Eat, Drink and Be Merry at the Goa Carnival

The Goa Carnival is a 3-day non-stop festival of song, dance, music and color. The soothing climate of Goa, fun and excitement makes it the much awaited events of the place and is a source of great entertainment for people of all ages.

The word carnival comes from the Latin word meaning “to take away meat”. It is an expression of the 40-day fasting period of Lent for Christians during which the people abstain from taking meat completely. The Goa Carnival an inseparable part of the Portuguese heritage of this state, which was under the rule of Portuguese till 1961. This carnival is celebrated since the 18th century. The carnival highlights the friendly and fun-loving nature of Goa. It was introduced by the earlier rulers of Goa as a rowdy celebration in which eggs, dirty water, flour, lemons and oranges were thrown at the public.

What Happens During Goa Carnival

This festival is held in mid February and the streets come alive with color. The event lasts for almost a week and heralds the time for vibrant processions, floats, graceful dances and non-stop festivity. It is the most popular of all the festivals of India and acts a complete entertainment for the tourists, whether local or foreign.  

The Goa carnival marks the time for feasting, drinking and merrymaking. Massive parades are held throughout the state with dances, bands and floats during the days as well as nights. Grand balls are also held in the evenings. During the three days of celebrations, cultural functions and competitions are held and judged by some selected people. The prizes are distributed by King Momo.

The participants in the carnival wear colorful costumes and masks. In the fun filled environment people smear each other with color. The Goa carnival has more indigenous flavor in the villages. Although the carnival is celebrated mostly by the Christian population of Goa, Hindu’s of Goa also participate wholeheartedly in this carnival. The Goa carnival is bound to any religion and represents just the cultural highlights of the state.

Numerous tourists visit Goa during the Carnival. The aura of festivity fills every nook and corner of the state. Everyone is elated in terms of joy and excitement. It is great being a part of this fun-filled event. At the onset  of this event, hotels are booked in advance by the tourists planning to visit Goa during the carnival.