Panaji: Goa will celebrate the four-day-long carnival festival in the state from February 10 onwards, state tourism minister Rohan Kaunte said on Friday.
Addressing media persons after chairing the empowered committee meeting, Khaunte told reporters in Panaji that the carnival float parade will start from Panaji on February 10 followed by other cities on subsequent days.
The minister said that the precursor to the Carnival float parade would be held at Porvorim, near Panaji on February 9.
Khaunte said that the float parades would be held at Margao (Feb 11), Vasco (Feb 12) and Mapusa (Feb 13).
He said that the respective municipal councils have been asked to ensure that the traditional fervour of carnival is brought back to the fore during the parades.
The minister said that international and domestic tourists will be arriving in Goa to witness carnival, who should get the glimpse of this traditional festival.
Similarly, Khaunte said that the shigmo festival would be held in the state from March 26 and end on April 8.
“The parades would be held at 18 different places. We will soon announce the calendar of the event,” he said.
The minister also said that they have increased the finance for prize money and infrastructure to host Shigmo festival.
He said that the first prize for the float has been increased from Rs 35,000 to Rs 75,000. The prize for traditional romtamel (dance) is hiked from Rs 35,000 to Rs 75,000.
Khaunte said that the state will also celebrate upcoming Shiv Jayanti on a larger scale.
“The municipal councils and their respective committees in Panaji, Margao, Mapusa, Mormugao, Sankhalim and Ponda would be provided one time grant of Rs 5 lakh each to celebrate Shiv Jayanti Festival from State Tourism department,” he said.
The government is celebrating 350 years of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation. The main event would be held on Feb 19 at Bicholim (North Goa), Khaunte said.
“All the municipalities have been asked to do their best and give proper tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja for 350 years of his coronation,” he added.
