COME RAIN OR SHINE – NOTHING CAN STOP THE CARNIVAL JUGGERNAUT IN VICTORIA
(Posted 27th April 2014)
The sweeping rain which lashed Victoria yesterday morning caused all sorts of contingency plans to be dusted and readied and when driving into the city at 13.30 hrs, the sky was still dark and the clouds continued to offload their wet cargo on Victoria. The few journalists and photographers who had made it into town at that time, took pictures of the rain, and were ingenious in staying dry, sort of anyway.
(No amount of rain was stopping this cameraman to get his shots of the action nor prevent this friendly neighbourhood police officer from keeping order)
Word came around that the parade may have to be delayed and just as those words were put into context with the bucketing rain and its potential effect on the floats and participants, did a shy sunray emerge above. The rainclouds were suddenly blown away and the skies above smiled upon us in an almost mocking way, as if to ask ‘Now that gave you a scare, yes?.
Yes it did give everyone involved in the Carnival International de Victoria a bit of a worrisome morning, but as on all the previous occasions, when the parade eventually kicked off at 15.35 hrs yesterday, shortly after President James Alix Michel had arrived at the VIP dais, it was all pure sunshine as the juggernaut waltzed and strutted into Victoria.
(President Michel and Tourism & Culture Minister Alain St. Ange in a jovial mood)
The parade was opened by a float ‘wo-manned’ by the current Miss Seychelles and other contestants, as this Miss contest has become part of the islands’ calendar of events and the title holder is closely involved in promoting the ‘Brand Seychelles’ and help promote tourism to the archipelago. She was then followed by a record number of local floats and troupes from the archipelago, this year showing vast improvement in creative design and craftsmanship as well as costumes made for the occasion which added flair and funk to the displays. In fact the performance of the local participants was a clear indication that the archipelago’s tourism industry and supporting businesses have at this fourth edition fully embraced the idea and taken ownership of the event in a way which few could have imagined at any of the previous carnival festivals. Yesterday’s parade was an almost perfect mix of local and international participants and the turnout of Victorians, others from across Mahe and even as far as Praslin and La Digue, besides the tourists who flocked to line the streets of Victoria was more than impressive considering that it rained the proverbial cats and dogs until just an hour before the scheduled start of the parade.
After seeing the floats, displays, costumes and performances it is understandable that the Seychelles’ Carnival International de Victoria has indeed made it to the global 5th best carnival spot, a sign that the event is not just here to stay but has established itself during the short 4 years as a frontrunner of festivals to be seen and ‘ticked off the list’ by ‘Carnivalistas’ from all over the world. It is arguably only here in the Seychelles, that spectators can see such a variety from around the globe and be close up and personal with the performers during the opening night, the parade and the closing day ceremony. Yesterday truly was an extraordinary achievement for Tourism Seychelles, which included persuading the rain gods to smile upon Victoria for the duration of the parade, rather than rain on it. For more information about the destination and the regular events staged on the islands, visit the following website www.seychelles.travel
