Last Sunday, Linden hosted its biggest Mashramani street parade in years, conjuring reflections on the birth of the annual republic anniversary celebrations in the community.
It was a day of colour and revelry as young and old pranced their way through the streets of the community, making their way to the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground.
The parade benefitted from the participation of government and corporate entities, including contingents from the Regional Democratic Council,
the Ministry of Culture, Digicel, Banks DIH Ltd, the Purple Rose Foundation, the Linden Technical Institute, the Linden Hospital Complex, Knot-it-Off Productions, Stag, L&L Social Club, Fast Forward Productions and Rivers View International Hotel, with supporting sound systems from Forensic, Supreme, Movement, Future Sounds, Gold Rock Mingles, West Watooka, Stone Wall and the Heat Wave Band.
As the parade moved along the route, the crowd grew larger and a horde of masqueraders at Five Corner, Mackenzie. Spectators were allowed to join the parade in Linden, unlike in the Mashramani activities in the city. Persons journeyed from across the country and some from the Diaspora to take part in the celebrations. “Is like long ago,” one woman said. “In deh old days is suh we use to do it, costume or no costume, we use to float along with the bands and this is wah I see happening here today.”
Mash has its birth place in Linden, where on February 23, 1970 persons from across the regions came together to celebrate Guyana becoming a republic. The celebrations were subsequently replicated throughout the country and institutionalised as a national event.
“I would love to see them bring back the big celebrations to Linden because it first started here. I wish I could live to see that,” a senior citizen told this newspaper, as he viewed the celebrations while surrounded by his grandchildren and other relatives.
As the revellers tramped by, the elderly man took hold of the hands of two of his grandchildren and raised them high in the air, swaying them from side to side while attempting to gyrate.
Banks DIH, with support from the Mingles Band and Digicel, with soca sensation Jomo, took command of the crowd.
These two bands were backed-up by other music sets, keeping the sea of people entertained. “This is massive,” screamed one reveller who clung to the back of the Digicel truck. “And we nah going home till deh morning come,” screamed another.
Hours after, a crowd congregated at the MSC Ground, while others limed along the streets of Mackenzie and the partying went on until dawn. “This year celebrations is a sign of good things to come for Linden.
We had hard times and the way we celebrated says that we worked hard, punished and struggled and it’s time for us to reap the fruits of our labour,” one man said.
