PANAJI: Panjim City Carnaval 2022 has provided holistic entertainment on multiple fronts as foodies were treated by foodpreneurs, stray animals adoption centre gave animal lovers a reason to make their way to Goa’s annual celebration, while a vintage-car drive had curious youngsters among others, admire the vehicles from the eras gone by. The traditional Red & Black dance will bring curtains down on the four-day revelry today.
The first-of-its-kind ‘Beach Carnaval’ at the Mandovi Promenade set up over 50 stalls at the beautifully decorated venue in association with FIERCE Kitchens where foodpreneurs spread of cuisine, is on offer. From the humble chicken poie to sushi and tall glasses of fresh juices, there is something that can appeal to everyone’s palette.
Chef Siddharth Shreshtha of ‘Dil Se Sushi’ who is serving up plates of sushi at the busy promenade, says: “This has been a great experience for the foodpreneurs community and a platform for us to explore our work and take it to the community.”
Abhishek Singh – Incubation Manager, AIC-GIM, adds: “The Beach Carnaval by FIERCE Kitchens in collaboration with CCP and Panjim City Carnaval has provided foodpreneurs and home chefs with the ideal platform to present their culinary expertise. Foodpreneurs are extremely overwhelmed by the response the audience has given to their products and cuisine. We’ve themed the event as “RECIPE” (Re-Imagine, Entrepreneurship, Culture, Influence, Present, Excel) which constitutes the essential elements that build a Foodpreneur.”
Meanwhile children’s activities and the pop -up stalls have been set up at the Samba Square. One of the most heartwarming initiatives at this year’s edition of the Panjim City Carnaval, was the stray dog adoption zone set up by Animal Assist and Rescue in an effort to encourage citizens to adopt strays and give them a home. The zone was set up at the Samba Square so that children and adults can be encouraged to care for the strays.
The initiative is part of Panaji city’s constant efforts to care for the strays of the city and help in finding them a home. The adoption zone set up at the Samba Square, had a good response with citizens adopting the puppies and cats and offering them a home. Said Nicole D’Souza of Animal Assist and Rescue: “With the assistance of the Carnaval committee, we created a safe space in the far end of the garden away from all the other festivities and noise. We had volunteers to help us keep the animals happy and cared for during the duration of the camp which was for a couple of hours.”
“We hope to teach the children that visit us, about how amazing our Indian dogs and cats can be if they are well cared for and given love, the importance of sterilisation, and how to be kind towards animals,” she added.
Panaji also witnessed vintage cars, right from a green Hindustan Motors Contess to, a green Chevrolet truck and a convoy of bikes driving past their homes on the second day of the Panjim City Carnaval.
The classic vehicles were part of the Vintage Car Drive which was flagged off by Ravi Dhawan, MD and CEO of Imagine Panaji Smart City, Agnelo Fernandes, Commissioner of the City of Panaji, Vivek Parsekar of CCP, Pradeep Naik, from the Samba Square as part of the Panjim City Carnaval celebrations.
Organised by Goa Vintage and Classic Automobile Club, the convoy was led by a fleet of 20+ Harley Davidson bikers followed by 50+ vintage bikes and cars. Sleek well kept Mercedes cars, a bright yellow Volkswagen, Premiere Padmini and a red Dodge Motors were part of the convoy. The fleet of vehicles drove across the city right up to Dona Paula and converged back at the Samba Square.
Proud owners of some of Goa’s most well kept and swanky vintage cars took to the streets to proudly drive their vehicles around the city.
“I am passionate about vintage vehicles which led to me organising my very first vintage car rally in 2004. Since then I have organised many vintage drives. Today’s drive is our effort to bring this excitement to the carnaval celebrations in Panaji and keep the carnival spirits high,” explained Pradeep Naik, who organised the vintage drive.
Meanwhile, children’s activities and the pop -up stalls will continue at the Samba Square from 4pm onwards till today (March 1). The celebrations at the historic Garcia De Orta garden here, will end with the grand finale – the traditional Red and Black dance. The street outside the garden will convert into an open air dance floor for the traditional dance, states a press release.
