Viva Carnaval – Top 5 Reasons to attend the Goa Carnival

It’s that time of the year again when Goa comes to vibrant life for four long days! Not that Goa is dull the rest of the time, far from it, but the energy felt during the four days of Carnival is something out of this world. The Goa Carnival is held every year some time in February and March, and is mainly a Portuguese fest. The word Carnival in Latin means to “throw away meat”. Accordingly, this festival is celebrated before Lent, a period of fasting and penance in the Christian calendar. This year, the Goa Carnival will be celebrated from February 6 to February 9, so if you are planning a visit to Goa any time soon, you may want to plan it during these four days. Check out Travelguru for some great Goa Carnival hotel deals and the best hotels in Goa, and you will be good to go! Let’s know more about the reasons to attend the Goa Carnival:

It’s essentially a lot of fun

This goes without saying. Why would anyone attend the Carnival if it weren’t fun? From the time it starts till it ends, the Goa Carnival is a whole lot of fun and you get every opportunity to let yourself loose! There are street shows, floats, parades and lots of dancing and music, which automatically makes the Carnival a must-attend!

Best way to explore Goa

The Carnival is the best way to explore Goan culture and history. You also discover that Goans are all about joy and merry-making, and that the Carnival is just another way to have a ball! You will be able to explore the delicious food and drinks of Goa, as well as visit all the lovely places that Goa is famous for as the Carnival keeps moving from place to place. It starts in the capital, Panaji, and goes through Margao, Vasco and Mapusa!

The festivities are free to be enjoyed

This is probably the best thing about the Carnival. There is no entry fee to participate in the Goa Carnival. It is a free-for-all extravaganza and tourists, especially foreigners, appreciate this fact. Even those who cannot join in the revelry can still take it in as the Carnival doesn’t stay in one place.

A great blend of culture and merriment

The Goa Carnival is a blend of tradition and modernity, and there’s lots of history in the mix, too. The Carnival was started in 1961 and was initially celebrated by King Momo. It has Portuguese roots and as Goa has had a profound Portuguese influence, the Carnival is still celebrated here.

Opportunity to play dress-up and photo-ops

The Goa Carnival is the perfect time to dress up either in your best, or completely outlandishly! This is the time when Venetian masks make an appearance and costumes are brought out of closets. If you’re visiting with friends and family, you will have all the more fun with dressing up and posing for photographs, making some wonderful memories!

There are tons of hotels in Goa you can check out if you plan to visit here during the Carnival. But be sure to book a hotel well in advance as hotels can full up quickly! Also, Travelguru has some amazing Goa Carnival hotel deals that you must check. So, have you got enough reasons to attend the Goa Carnival yet?