Goa Carnival Festival 2017 - Go Visit Goa

Goa Carnival is the most famous festival in the state and has been celebrated since the 18th century as a precursor to the abstinence of Lent. The Carnaval is exclusive and unique to Goa and was introduced by the Portuguese who ruled over Goa for over five hundred years.

Huge colorful parades take over the state's cities with bands, floats, and dances, while the evenings mean serious partying wherever you are. Try not to miss the final day's festivities, which conclude with the famous red-and-black dance held by the Clube Nacional in Panjim.

The float parades are organized in association with the State Tourism Department. The float parade in Panaji will be led by a special float hosting King Momo, a specially decorated float, which will declare the decree of eating, drink and merry.

Although the three-day festival is primarily celebrated by Christians, it has also absorbed Hindu tradition revelry, western dance forms, and turned into a pageantry of sorts. Though it started as a celebration enjoyed only by the local population, it has today crossed the state frontiers and attracts thousands of people from all over the country.

The Goa carnival festival 2017 is held in February for three days and nights when the legendary king Momo takes over the state and the streets come alive with music and color. Then begins the weeklong event, which is a time of unbridled festivity and merry-making, which has been celebrated since the 18th Century. 

The carnival is meant to be a feasting-drinking-merrymaking orgy just before the austere 40 days of Lent. Huge parades are organized throughout the state with bands, dances and float out all night on the streets, and grand balls held in the evenings. The carnival concludes with the famous red-and-black dance held by the Clube National in Panajim on the final day.