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More traditional floats likely in Goa carnival

By Anil Sastry

PANAJI, FEB. 3. The Goa Carnival will be a different affair this year with the Government exhorting the local organisers to include more traditional floats. To give thrust to the tradition of the State, the Government has decided to enhance its contribution from Rs. 3.75 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs. The extra amount would help fund carnival parades at Panaji and Margao, according to department officials.

"Rather than having parades everywhere, we would like to have better quality parades in major cities,'' said the Tourism Minister, Fransisco Pacheco. The Minister has asked the Department to ensure that commercialisation is minimised. The Goa Tourism Department expects bigger participation in the parades this time, the officials said. King Momo would herald the Panaji parade on February 21. Margao will host the parade on February 22. The festivities would run till February 24.

The Government has decided to introduce a parade along the Calangute-Candolim beach belt in North Goa this year. "This 6 km stretch will see a real Carnival,'' officials said. It is the hottest destination for tourists, especially foreigners. The local Calangute-Candolim Panchayat had been asked to arrange it. Over 30,000 tourists are expected to visit the State during the Carnival days.

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