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Goa Carnival

February heralds the carnival at Goa. For three days and nights, the legendary king Momo takes over the state and the streets come alive with colour. The week long event is a time of festivity.

It occurs on three days in February or early March. Meant to be a festing-drinking-merrymaking orgy just before the 40 days of Lent. It is Goa`s most famous festival and has been celebrated since the 18th Century.


Huge parades throught the cities are organised with bands, floats and dances and balls in the evenings. The final day concludes with the famous red-and-black dance held by the Clube National in Panajim.

The origins of carnival are apparently the hedonistic feasts of ancient Rome and Greece. It made its appearance in the Spanish and Portugese colonies, where it metamorphosed into the very Latin singing - dancing- drinking bouts.

The carnival is presided over by King Momo, who on the opening day orders his subjects to party. Hotel bookings must be done in advance for carnival as the festival attracts thousands of tourists