
Goa Carnival 2016. While Christmas to New Year is the best period to be in Goa, the fun and frolic continues in the New Year. If you always wanted to experience a carnival, you don’t need to head to Brazil or some international location. Now you can enjoy the colors and excitement of a carnival in India. Welcome to the Goa Carnival, a week-long event that is full of festivities.
This is one of the most awaited events in Goa, and you can see the preparations for it starting in December itself.
- Name of the Event: Goa Carnival 2016
- Where: In Goa
- When: February 6-9, 2016
Come February, and for three days and nights, all the streets in Goa will come alive with lights, color, lively processions, traditional carnival costumes, floats, strumming of guitars, graceful dances, grand balls, and lot more. The carnival includes the popular red-and-black dance, organised by the Club National in Panaji on the final day of the Carnival.
Did you know?
The word Carnival (Carnival in Portuguese) means ‘to take away meat’ and the Goa Carnival is meant to be a feasting-drinking-merrymaking orgy before the austere 40 days fasting period of ‘Lent’ (during which abstinence from meat is observed by followers).
Introduced by the Portuguese, who ruled Goa for over five centuries, the ‘Goa Carnival’ is exclusive and unique to Goa, and a huge tourist attraction.

King Momo Kicks of the Festivities
The carnival kicks of in February, when the legendary King Momo (King of Chaos) takes over the state and orders all his subjects to party and have fun.
The King leads the various parades that are held in different locations like Panaji, Margao, Vasco and Mapusa, as part of the Goa Carnival.
King Momo leads his entourage of dancers, acrobats, brass bands, clowns, jesters, and revelers in the parade and commands his people to eat, drink and make merry.
Its Free
Goa Carnival is an open event, so no tickets to be bought. Just pack your bags and head to Goa to have a great time at the carnival in Goa.
Goa Carnival Videos
Goa Carnival in Panaji
Carnival in Arambol