Team Herald
PANJIM: The Panjim float parade kicked off carnival festivities in the State on Saturday depicting the unique culture, tradition and identity of Goa which enthralled a massive audience comprising locals, domestic and foreign tourists.
The floats depicted Nallachem Tel by Juvemchem Ghanekar from St Estevam, Goan weddings, traditional Goan Poder, etc. The Agriculture Department through its float urged the people to grow and eat millets to stay healthy, while Nave Marg Foundation’s float was on how to live happily with diabetes.
Tourism Department’s new ideas including helicopter rides, Hop-on Hop-off buses and boats were showcased at
the carnival.
Earlier, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte flagged off the carnival parade at 4 pm.
Sawant said, “Along with the message of eat, drink and make merry, the message to increase the happiness index of Goa also goes out through the carnival.”
Khaunte said, “This is People’s Carnival and we are facilitators to show the communal harmony of Goa and provide back up to showcase the culture of Goa.”
The parade, which was flagged off at 4 pm, however moved at a snail’s pace prompting the eagerly waiting crowd to walk towards the parade’s starting point.
This caused chaos and disorder, which was later managed and cleared by the police. There was a massive half an hour gap between the main King Momo’s float and the remaining ones due to various reasons.