The Guyana Mashramani Carnival is an annual festival celebrated on the 23 February to mark the country becoming a republic on that date in 1970.
Often shortened to ‘Mash’ the festival typically involves a parade, as well as cooking, music and games to celebrate Guyanese Republic Day. You can guarantee it will be a colourful and vibrant occasion.
What Is Mashramani in Guyana
The meaning of Mashramani stems from an Amerindian word which translates as “celebration after cooperative or hard work”.
History of Mashramani in Guyana
There had been a carnival in Mackenzie since Guyana’s independence in 1966. However, it was only in 1970 when Guyana became a republic, that the word Mashramani was adopted.
The significance of Mashramani is that it is the main Guyana festival. It is also unusual in that it involves all the disparate ethnic groups in the South American country.
The carnival involves parades of floats, masquerade bands, and lots of dancing to steel bands and calypso, soca, chutney-soca, and chutney music.
The Mashramani Guyana festival concludes with a parade of the bands and the election of the Carnival King or Queen. There are also Mashramani poems recited during the carnival.
Where are the Mashramani Celebrations in Guyana?
The carnival is held in the capital city Georgetown, stretching from Vlissingen Street and Irving Street to Penang National Park. Thousands of people come to watch and participate from all over the country as well as many tourists.
When is Mashramani Guyana?
It is held on 23 February, marking Guyanese Republic Day.
Things To Do in Guyana
To discover what you can do in Guyana, visit the tourism website which you can find here.
Accommodation During the Carnival
To get the best accommodation in Georgetown for the Guyana carnival, book early.
Main image: Festive Celebration of Mashramani, Georgetown, by Amanda Richards, kindly supplied by the Guyana tourism department.
