PANAJI
There are multiple versions for the origin of Carnival festivities in Goa, but there is no disagreement to the festival in its present form, especially the 'King Momo' led float parade, and the credit for it in good measure belongs to Timoteo Fernandes.
Timoteo, now 85 years old, has been an omnipresent personality at Carnival parades and first initiated an informal Carnival parade back in 1965, crowning himself King Momo and riding a decorated 'gaddo' (bullock-cart) through the city from the old Patto Bridge up to the municipal garden.
The following year in 1966, he improvised on the parade by informally enlisting the support of officials of the Panjim municipal council.
The late Vasco Alvares, the then chief officer of the PMC, lent an open jeep which was decorated to be the carrier for King Momo. This time, Timoteo's younger brother Lourenco, donned the crown and was driven around the city in the decorated jeep to the accompaniment of a four-piece brass band.
The informal involvement of the PMC was seemingly noticed by the government of the late Dayanand Bandodkar, and from the subsequent year, the Carnival parade became an annual feature backed by the State.
Timoteo also bagged the honour of being the first official 'King Momo' in 1967. He again went on to be King Momo twice, in 1969 and 1970 and has been an integral part of the Panaji Carnival Committee for 54 years from its inception.
On Saturday, the float parade makes its reappearance in the capital city, after a year's gap due to the pandemic.
