FROM the wee hours of the morning yesterday thousands gathered in the city to take part in the long awaited Mashramani float parade which burst onto the streets under a partially overcast sky. Fortunately, it did not rain. The costumes were colourful and a cut above those from 2014. The rhythms were driving and pulsating and everyone had a whale of a time.

From lower Church Street in Cummingsburg to the National Park at Thomas Lands, Georgetown, thousands of revellers loosened up, threw inhibition to the wind, and got onto, into, and behind the bands to ‘Mash down town’ in inimitable Guyanese style.
Costume Bands ‘took to de road’ from 10:00hrs, each charting the course for hundreds of revellers who proudly displayed uniquely designed costumes in rampant colour and audacious glitter, as they depicted scenarios chosen by individual competing entities but in keeping with this year’s theme, ‘One People, One Culture, One Celebration.’
Speaking briefly, President Donald Ramotar, as he greeted persons along the route, explained that Mashramani is an important juncture in our national life; it symbolizes our freedom and democracy and it represents a call to sustain the national effort that brought about freedom, which is critical in consolidating our democracy, and promoting national unity.
Dr Frank Anthony, Ministry of Youth Culture and Sport, expressed that there were 27 bands and five truck bands registered to take the streets. He noted that the floats this year all depict the theme. “It is very colourful and bigger this year”.
As usual, tens of thousands of residents and visiting Guyanese, as well as tourists, lined the parade route in true picnic style, their attention captivated by the revelry, especially along upper Church Street and on Irving and Vlissengen roads, where the hub of the celebrations took place.
Some of the crowd favourites were the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports’ 300-strong presentation; the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs; the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) with 1500 strong, Ministry of Health and their ‘wellness warriors ‘taking precautionary measures against chronic diseases’, and the Ministry of Education, Digicel Guyana and Fly Jamaica to name a few. The party trucks attracted a large number of Guyanese this year and they revelled in luxury.
The route from Vlissengen Road to the National Park was virtually converted into a gigantic picnic ground, as vendors manning scores of booths offered for sale some of the most delectable cuisine, snacks, beverages of various kinds, games, music, and art and craft.
It was fun galore as Guyana, in national solidarity, highlighted her cultural folklore in music and scintillating costumes and dance.

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)