Goa gears up to celebrate, announces Shigmo, Carnival, Shivaji Jayanti dates

Panaji: The tourism department has started working on a detailed plan to organise Shigmotsav, Carnival, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti with grand fervour.

Carnival will take place from Feb 28 to March 4, with a curtain-raiser at Porvorim on Feb 28, followed by parades in Panaji, Margao, Vasco, Mapusa, and Morjim.

Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte, along with GTDC chairperson Ganesh Gaonkar, tourism director Kedar Naik, and GTDC MD Kuldeep Arolkar, chaired meetings with the organising committees for the events. Also present at the meetings were the representatives of municipal councils, the police, and fire and emergency services.

The tourism department has allocated Rs 59 lakh to organise Carnival.

Shigmo will be held from March 15-29 with colourful float parades organised across 19 centres. Festivities will commence in Ponda on March 15, followed by Margao on March 16, Mandrem and Quepem on March 17, Shiroda and Curchorem on March 18, and Dharbandora on March 19. Calangute will host the parade on March 20, followed by Vasco on March 21 and Panaji on March 22. Parades in Mapusa and Sanguem are scheduled for March 23, while Canacona will celebrate on March 24 and Pernem on March 25. Celebrations will continue in Valpoi and Cuncolim on March 26, Bicholim on March 27, Sanquelim on March 28, and will culminate in Porvorim on March 29.

The department has decided to increase the Shigmo prize money for Quepem, Bicholim, Valpoi, Canacona, Curchorem, Sanguem, Pernem, Cuncolim, Sanquelim, Dharbandora, Shiroda, and Calangute by Rs 50,000.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti will be celebrated on Feb 19 in Panaji, Margao, Mapusa, Vasco, Ponda, Sanquelim, Porvorim, and Bicholim. A one-time grant of Rs 5 lakh has been allocated to various committees to mark the occasion.

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Mapusa Carnival meet ends in 5 mins

Mapusa: Councillors fumed after the meeting of the Mapusa Carnival committee ended within five minutes on Friday. “We were expecting chairperson Nutan Bicholkar to update us about the plan for the Carnival parade at Mapusa, but she didn’t show up. It was a waste of our time,” said opposition councillor Shashank Narvekar. TNN