South play masBy LAUREL V WILLIAMS Wednesday, February 13 2013
click on pic to zoom in
CROUCHING CHIEF: A youthful masquerader, in a Red Indian costume plays mas in House of Gray's Remembering the Journey. ...
DESPITE a lengthy time lapse between bands passing in front of judges in San Fernando yesterday, masqueraders gave spectators costumes in a variety of colours as Carnival 2013 reached its climax.
Hundreds of spectators gathered at High Street — one of several judging points — and looked on as the various Carnival bands accompanied by music trucks paraded and showed off their costumes.
Carnival, dubbed the “Greatest Show on Earth”, came to an end at midnight after two days of revelry across TT. San Fernando’s parade of the bands was scheduled to begin at 9 am yesterday but the first band, Southern Mas Associates, passed before the judges with their 2013 presentation Tribal Celebrations, at 10.30 am
Half an hour later, The Nation’s People with Comanche Uprising paraded in front the judges. Reigning South Carnival band of the year Kalicharan Carnival with, Rise of the Olympians yesterday demonstrated why they have won South Carnival’s large band category 19 times. Focusing on Greek Mythology, the band presented the first of eight sections — God and Goddess of Love — with a choreographed dance.
Some of the band’s other presentations included “God and Goddess of War”, The Uprising, “God and Goddess of the Sea” and God and Goddess of Hunting.” With an array of colours, the masqueraders jumped, wined and sang to the loud music which blasted from music trucks. Among the two most played songs were Austin “SuperBlue” Lyons’ hit “ Fantastic Friday” and Machel Montano’s, “Float”.
The fourth band to parade in front of the judges on High Street was small band House of Gray Eagle with its presentation Remembering the Journey. Another small band, Jennings Mas and Associates, made their debut in Southern Carnival and demonstrated great creativity with their costumes.
The band ‘Outta South’ paid tribute to prominent mas band leaders from south Trinidad. Each of the six section paid tribute to Mack Copelannd, Lionel Jaggessar, Randolf Legall, Owen C Hinds, Wendy and Ivan Kalicharan and Gilbert Maynard.
Ali Rahaman of Freeport entertained judges and spectators with a costume entitled “Midnight Rubbers”, a play on words about the traditional mas character the Midnight Robber. After several lengthy intervals other bands paraded in front of the judges including Fireworks Promotions with Drink to Dat, Lionel Jagessar & Associates with Lakota Dream and Legall and Friends with Gems of the Chakras.
