Waiting for King Momo

The Tourism Department is now the biggest player in organizing floats. Though music and dancing continue to be the hallmark of the carnival, floats and participants’ behaviour are increasingly being dictated by sarkari babus.

The Manohar Parrikar government just before being voted out, had forced the carnival committees to remove what it perceived as ‘Western content’ in the carnival. Several floats have been forced to carry Hindu religious themes reminiscent of the floats in the Hindu festival of Shigmo, much to the consternation of the traditionalists.

‘‘This time, the dhol will be the mascot in a big way at the festival,’’ festival chairman Joaquim Teles said.

The three-day carnival is celebrated by Catholics here before the advent of Lent, when the devout abstain from alcohol and meat.

However, a number of prominent Christians are demanding the flavour of the carnival be retained now that the Parrikar government has been ousted. ‘‘Carnival floats are now looking like Republic Day floats, so why have the carnival at all in Goa,’’ asked one. Models and Bollywood starlets are being wooed by liquor companies to dance on floats, since local women do not participate in a big way. In all, there will be 60 dances that will held across the state.

Bollywood producers and TV serials producers are now shooting in Goa in a bid to incorporate the carnival into their programmes.