Our culture, our language, our history, and our values are vital to uniting us as a nation, as a people, and as the melting pot that we are. Nothing unites us more than a celebration of everything that is in that pot and one such celebration is Mashramani.
Mashramani translates as “celebration after hard work” and it is a time where we as Guyanese take the time to go out into the streets and celebrate everything that truly makes us unique as a people. It is a time when we forget race, politics and everything else that divides us daily. It is truly a celebration of harmony and unity.
The annual Costume and Float Parade is the main attraction of Mashramani. It is a time when people deck themselves out in extravagant costumes, join large bands or flock the streets that are part of the parade route just to get a glimpse of the glittery costumes depicting different messages.
The stage is usually set for the large parade with the commencement of the Children’s Mashramani activities. As has been the tradition for some time, the Children’s Mashramani activities are among the most anticipated, and schools from the various regions participate in various activities, including dramatic poetry, dance, and calypso.
The young generation of revellers proudly represent their schools and regions with enthusiasm, drive and creativity. The Children’s Mashramani activities officially became the responsibility of the Education Ministry in February 1992. The Unit of Allied Arts within the Ministry was tasked with implementing programmes to showcase the talents of children in Guyana. The Unit is the centre for coordination and integration of the Expressive Arts – Dance, Music, Physical Education and Visual Arts – in sequenced modules into the school system of Guyana.
Because of its mandate, the Allied Arts Unit expanded the scope of the Children’s Mashramani activities to include competitions of Dance, Dramatic Poetry, Calypso, Costume, Steel Pan, Physical Education, and Masquerade for children. The objectives of the programme are to promote the Expressive Arts through a National Event; encourage schools, parents and communities to work together in a creative artistic manner; provide an opportunity for the display of talent by students and to foster a sense of pride in our national identity.
The competitions are held at the regional and national levels for primary and secondary schools. Children at the nursery level also participate in some of the activities, but only at the regional level. What a joy it is to see the nation’s youth embracing the occasion.
The finals of these competitions are held in Georgetown and all Regional Education Districts participate. These activities usually run for a period of three weeks in the month of February and the outstanding performances are recognised and rewarded at all levels.
The Children’s Costume Parade was introduced in 1996. It is a spectacular colourful activity that showcases the talents and creativity that exist among young people. This parade culminates the series of activities and involves approximately 4000 children from schools and youth groups throughout Guyana. It is a collaborative effort of the Education Ministry, the Private Sector and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
Over the last weekend, the children took to the street for their aspect of the revelling. Hundreds of children and their parents lined the streets to get glimpses of the parade as the revellers, decked in their colourful costumes, danced along the parade route.
The children pranced and danced from Parade Ground, east into Middle street, north into Camp Street, east into Lamaha Street, north into Albert Street and then into the National Park.
Observers of the event were amazed at the cultural displays that were coordinated by school teachers and students. Patrons were heard cheering and shouting words of encouragement as they saw their little loved ones in their costumes
Some of the ensembles that captured the onlooker’s intention were from Regions Three, Eight, and Four who gracefully depicted Guyana’s transformation.
The main (adult) parade is on February 23, which is also the date Guyana achieved Republican status. It is usually a plethora of colours as the revellers in the various bands snake their way through the streets of Georgetown. It is usually a tough competition as the revellers battle for top prizes.
It is also a time where local designers are given a chance to exhibit their creativity and show exactly what Guyanese are capable of. They are given the theme by the owners of the band and they let their creativity run amok to come up with breath-taking pieces.
The vibe on Mash Day with loud music and masqueraders gyrating through the streets of the capital city is one that cannot be experienced just by sitting and watching the parade on the television, rather you have to be in the midst of the crowd and feel it to experience it.
So this Mash Day, grab your friends and go out on the road to experience true unity and celebrate our rich Guyanese culture.
