The 2015 Divali Nagar is in full swing as the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC), led by Deokienanan Sharma, hosts the event for the 29th year. Celebrations are being held nightly at the NCIC compound in Endeavour, Chaguanas, and the theme for this year is Devi Maa (Divine Mother), in honour of the Hindu goddess of light and wisdom Mother Lakshmi.
Divali is commemorated for nine nights and culminates on November 10. The NCIC is hosting three competitions this year: tonight’s NCIC Dance Contest; NCIC Coca-Cola Youth Champ Competition tomorrow; and Sunday’s Divali Nagar Queen Pageant, the latter sponsored this year by India’s Zee Family TV and Radio 90.5FM.
Amidst the buzz and excitement of Zee’s participation is the presence of the network’s stars Jamai Rajas, Surbhi Jyoti and Leena Jumani who were scheduled to arrive on local shores last night.
NCIC PRO Surujdeo Mungroo estimated that it costs $5m to stage the annual event. This year, the government gave the NCIC a grant of $1.5m to help defray costs. Last year, the organisation received $2m from the government.
Last Sunday, Pulse attended its second micro Carnival mas band launch in two weeks, this time the unveiling of Supernova—An Explosion of Stars, the 2016 presentation of Wee Mas International. The launch was held at Coloz Restaurant at One Woodbrook Place and followed on the heels of a similar event by Frenz N Dem’s We Like It, held the previous night at Las Lap Restaurant. Also doing the same a fortnight ago was Trini Revellers for its launch of Woodbrook: Then and Now a fortnight ago, at the Digicel Hospitality Box in the Queen’s Park Oval.
In true Wee Mas style, Carnival Monday has been renamed Multi-Coloured Monday to bring autism awareness to the forefront, and all proceeds coming out of the Monday event will be donated to the Autistic Society of T&T.
For the past four years, on Carnival Monday, Wee Mas has aimed to raise awareness and funds for charities, including the Cancer Society of T&T, by having its masqueraders costumed in a colour associated with a cause. Next year, the multi-coloured Carnival Monday mas puzzle will combine the colours of blue, yellow and red, designed with fashion-conscious women in mind.
On Carnival Tuesday, Wee Mas’ Supernova—An Explosion of Stars will be presented in six sections: Carina, Andromeda, Nebula, Eridana, Aquila and Aurora. Designer Cherryann Lawson was responsible for some beautiful costumes and at the launch they created quite an effect, especially because of their colour combinations and wearability.
Aside from the designs and costumes, guests attending Sunday’s launch were treated to an array of delicious finger food prepared by Colin Burkett. Wee Mas International’s mas camp is at 40 Cornelio Street, Woodbrook.
The popular Islandpeople Mas has not had a 2016 launch thus far but held a preview of its costumes last Friday on Tragarete Road, Woodbrook, outside IP House, actually launching its 100 Days to Carnival 2016 countdown. Next year the band’s presentation is entitled Pantheon: Summon the Guardians.
Officials have promised that in the coming weeks they will reveal more and in the meantime their mas camp, located at 50 O’Connor Street, Woodbrook, will be open for registration and viewing from noon to 4 pm daily.