Panaji: At dawn on March 2, citizens in the capital will awake to the beats of the traditional ‘alvorada’ as a prelude to Carnival festivities, Timoteo Fernandes, president of the CCP’s sub-committee for the Carnival, said. The alvorada will begin at 5 am and continue for two hours.The float parade will follow the Miramar-Dona Paula route, as it did last year, mayor Vithal Chopdekar said. Fernandes, however, said he would like the parade to flow in the opposite direction.Chopdekar said the proposal has been sent to the traffic department and its suggestions were awaited.Rs 26 lakh has been sponsored by the tourism department for the event, which will also include prizes.Committee treasurer Menino J Da Cruz, told reporters that pandals with seating arrangements would be set up for tourists, in addition to the seating arrangements provided for VIPs, VVIPs, pass-holders and corporators. Da Cruz said hotels will pay for the pandals and can either charge their guests or invite them to the parade. “This will help promote tourism,” he said.The committee is looking at setting up three pandals with 200 seats each for tourists, Chopdekar said. The corporation will also rope in private security to ensure that the Carnival experience is not marred.As per suggestions from corporators, groups will be invited to perform khell tiatrs at prominent places around the city. Programmes at Samba Square will also be held for four days.The committee’s proposals will be placed before the tourism department and police, and then finalised.

Stay updated with all the Latest Goa headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.