Just like Panjim has a Samba Square during the days of Carnival, Fatorda will also have a similar set up called the Big Fat Fatorda Carnival Blast 2018. Organised by ‘We For Fatorda” (A Vijai Sardesai Initiative), the Big Fat Fatorda Carnival Blast 2018 takes place at the Opinion Poll Square from 7 pm onwards. The festivities commence from today, 10th of February and go on till the 13th of February which is the last day of Carnival.
The Big Fat Fatorda Carnival Blast 2018
Margao will start the Carnival celebrations a day before they have the parade. The official float parade happens on the 11th of February and will be flagged off from the Margao Old Market circle at 4 pm. It ends at Lake View Plaza in Fatorda.
Day 1 of the festivities will see performances from one of the best bands Goa has ever heard, The Slipping Chairs from Colombo. They will be followed by local talent in the form of Forefront as well as one of Goa’s up and coming DJs, DJ Navin Rodrigues who is from Margao himself.
The line up of musical performances on Day 2 of the Big Fat Fatorda Carnival Blast 2018 is also quite impressive. There will be scintillating music by Goan bands such as Purple Rain, Tidal Wave and True Blue as well as Goan nightingale Lorna.
Day 3’s festivities will be a fancy dress contest, a Konkani programme as well as some great dance music by Goan bands Sky High and Aces.
Tuesday, the 13th, is the last day of Carnival will have a Konkani programme. There will also be bands such as Lynx and Ragas 2 Riches performing from 7 pm onwards.
Khell tiatrs will also be performed at the Big Fat Fatorda Carnival Blast 2018. A number of 5-star hotels have also confirmed participation in the Carnival celebrations. They will be setting up VIP hospitality lounges for any elite foreign tourists in Goa over the Carnival weekend.
Other plans for Margao
Additionally, Sardesai also mentioned there are more plans to use the Opinion Poll Square for other activities. Within the next couple of months, this place could play host to a weekly ‘Sunday Goan Authentic Handicrafts Street/Flea Market’ and ‘No-Mo- Zo’ (No Motorist Zone) events.
He added, “This will be a tourism event backed by the tourism department since the most action takes place in North Goa with south Goa attracting family tourism. The ‘No-Mo-Zo’ will be a half day fest and a calendar event as we seek to exploit the potential of the ‘Opinion Poll Square’ with the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) councillors being proactive and the public supportive towards such programmes. We need to have avenues to sell authentic Goan handicrafts wherein tourists can purchase them.”
Sardesai also drew attention to the extremely successful ‘Ingo’s Saturday Market’ held in North Goa as well as the attempt to have a weekly market at Colva some years back wherein prominent artists like Subodh Kerkar displayed and sold their artworks. Sardesai said, “There is no ethnic Goan flavour in these markets as the handicrafts are sold from other north Indian states. Goans need to benefit from it.”
Sardesai further spoke of reviving the ‘street dance’ event which would be open to everyone sans entry fees imposed on the public.
Information credit – TOI
ItsGoa/FEB/KDGP
