Once again, junior revelers showed their carnival prowess, shaking their costume tails, frames, and frills, to light up the streets of Crown Heights during a stirring presentation on Saturday, Sept. 2, that began the 50-year festivities of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association.
Little Grand Marshall Jalani Mccoi, led the multifacited parade of color, pageantry and revelry, and commented, that the kids came to have a fun time with family friends. He was on point, because the juniors from as young as one-year old in detailed costumes enjoyed themselves during the last summer hooray of fun, before many of them head back to the classroom.
The cool temps certainly did not dampen the spirits on the kids, who thoroughly, enjoyed themselves. The blaring calypso music, steel pan sound and the excitement all wrapped into one, fueled the children’s eagerness to showcase their culture.
Cutie babies being pushed along in strollers and others in the arms of their parents, equally showcased their carnival tradition, wearing costumes saturated with feathers, beads and sequins.
The little ones moved and grooved to the music, some pulling extravagant individual costumes, complete with towering headpieces along the grueling parade route.
D’Midas International — Goddess of the Sky — individual queen costume worn by a 14-year masquerader was simply magnificent. Plumes of blue feathers towered above the young lady, who reveled like a professional.
Sesame Flyers International’s 13 years of winning has certainly put this band in a category by itself. This year’s junior band portrayed “Life is Sweet” with a mix of multi-colored costumes, that little four-year-old Emily proudly displayed.
Parents along the parade route showed dedication and determination to pass on the tradition, guiding children, at times, egging them on to gyrate to the music.
From three-year-old Anton of Fuzion Flavors, waving his Trinidad flag, to Charlotte of the Diamond Band in a gold colored costume, to three-year-old Ayana in pink, and Roxanne of Kaisokah Moko Jumbie USA — Things with Wings, to Tropical Fete’s stilt dancers – A Child’s Dream — and many others — this carnival means much more to them than reveling.
West Indians in New York put all into preserving, and cherishing the carnival in their children’s life. This was evident at the 50th annual junior parade that will be kept alive for generations to come.
