By Daniel Haynes

WHEN it was announced back in 2015 that there would be a “toned-down” version of the ‘Mash Day’ festivities we’d all come to know and love, it did not sit well with many a Guyanese.The mere thought that there would be no float parade this year was a reality many could not picture, and as such the criticisms flew left, right and centre, with many predicting that the day was bound to go belly-up.
But Guyanese promoters, creative souls that they are, found a number of innovative ways of making the weekend leading up to the big day, and ‘The Big Day’ itself, fairly sizzle with excitement.

PULSE FACTOR
For starters, perennial all-stars in the entertainment game, Pulse Entertainment, again brought their A-Game to the fore this year with a weekend which featured three different soca-themed events.
The high-point, however, was the ‘Electric J’Ouvert Party’ at Palm Court to kick off Mash Day.

As promised, the lights were electric, and with names like DJ Monster and Shall Marshall, it was no surprise that people who had already started their j’ouvert at other venues continued their fete at Palm Court.
This new crowd mixed in well, bringing with them not just their collective energy, but their powder and wet bodies as well.
And, the lifting of the 2am curfew certainly helped matters, as eventually, just about everyone who came out to play that night ended up at the Palm Court after the earlier fetes had come to an end.
As one party-goer would later observe, it was a throwback to days when one could actually stay out late fete-ing.
But the moment which best embodied the “Mash spirit” of freedom and celebration, was when the rains came pouring down like blessings from the party Gods, and everyone, including the people on the road, started their own party and blocked traffic to keep the fete alive. Not bad at all, Pulse!

SHEER BACCHANAL
But, without a doubt, the highlight of the Stage4 weekend was the performer who feters were all waiting for, and despite performing in Guyana multiple times, she still wowed.
Feters were teased throughout the night with the idea of not knowing when she would put in her appearance.
And when she finally did, Destra not just rang the bell! She simply kicked the door down!
Her performance lifted the entire mood that evening. Each song was engaging, from “Call My Name”, to “Lucy” to “Mash Up” amongst others.
And as the music got progressively louder, the heavens opened up, and the fete-ing continued in wild abandon. Destra even exceeded her performance time to give the crowd what they wanted: MORE!
From interacting with the crowd, and calling some lucky feters on stage to show how they could wine, to telling Guyanese how much she loved us, Destra was simply amazing.
After performing, Destra stayed back to interact with fans, even waiting until each fan who had lined up to see her.
According to one particular ‘die-hard’, a guy named Patrick, “Her stage presence is one to be respected, and she truly is what she claims: The Queen of Bacchanal.”

THE COOL-DOWN
As Mash Day finally rolled around, those who had feted all weekend and until sunrise on the day itself had to drag their tired, still-powdered bodies, hangover and all, out of bed.
Meanwhile, Pulse Entertainment continued their hot streak with Cooler Fete from 10am at the Everest Cricket Ground with a total of nine different DJs, all on one stage.
And somehow, Guyanese found the energy to ‘get on bad’ and enjoy themselves as day turned into night, and more persons filled the ground.
Shall Marshall then graced the stage and picked up where he left off at Jouvert earlier and had fans jumping, raving and singing.
Fans were even up on stage with him jumping along. When 10pm arrived and cooler fete finished, everyone wanted more.
And what did Pulse do? Give us more with an after-party at Palm Court, where Guyanese celebrated Mashramani the only way we know how: Partying hard and enjoying each other’s company.
As for me, I was partying with my fellow Guyanese, through rain and powder. And we did it in style, with true Guyanese camaraderie.
How did we ‘Mash’? We mashed like there was no tomorrow; and no one could tell us otherwise. No float parade? No problem!