullock cart. Similarly, today we ensured that we got those nostalgic moments back and celebrated the Carnival in the old manner. As a result, there are no fuel-powered vehicles, generators and big sound systems,” said minister for tourism Rohan Khaunte.
He inaugurated the event near the Art Park in Porvorim, which is in his constituency, raising the slogan “Viva Carnival”.“Carnival is one of the most important festivals of Goa, celebrated even after Goa’s Liberation. It calls for communal harmony, and people from every part of the state celebrate it in different forms. We have international and domestic tourists who come especially for the Goa Carnival. It is a part of Catholic tradition that all of us celebrate together in communal harmony. Viva Carnival!,” he said.This edition’s King Momo, Cedric da Costa, who arrived on Friday, said that the curtain raiser was special because the entire road was made into a no-motor zone. At the event, participants were seen dressed as villagers, pop culture icons and cartoon characters.One of the most popular attractions at the event was a replica of a KTC bus, which allowed visitors to board it.“The curtain raiser did not have a single commercial float and was reminiscent of the Carnival I witnessed growing up,” said MLA Delilah Lobo.
