Team Goemkarponn
CORTALIM: The second edition of the Cortalim Carnival turned the village into a sea of colour and celebration on Tuesday evening, as thousands lined the highway from Vailankanni Chapel at Santrant to Bandacho Khuris to witness a grand parade of floats, music and dance.
The 1.5-km stretch came alive with live bands, traditional Kunbi dancers and creatively designed floats carrying cultural and social themes. King Momo and the Carnival Queen led the procession, greeting cheering spectators as the parade moved through the heart of the village.
The event was flagged off by Arts and Culture Minister Ramesh Tavadkar in the presence of Cortalim MLA Anton Vas, special guest Dr Rajesh Patil, ZP member Merciana Vas, Sarpanch Ujwala Naik and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Tavadkar described Carnival as a celebration that binds communities together. “The scale of participation shows how deeply people value such festivals. Carnival is not confined to one section — it belongs to everyone. Through these celebrations, we present our identity as Goans to the rest of the country and the world,” he said.
He stressed that cultural traditions must be safeguarded through collective effort. “A society that values its culture remains strong. The department of art and culture and the government will extend full support to initiatives that promote our heritage in Cortalim,” he added.
MLA Anton Vas said the overwhelming response to last year’s debut edition encouraged organisers to scale up the celebrations this year. “When we introduced Carnival in Cortalim last year, it was a new experiment. The response convinced us that the village was ready for something bigger. This edition includes diverse programmes, including a Jagor, and the turnout has surpassed expectations,” he said.
Vas credited residents and the Cortalim Carnival Committee for the success of the event. “Public participation is the true strength behind this celebration. Organising a new event is never easy, but the support from people makes every effort worthwhile,” he said, adding that future editions would aim to grow even further with continued government backing.
Dr Rajesh Patil praised the initiative, stating that bringing Carnival to Cortalim demonstrated foresight and commitment to cultural promotion. “People have gathered in huge numbers, which itself speaks volumes. Cultural programmes, tiatrs and performances are now being systematically organised across the constituency, giving local talent a strong platform,” he said.
A grand stage erected near Bandacho Khuris hosted live performances late into the night, with music and dance keeping the festive mood alive. Police personnel were deployed along the route to regulate the crowd, though many enthusiastic spectators crossed barricades briefly to click photographs and record videos with performers.
As the parade concluded, the village remained abuzz with celebration, reinforcing Cortalim’s place on Goa’s Carnival map.
