Mashramani Parade 2010

Showers early in the morning yesterday did not deter thousands of revellers and on-lookers from being a part of the Mashramani Parade.

Detours for passengers in minibuses trying to get in on the Mashramani action; last minute efforts to get booths along the parade route set up; DJs sending loud music blaring from sets at every corner; costume fittings; and of course a kaleidoscope of red, blue, yellow, orange and pink, all dazzled the senses.

This was the scene – all before 10:00am yesterday morning. And then the parade started. Assembling at Camp and Church Streets, the bands made their way down Church Street, into Irving Street and them into Thomas Lands, ending at the National Park.

Revellers were strutting their stuff, stopping every once in a while for a ‘drink’ being carried by the canters following the bands.

Along the route were judges whose scores will be added to those of the judges in the National Park to determine the best outfit in the parade.

The judges, however, were not the only ones settling down along the parade route. Irving Street, no different from last year, was transformed by the picnic blankets making pockets of colour on the road shoulders, laid out by families who settled down to watch the parade.

Decked in their brightest shades of all the colours in the spectrum, the families were obviously out for a day of fun; expressly so for the children who donned masks as well as some ‘shimmering stuff’ that stuck to their skin.

Again the plethora of colours were almost too much for the eyes; everything from purple to gold and green decorated faces, arms and legs of on-lookers and revelers alike.

It all added to the atmosphere which was tangibly lifted by the energy exuding from Guyanese on the road.

The fun and heat picked up as the sun climbed in the sky, while the floats made their way to the National Park.

From there the cacophony of music continued its unrelenting assault on the ears of passersby who would have it no other way.

Of the over 30 bands, the Chinese Association of Guyana was there for the first time and wowed the crowds.

The dragon dance was exhilarating.  

Ministries, religious bodies and many other organizations, from Digicel to the National Library, joined in the celebration.

Minister Irfaan Ali, who the Guyana Chronicle managed to catch up with on the road, said this year the parade was not only good, seen by the increased participation this year, but the energy about it was the best thing.

Other bands played music and had their revellers dancing. One such was the Ministry of Local Government band which played the song ‘Follow the leader’ and had the celebrants doing just that.

Another interesting thing about this band was the number of older persons that were involved. Both young and old joined in to celebrate.

Catching up with the Guyana Tourism Authority/ Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce band, Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh said Guyanese have much to celebrate.

“We have a number of achievements as a country and Mashramani means celebration after hard, work so that is what this is,” he said.

The GTA Executive Director added that if Guyanese were not proud, passionate and patriotic, they would not be on the road participating in the Mashramani celebrations.

“This year was the biggest and best,” he asserted.

Ingenuity was also obvious, particularly with one band that focused on ‘Drum Festival’.

Onlookers on the road tried to capture these sights and more, but their cameras did no justice to the spectacle.

One had to be there to really experience it.

Being in on the experience also meant bumping into people you know and people you pretend to know, every once on a while.

You were also amazed by the numerous things that were on sale. Everything from food and drinks to Digicel sales girls with phone cards were at your disposal. Not to mention the temporary tattoo parlour that had been set up.

One highlight was the performance by the Guyana Defence Force’s paratroopers.

While the sight left all in awe, there was an unfortunate ‘bad landing’ of one of the troopers who had to be rushed to the hospital by an ambulance that was on call.

Despite the incident, the crowd cheered on the paratroopers as they came tumbling out the aircraft with chutes that bore the Mashramani colours.

By the day’s end, Irving and Vlissingen Streets were both undeniably the hub of the activities. Eventually most everyone ended up there after the floats and revellers faded with the twilight.

All but the energy faded.  That remained as another Mashramani day ended, successfully it would seem.

Later that evening, the paper cups and plates and shiny bits of costumes littered the route, as Mashramani 2010 stole away, to be reminisced about in the future, with videos and photographs and perhaps snippets of costumes that were worn by someone who had a wonderful day.