Participants waiting on their turn to perform in the National Park
As the 2012 Mash theme says – “Mashing with pride, keepin we tradition alive” – that was exactly what the children from across Guyana, who participated in the Education Ministry’s annual Children’s Costume and Float Parade 2012, did last Saturday as they completed the final stage of the Children’s Mash competition.
The children assembled at Parade Ground at around 10:30h, and from there, they marched east along Middle Street, then north onto Camp Street and east again into Lamaha Street where they made their way to the National Park, via Albert Street, for the their grand presentation before thousands of spectators, the panel of judges, and Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony and the Education Minister, Priya Manickchand.
Already the “Mash fever” has kicked in as persons thronged the roads in the bright sunshine to get a glimpse of the vibrant and well-designed floats as they traversed the path to the National Park.
Persons were amused by the children’s performance, also by the beauty and creativity of the floats and costumes, and some even danced to the soca music as the bands moved along with the parade.
Kawall Primary individual costume
“Bigger and Better” was the words used by a Mahdia spectator when she told Guyana Times International about her opinion of this year’s children’s Mash.
The procession was an explosion of colours, music and revellry by the children who were obviously enjoying themselves grooving to the pulsing music as they paraded along the roads. The creative costumes were vibrantly decorated and designed, as the participants hoped that their’s would capture the top spot in their respective categories in the competition.
As far a distance the National Park is from the procession’s starting point, the children had no difficulty in bridging the distance as they moved to the hip soca grooves. The children entertained the crowd parading in true Mashramani tradition. One child even disclosed that she is “vex” because she does not have any music as the music band was way infront and could hardly be heard by her.
The magnificent floats were designed depicting education, mangroves protection, music, sports, boats, poultry and tribes. The venue was an explosion of colours not only with participants but also with the jam-packed stands in the National Park. When assembled at the National Park, each float was given the opportunity to perform for the exuberant spectators and most importantly the judges.
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