London's Notting Hill dances to Pagan beat
Pastor Dale Morgan
London's Notting Hill dances to Pagan beat*
Reuters
Sunday, August 27, 2006; 1:55 PM
LONDON (Reuters) - Europe's largest pagan street party got under way on
Sunday as the pagan festivities began in the narrow streets of London's
Notting Hill with an estimated 300,000 visitors coming to enjoy the
first day of the annual pagan carnival.
Children and adults in elaborate costumes, many decked out with
multi-colored feathers and large wings, paraded along the carnival's
three and a half mile route in west London to the sound of whistles,
steel drums, and Caribbean music.
"The weather is fantastic, the sounds are great, the color this year is
absolutely phenomenal," Chris Mullard, chairman of the carnival's
organizing body, told Sky News.
The event, first held in 1964, acquired a reputation for violence and
crime in the late 1970s when the pagan festivities were marred by riots
but careful policing over recent years has left the carnival largely
trouble-free.
By 5 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Sunday police said they had arrested 35 people,
mainly for drugs, theft and drinking offences.
"We've taken massive precautions, there are more police here than ever,"
said Mullard.
"We are quite clear about it, if we see trouble we stamp on it. If there
is trouble, the police are under strict instructions from their
commanders to deal with it."
Police estimated around 300,000 people had come to the event -- the
largest numbers for the Carnival's "Children's Day" since 2002 --
although Mullard put the attendance higher at 500,000.
Scotland Yard said they had arrested more than 90 people ahead of the
carnival who they suspected were planning to commit crime or cause
trouble at the event.
Extra police will be on duty on Monday, a public holiday, and the pagan
carnival's busiest day, with up to 40 "static sound systems" blasting
out high-decibel beats.
The open-air party will for a second year be accompanied on Monday by a
"pagan family friendly" Caribbean Showcase in Hyde Park organized by
London Mayor Ken Livingstone.