Brazil to participate first time in February Goa Carnival

Panaji, Dec 15 (UNI) For the first time, the annual Goa carnival in February will have a ''Brazilian touch'' with Brazil deciding to participate in the event to highlight the ''common heritage and co-operation for the future''.

''We have decided to participate in the Goa Carnival-2008 in partnership with the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), which expressed its readiness to extend all support to the Brazilian community for fostering good will and friendship,'' the Consul General of Brazil in Mumbai Paulo Antonio Pereira Pinto told media persons here today.

There are many similarities between Goan and Brazilian cultures depicted in Portuguese language, lifestyle, music, cuisine, crops and tropical climate.

Contribution of Brazil to Goan football is well known even as the Goa University has opened a Brazilian chair for Latin American Studies.

The participation of Brazilian community from Mumbai and Goa on the Goan platform aimed at ''discovering Brazil in Goa'' will not only add glitter and glamour to the Carnival but also enhance growth of tourism between the two countries, claimed GTDC Managing Director Sanjit Rodrigues.

The Deputy Consul General of Brazil Jandira Pacheco, who had thrashed out modalities for Brazilian participation in the Carnival, explained salient features of the floats.

Ruling out display of nudity and vulgarity associated with Samba dances in Brazil, the Goa Carnival main float portrays the discovery of Brazil with historic characters responsible for its discovery with native couples on board.

It will be followed by a thrilling band with Samba music sung by Goan musician Balinda even as it presents the traditional ''Goddess of the Sea Iemanga''.

About 20 Samba dancers in native costumes holding Indian and Brazilian flags will dance to the music in the tableau.

UNI