Panaji (Goa) 

As the former Portuguese colony is getting ready for the Carnival festivities next month, the man who has been selected to play a role of King Momo during the four-day long celebration has been known for his dancing skill on the floats.

Bruno Azaredo, a 57-year-old cosmetic developer, has been selected as a King Momo for the festivities that would be held across Goa from February 10-13. 

The to-be King who will declare the decree of ‘Eat, Drink and make Merry’ for the coastal state has been part of the different floats since the year 1979 and is known for his ‘dancing skills’ along with the groups.

King Momo is a mythological figure who symbolically rules the State for the four days during Carnival festivities and also heads the float parades in all the cities beginning from Panaji.

“I have been in this industry for long time. If you see the pictures of the carnival for the years 2011 and 2012 you will find me dancing with the troupe on the King Momo float,” said Azaredo, whose announcement came last evening after State tourism department’s committee zeroed in on him from scores of entries they received to be King Momo for Carnival 2018.

“I don’t think you can dance with such a huge dress on the float after being King Momo but certaily I would not be able to stop myself and will dance to the rhythm of music,” he said.

Azaredo has been a dance choreographer with the experience of more than three decades under his belt of participating in various float parades including Republic Day parade in Delhi.

Professionally, he said, he is into developing cosmetic products and has been accepting the research work outsourced by various private companies.