Children’s Mashramani Costume Parade stops traffic!
-leaves adult audience awestruck
“A SPECTACLE,” “Well organized,” “Better than last year,” and “Beautiful!” were among numerous sentiments that flowed from the lips of spectators as they watched the Children’s Mashramani Costume Parade, which started at Parade Ground and culminated at the National Park, after making its way through several city streets yesterday. The procession effectively halted traffic, or reduced same to a snail’s pace, as numerous drivers and their passengers tried to glimpse tomorrow’s generation shaking their waistlines as they proceeded along, making their way across intersections.
This year’s Mashramani activities are being held under the theme “Mashing with pride-Keeping we traditions alive”.
The day’s activities, slated to begin at 10:00hrs, was delayed by five minutes, but without negative effect on those who had gathered to view the procession.
This costume parade brought the curtains down on activities planned by the Education Ministry for children’s participation in Mashramani celebrations this year.
Schools participating under the Nursery bands were Carol’s Nursery, whose float signified ‘Royalty’; Headstart Nursery, whose float was titled ‘Celebrating our Cultural Pride through music’; St. Gabriel’s Nursery, which showcased ‘A strong Gold flame’; Precious Jewels Nursery, whose float was titled ‘Regal Rollickers’; Selman Fraser Nursery, whose float was titled ‘Colours are we forest in which we belong’; and Happy Hearts Nursery, whose float depicted ‘tribal connection’.
Under the Primary bands, the St. Gabriel’s Primary depicted ‘The beautiful Swan and her Cygnets; St. Stephen’s Primary displayed ‘VAT on de attack’; Ketley Primary showcased ‘Together in Guyana, keeping our traditions alive’; Winfer Gardens Primary displayed ‘A Royal Infusion’; Tucville Primary’s display was titled ‘Ah we Guyanese Princess, display the National Bird in the Horizon’; Monar’s Educational Institute displayed ‘A-we Caharri’; North Georgetown Primary presented ‘Features of Bam-Bam Sally’; South Ruimveldt Primary came as ‘Ahoy there, matey!’; St Angela’s Primary showcased ‘The People, the Culture, the colours of rhythm’; and St. Margaret’s Primary displayed ‘Cash for trash’.

These costumes were showcased as the Nursery, Primary, and Secondary School bands proceeded along the streets of Georgetown to end the Children’s Mashramani Competitions for 2012

In the Secondary category, Richard Ishmael Secondary was ‘Zero Stigma, zero HIV death’; Diamond Secondary displayed ‘Golden Queen of El Dorado’; Kingston Secondary was ‘Reviving our culture through music’; Monar’s Educational Institute displayed ‘Guyana Gold’; Ascension Secondary showcased ‘This train in bound for glory’; and St. John’s College displayed the ‘Beauty of El Dorado’.
Other organization that participated in the parade were as follows: the Hinterland Scholarship Division, which displayed ‘Working & celebrating as we celebrate our motto’; Z-Bra children’s network, which showcased ‘We are Guyanese Beautiful flowers of one garden’; the HIV Prevention Project of the Ministry of Education, whose depiction represented ‘Getting to Zero, Zero Aids-related Deaths, Zero Discrimination, Zero new HIV infections’; Western Youth Organization, whose depiction was ‘Education — water flowing in the minds with an angelic touch; and the National School of Dance, who depicted ‘Masqueraders’.
Under the regional presentations, Region Two’s costume spoke of ‘Preserving our heritage’; Region Three, ‘Keys to success — raising our educational standards’; Region Ten’s was ‘Revellers’ infusion’; Region Four, ‘Maintaining our tradition with pride and united in 2012’; Region Six, ‘Protecting our environment, showcasing attraction of the East’; Region Eight, ‘Given birth’; Region One’s was about ‘Mash 2012’; Region Seven’s was ‘Mash 2012’.
Under the Individual presentations, Kawall Primary was represented by Hemvanti Prashad, and her costume was titled ‘Miss Allied Arts’.
Chateau Margot Primary was represented by Celeste Narine, and there were others representing individual entries.
Winners of the various competitions will be announced in the coming week. The Costume road parade started from the Parade Ground in Middle Street, and ended at the National Park.
The Children’s Mashramani Competitions, started on February 2nd, ended yesterday after several days of intense competition at the National Cultural Centre and the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The competitions saw children in the 5-7, 8-10, 11-3 and 14-17 age groups participating in dance, dramatic poetry, calypso singing, physical display, and costume competitions.