Environment and animal issues dominate Carnival float parade in Panjim

Many of the floats at Panjim's Carnival parade, held today, highlighted various social and environmental issues, in a bid to raise awareness about environmental destruction and animal cruelty.

The float parade was declared open on Saturday, February 26, 2022, by this year's King Momo, Emeliano P Dias. He read the decree and declared the four-day celebration in the state of Goa open.

Among the many floats that made their way to the parade, there was a float that showed a child and trees, which had been chopped, thus giving a message to ‘save nature for future generations’.

Another float, by the youth of Benaulim, sent a strong social message to save the rhinoceros. Many rhinos are hunted for their horns; and this float was created to raise awareness about the same.

Garbage is another major problem, and people fail to segregate their household waste. So, a float by the Goa Municipal Council displayed various types of waste bins, and how people need to segregate garbage in them. The message on the float read ‘Be Part of the solution, not the pollution’.

Interestingly, bull fights are held at several places in Goa, and not much is done to stop them. This float had a life-sized mechanized bull, with people holding posters that read ‘Farmers best friend, please stop animal cruelty’.

While environmental concerns were among the most dominant themes, there were others themes such as the coronavirus pandemic -- a float which appreciated and recognized the efforts of Covid-19 warriors.

Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) also had a float to raise the issue of making public spaces accessible to the differently-abled.

Several commercial and traditional floats were also seen at the parade.

Despite a one-hour delay in the commencement of the float parade, there was a huge crowd that included both locals and tourists.