The 29th edition of the Carnival, which starts on December 16 and features unique games, dirt bike races, beach volleyball and fireworks display, will go hand in hand with installation art, paintings and digital media, besides ethnic performance arts that are key to India's first Biennale, organisers of both events said today.
Various cultural shows are already being staged since November 12 in the run-up to the three-month Biennale starting December 12, while Cochin Carnival, a resurrected remnant of the Portugese New Year revelry held in this ancient commercial city during the colonial days, will conclude on January 1.
"Technically, the Carnival will start on December 9 by observing Solidarity Day. The formal inauguration though is slated for December 16," said Ernakulam district sub-collector Swagat Ranveerchand Bhandari, chairperson of Cochin Carnival.
The decision to tie up with Biennale was taken at a meeting of the Carnival organisers with functionaries of Kochi Biennale Foundation yesterday, he added.
The December 12 inauguration of Biennale, where pop icon M.I.A will give a concert, will thus be a part of Cochin Carnival, said Kochi Biennale Foundation president Bose Krishnamachari.
