Goa Carnival (in
month of February for 03 Days)
The Goa Carnival is one of the most awaited
events in Goa. People from all over the world
wait for this extravaganza.
The word Carnival is said to be derived from
the Latin word ' Carne' which means meat and
'Vale' which means ' good bye. Some also relate
the word to 'Carnislevamen' or 'the pleasures
of meat' emphasizing the enjoyment of meat
during the festival season.
Another belief is that the word Carnival
came from 'Carrus Navalis', which meant a
horse-drawn, boat-shaped carriage that was
paraded during the Roman festival Saturnalia,
in honor of Saturn. It carried men and women
in fancy dresses, wearing masks and singing
obscene songs. It is quite possible that the
present day carnival emerged from this Parade.
The Goa Carnival was introduced by the Portuguese,
who ruled Goa for about five hundred years.
The Carnival is being celebrated since the
18th century, when the legendary king Momo
took over the state and the streets come alive
with music and color. Just before 40 days
of lent, the Carnival is meant to be feasting,
drinking, merrymaking orgy.
The Carnival is an out and out fun filled
festival. You get every thing to see right
from street plays, songs, dances and unrehearsed
farces mocking the establishment. Colorful
processions and lavish floats, people masked,
singing and dancing all represent the flamboyant
Goan culture. The Goa Carnival is a mix of
different carnivals held all over the world,
which makes it more lively and special. Colorful
costumes and rhythmic drum beats makes one
energetic and enthusiastic. These three days
of Goa Carnival makes Goa the most sort after
place in the world.
Though the Goa Carnival is celebrated by
the Christian community in Goa but now people
from all communities participate in the festivities.
Today, it is not about religious ceremony
but about celebrating the spirit of Goan.
Para
Sailing
Para sailing, also known as parascending,
it is a recreational activity where a person
is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat)
while attached to a parachute. The parascender
has little or no control over the parachute.
The activity is primarily an amusement ride,
not to be confused with the sport of para
gliding. In land based parasailing the parasail
is towed behind a car or a snowmobile. In
accuracy competitions the tow-vehicle controls
the speed and height and the person flying
the parasail controls the parasail sideways.
The competitions consist of two parts: dropping/throwing
a streamer to a target and accuracy landing.
The sport was developed at the end of 1990's
and it's growing fast. First international
competitions were held in 2004.
As it is well known that Goa is not only
famous for site seeing and beautiful locations
but it is also famous for adventure sports.
One of them is Para sailing, which every visitor
looks forward to. Government and non-governments
organizations organize water sports activities
including training sessions at a nominal rate
for tourists. The Taj and Bogmalo resort hotels
are one of them which provide required equipment
for Para sailing.
There’s a rope about 300 feet long
attached to the parasail harness at one end
and to the speedboat at the other. When the
boat speeds off on the water, the parasailor
just takes one or two steps and he is lifted
into the air, the parasail lifting behind
him.
Some of the beaches where one can
indulge in parasailing are: Anjuna
beach, Baga beach, Condolim beach, Majorda
beach, Dona Paula beach, etc.
Major Parasailing Training Centers
in Goa:
Park Plaza Resort, Bogmalo beach, Bogmalo,
Goa 403 806
Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort, Sinquerim, Bardez,
Goa – 403 519
Goan Banana's Watersports, Opposite Hacienda
Hotel, Baga road, Calangute, Goa
Hydro sports, Hotel Cidade De Goa, Vainguinim,
Dona Paula, Goa – 403 004
Wind
Surfing
Windsurfing (also called board sailing) is
a sport involving travel over water on a small
2 - 4.7 meter board powered by wind acting
on a single sail, that is connected to the
board via a flexible joint. The sport is a
combination of sailing and surfing. The sail
board might be considered the most minimalistic
version of the modern sailboat, with the major
exception that steering is accomplished by
tilting the mast and sail rather than with
a rudder.
Wind surfing requires the surfer to adjust
his strength and balance to the changing patterns
of the wind and the water. The surfer shifts
his feet backwards and forward, leans his
weight left and right, manipulates the boom
in and out and moves smoothly with the wind
and water.
The Dona Paula beach is considered ideal
for the beginners, because the water here
is lake - like both for the prevailing wind
and the sea. For beginners best time to surf
is in the mornings, when the wind is calm
and the experienced can surf in the afternoon.
Main beaches famous for wind surfing
in Goa are, Anjuna beach, Baga beach,
etc.
Major Windsurfing Training Centers:
Dominic water sports, Sinquerim Beach, Bardez,
Goa – 403 519
Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort, Sinquerim, Bardez,
Goa – 403 519
Goa Yachting Association, P.O. Box –
33, Panaji, Goa 403 001
National Institute of Water Sports, NIWS,
Sundial Apts., A.S. Road, near Doordarshan
Kendra, Altinho, Panaji, Goa
The Leela Palace Goa, Mobor, Cavelossim, Salcete,
Goa – 403 731
Speed
Boat
Speed boats are famous all over the world
for giving spine chilling experiences. The
speed and the wind blowing against one's face
is enough to revive you.
Speed boat is a craze among the tourists
coming to Goa. Speed freaks who love to flirt
with the water can't resist getting into a
speed boat. There are a lot of motorboats
in Goa that have a speed of 10 to 15 miles
per hour and few with a speed of 30 to 40
miles per hour. Cidade, Oberoi and the Taj
hotels provide high powered boats which give
a thrilling experience. These speed boats
can carry six to eight people at a time and
can be used as a transportation medium. One
can go for long rides or just a spin around
the bay on these speed boats. Old Goa, Fort
Aguda, Sinquerim, St. Jacinto Island and Grant
Island and many more exciting destinations
can be visited by these speed boats. The speed
boats can also be used for water skiing.
Fast and furiously racing against the water,
speedboats give a sense of excitement that
lasts for long. So, hold onto your hats and
get ready for an unforgettable journey. A
journey that teaches you to maneuver a roller
coaster on water.
Beaches of Goa famous for speed boats
: Dona Paula beach, Colva beach, Condolim
beach, Majorda beach etc
Major Training Centers for Speed
Boat :
Aqua Sports India, 5 Floor, Nizari
Bhavan, Menezes Braganza Road, Panaji, Goa
- 403 001
Dominic Water Sports, Sinquerim Beach, Bardez,
Goa – 403 519
Park Plaza Resort, Bogmalo beach, Bogmalo,
Goa 403 806
Taj Fort Aguda Beach Resort, Sinquerim, Bardez,
Goa – 403 519
Hydro Sports, Hotel Cidade De Goa, Vainguinim,
Dona Paula, Goa – 403 004
