CM to flag off city Carnival parade today

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-02-21
PANAJI- The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, in the presence of the Governor, Dr S S Sidhu and the city Mayor, Mr Tony Rodrigues will flag off the Carnival 2009 parade in the city today at 3.30 p.m.
The city Carnival, a festival of fun and revelry is being jointly organised by the Panjim Carnival Committee, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation and the department of tourism. Mr Ivor Anthony Braganza, a businessman from Cacora-Curchorem will be enacting the traditional King Momo, and issue a decree announcing his fun-filled regime for next three days.
The city parade, which will commence from the Santa Monica Jetty and proceed to Campal area along the D B Road will have various tableaux accompanied by music and dancing troupes. The highlight of the parade will be the Goan dancing duo Jason and Sylvia, with the accompaniment of 25 couples from their dance academy, and special children from the Gujarati Samaj School, Margao presenting Samba dance.
The parade will be led by a tableau carrying King Momo and his queen, followed by a float of the GTDC and that of the Panjim Carnival Committee. The floats would be presented in various categories - traditional, club/ institution, family, fun/ junk car, clown and sponsored - and the best of the lot would receive prizes starting at Rs 60,000.
The police have taken adequate measures to streamline the city traffic during the carnival parade as well as to provide security cover to the participants and the viewers.
Meanwhile, Mr Tony Rodrigues told ‘The Navhind Times’ that rumours were being spread by some section of the people as regards withdrawal of commercial floats from the city Carnival parade, following decision of the organisers to charge some fee from those tableaux, which were found endorsing products. “All floats, including that of the Kingfisher beverage have confirmed their participation in the parade, and we might even have the liquor baron, Vijay Mallya making a special appearance during the parade,” he added.