Families, friends congregate for the Mash tradition

Feb 24, 2017 News

After there was no Mashramani parade last year, lovers of the celebration were hoping that

The Rugby family taking a moment to pose for a photograph.

this year would be bigger and better. But, to their dissatisfaction, the spectacle that was the previous years was not in full force this time around.
There were families, friends and couples, determined to make the day as enjoyable as the flooded sidewalks would permit.
Many were uninspired by the float parade, while others paid enough attention to notice that creativity among the smaller bands was commendable during this, Guyana’s 47th Republic Anniversary celebrations.
Many, however, were unable to observe this, due to the fact that the parade was devoid of proper crowd control mechanisms. This, coupled with the flooded walkway, resulted in revelers having to battle with patrons for space to carry out their routines. There were instances when the parade seemed like a regular shopping day, in the environs of the Stabroek Market. But those who showed up to celebrate tried their best to ignore the negatives and focus on having a good time.
“I didn’t really like the parade this year man, but I bring out my family, and we cook, we eat,

A little kiddy corner set up for these youngsters who were comfortably enjoying the parade.

and we enjoy we self,” Roderick Mars, a Lindener, said.
“This girl gon mek I turn fat,” he laughed. “Is sheer lasagnas and mac ‘n’ cheese with fried chicken and creamed potato and so she mek to bring out here today,” Mars smiled.
He and his wife were accompanied to the parade by their two children, along with a neighbouring family of five. Their bus was parked along South Road, as they observed the Brickdam float parade, while having lunch.
The parade route was decorated with families bonding, friends laughing and chatting, young girls taking selfies, as their male peers extended flirtatious glances and revelers in colourful costumes, gyrated to catchy Soca songs blasting from the big music sets standing tall in the trays of the pickup trucks driving slowly in front of them.
For the residents of Brickdam, the new parade route reignited the feeling of Christmas, except with much more noise and lots of colourful attractions heading east, to D’Urban Park. Many made full use of the day to bond. They invited their relatives and friends over for hearty lunches, and enjoyed drinks- virgin and not so virgin, in the comforts of their own verandas.
“At first, I seh it would’ve been an inconvenience to get all the commotion going on right

The crowded parade route made it difficult for revelers to efficiently perform their routines.

outside, because I get children and so, right? But it turned out to be good. It turned out nice, because I didn’t have to tug them along in the big crowds,” Ashanti Fitzpatrick told Kaieteur News.
She added, “Plus, as soon as they get lil uncomfortable and start crying and so, I just carry them in the room and put them to sleep,” the mother of three young children said.
Meanwhile, the more mature audiences, thinking carefully about the threats of rain, erected tents along the parade route. There, many of them sat on plastic chairs reminiscing about their Mashramani experiences- comparing their younger selves, to the teenagers that were walking past.
“Some ah these mini pants and skirts lil too mini fuh these girls that look much too li’l to wear them,” one elderly woman was heard saying.
Eventually, the cloudy skies became much darker, and the streets became cleared of the crowd. The final leg of the judging of the floats was wrapping up, and it was the end of what is usually the most energetic part of the Republic Day celebration. Happy Mashramani!
(Rehana Ahamad)

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News