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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.
Origins of Mashramani in Guyana
Mashramani stems from an Amerindian word meaning “celebration after cooperative or hard work”. 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.
One of Guyana’s most colourful festivals 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 festival concludes with a parade of the bands and the election of the Carnival King or Queen.
Where is Mashramani?
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?
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 carnival, as well as international flights, please search via our comparison engine, which scans all the major booking sites so you don’t have to.
Main image: Festive Celebration of Mashramani, Georgetown, by Amanda Richards, kindly supplied by the Guyana tourism department.
