Held annually in the last week
of the year in Fort Kochi, this merry making feast is observed
to welcome the New Year. Dating back to the times of Portuguese
during the colonial days, it has evolved with time as a party
time for the young hearts with its unique games, competitions
and illumination. However, the highlight of the Carnival remains
the huge procession on the New Year Day, complete with a caparisoned
elephant leading it, drums and music, spectacular floats,
myriad folk art forms, Panchavadyam and even North Indian
dances.
Starting since Solidarity Day on December 22, it is a ten-day
long festival and is usually ended by a flag-off in dignified
silence to pay tribute to the brave martyrs who died while
fighting for their motherland. It was revived in 1984, and
has now gained immense popularity and all the activities organized
during the Carnival are centred around its five main slogans,
namely, Participation, Peace, Progress, Adventure and Environment.
Besides the adventure sports like Beach Bike Race and Sea
Swimming, there are Beach Football, Beach Volleyball, Shuttle
Badminton and Ball Badminton Tournaments are organized during
the course of the festival.
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