Carnival has nothing to do with religion: Goa Church

While the opposition parties have criticised Goa government's decision to convene the Assembly session during the annual carnival, the spokesperson of Goa Church today said the event had nothing to do with Catholic faith.
"Carnival has nothing to do with religion. Church does not consider it as its festival," said Goa Church spokesman Father Olav Caiedo.
The opposition Congress, NCP and Goa Vikas party had slammed the BJP government for convening the session during the carnival, and accused it of not respecting sentiments of the Catholic population.
NCP even submitted a memorandum to Governor B V Wanchoo, seeking postponement of the session.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that the carnival was not equivalent to religious festivals such as Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Christmas or Eid, and even the Church does not endorse it.
The five-day Assembly session starts on March 3, while the carnival would take place from March 1 to 4.