What happens when two celebrations are scheduled at the same time? One of them will have to wait for the other to end. And that's what happened in South Goa when Curtorim Carnival organisers had to wait for the bigger Margao Carnival parade to get over.
No sooner, the Margao Carnival parade ended, eight kilometres away in Curtorim, the revelers took to the streets at 8.30 pm to put up a grand show despite the delay and make up for people's patience which had run out. They had been waiting for the colourful show to start from 5.30 pm onwards.
And when it started, it had many firsts. The Curtorim Carnival parade was held on a Sunday for the first time since its inception17 years ago. For the first time, it started after the Margao Carnival parade concluded, and it was the first time that it went on till around 10 pm.
Thirty floats, parading from the Maina Church ground to the Curtorim Market Square, depicted Goan traditions, waste management, flora and fauna of Goa, and focused on social and environmental issues, as they entertained the villagers of Curtorim and surrounding areas.
WHY CURTORIM FLOAT PARADE?
In January 2007, a handful of Curtorkars got together to organise, what is now one of the most happening events – the Curtorim float parade. The Curtorim Cultural Committee was appointed under the title of 'Festival of Curtorkars'.
“The first year that we had the Carnival, it was grand. It was done mostly by locals and everyone put their hearts into it. We wanted to ring in the festivities like other major cities,” says Joseinho Monteiro, one of the committee members.
Vivek Da Viegas, from Curtorim, who hosted King Momo at his place due to the delay, said, “The reason to have a Carnival parade in Curtorim is to encourage the locals to participate."
"It will also help tap into their talents through activities like fashion shows, art and painting competitions, exploring themes and dancing on floats,” he added.
CURTORIM HAS ITS OWN KING MOMO
Dressed in a royal red cloak, a golden crown, a pleuche cape and holding a sceptre in his hand, Rosario Mascarenhas – Curtorim's King Momo – was dressed to rule the village of Curtorim for the duration of the Carnival.
In a quick chat with him before the event, he said, “This is the first time someone from my family has become King Momo. I’m super excited to see so many people who were anxiously waiting for me to arrive.”
The 60-year-old king, who runs a local cold storage in Curtorim, is loved by almost every meat eater.
“It’s only in Curtorim that there is a separate King Momo, and it’s a privilege for me to be selected. When I was told by the Curtorim Cultural Committee that I was selected to be this year's King Momo, my family was super excited," he said.
"We immediately made arrangements to make my nieces – Jellery Mascarenhas and Jenesis Fernandes – the queens at the parade,” he added.
It was a vibrant and colourful celebration – a time for the locals to let loose, have fun and revel in the spirit of Carnival.
