Goa's famous festival "Carnival" began on Saturday in Panaji with hundreds of colourful floats parading the streets of the capital city, spreading the message -"Eat, drink and be merry". The festivities began with flagging off of the King Momo's parade in Panaji at 3.00 p.m. The parade had six categories of floats- traditional,sponsored,club/Institution, family, funk junk car and clowns. Carnaval is also organised in the commercial capital of Goa i.e. Margao on Sunday, 14th at Ponda and 15th at Vasco. <br/><br/>Carnival-the word roughly originating from the Latin expression 'Cane Vale' meaning 'Farewell to meat' which is a celebration of life in its full splendour,held immediately before lent,is a legacy from the colonial Portuguese rulers to Goa. The Carnival or Carnaval as it is known in Goa is a very different form than seen today. In fact, the celebrations have roots in a Roman agricultural festival that allowed the elite people to forget their social ranks and let the slaves dine with their masters. <br/><br/>Carnival in Goa did undergo metamorphosis from time to time but never lost its innocence and charm until the liberation of the region. Today, the local carnival is neither Portuguese nor Goan, the festival has lost its roots and has been transformed into an event, which is simply expected to draw tourists to generate revenue for the state exchequer.