Farhan Akhtar to groove for Goa Carnival

The carnival is symbolic of the state’s colonial Portuguese legacy.

PANAJI:

Bollywood actor-film-maker Farhan Akhtar will swing and sing to the Goa Carnival mood, when the festival week opens up on the streets of Goa next month.

This will be the second time the star — whose film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a biopic on India’s greatest male athlete to be released shortly — will be in Goa for a live performance.

His first performance there was a live singing act at the Nokia India Fest 2013, a high profile inter-collegiate competition, which includes educational institutions country wide.

“Farhan has confirmed his presence and will also ride on one of the carnival floats. There will also be singing by Anushka Manchanda, who also resides in Goa. Remo Fernandes and Wendell Rodricks will also be a part of the Goa carnival this time. They are Goa’s biggest stars,” a Goa Tourism spokesperson said.

Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar has already confirmed that Bollywood will have a significant presence at the carnival, which begins February 8. Among those who are expected to be present are actors such as Neha Dhupia, Isha Koppikar and Tanushree Dutta, he said.

The event draws tourists from all over the country and the world, and features a package among several tour operators.

Goa’s carnival is similar to the carnival parades in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and not quite unlike the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans and France. The parades involve the entire populace of the city pouring onto the streets to participate and to watch colourful parades of men and women in costumes and various whacky attires.

Goa’s colourful carnival processions, which are normally held in February before the holy season of Lent, are symbolic of the state’s colonial Portuguese legacy.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2013.

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