Its
Carnival time and Goa is all set to grow for three full days starting the 9th
Feb. Make sure to be there to forgo all worries and enjoy yourself to the
hilt.
India
is a land of festivals with different states and communities having their own
distinct fairs and festivals and the state of Goa is no exception. Located on
the western coast of India this tiny beach state has its own share of festivals
Ranging from Jatra to Shigmo
to Urs to various feasts of the Christian saints. However, it is for the
A carnival that Goa is famous for (apart from its beaches). A festival of fun,
Frolic and merrymaking, the Goan Carnival takes place every year in the month
of February just before the beginning of Lent. Introduced by the Portuguese, the
The carnival offers people an opportunity to
Forget their worries and to enjoy themselves over food, drinks, music and dance
Before giving oneself
to penance and fasting and is the main reason why people from all the globe
Come down to Goa. So if you want to visit Goa during this period, make sure to
Book a holiday apartment or home well in advance.
Carnival Dates:
Though
Dates for the carnival vary every year, it is however held for 3-4 days just
Before the beginning of Lent. This year the carnival is being held from 9th
To 12 Feb with the streets of Goa and its people all decked to its finery.
On
The eve of the carnival- all the four major cities of Goa the capital-Paanji,
The port town of Vasco as well as the cities of Mapusa and Margao comes alive
With the people dancing to the sound of music.
While floating and
Parades have always been the main hallmarks of the carnival, this year's carnival
Offers something new. A fashion show by Goa’s very own Wendell Rodrigues
and a rock concert featuring the likes of Remo, Farhan Akhtar, Anushka
Manchanda, Parikrama,
And Indian Ocean & Agnee have been planned for this year's carnival. In
Addition a five day Food and
Cultural festival which will
Highlight Goa’s cuisine as well as from a few other states has also been
Planned at Caranzalem, Panaji.
It
is believed that around a million people will be visiting Goa for this year’s
Carnival with a majority of them coming from abroad. To cater to the
Accommodation needs of these guests, the Goa government as well as the local
The populace has made special arrangements by arranging stays in several serviced apartments and vacation rentals.
An estimated Rs. 3 crores has been spent on this event with special
Arrangements being made for the senior citizens. Around 1000 seats have been
Earmarked for them near some of the key vantage points through which the parade
will pass.
If not the Carnival, then what else
If
You have missed the Goa carnival due to some reason and mulling over what to
Do, don’t worry there are plenty of things to do and to visit when one is in
India. The first thing which you must
Definitely do when in India during the months of Feb and march is to head off
For the Maha Kumbh Mela is taking place. A grand Hindu pilgrimage event, the Kumbh
Mela will introduce to you another facet of India; something the country is
Famous for –spirituality. So, if this catches your fancy, then book your tickets
And accommodation for to Allahabad where
The event has taken place. The event will end on 10th
March on the eve of Maha Shivratri – another important festival in the calendar
Of pious Hindus.
Other Places also worth a visit
Cities like Delhi,
Noida, Gurgaon, Udaipur and Jaipur in the north and Banglore and Kerala in the
South are some of the other places which you might consider visiting when in
India. All these cities are so different from each other that you will be left
Wondering if they all belong to the same country. And don’t worry about staying
Options or transport. All these cities are well connected by air, rail and road
And have abundance of hotels, short stay apartments and holiday apartments for
You stay put.