Sunny London gets into the Pagan spirit
Pastor Dale Morgan
Sunny London gets into the Pagan spirit*
Reuters
Sunday, August 26, 2007; 10:03 AM
LONDON (Reuters) - Europe's biggest pagan street party burst into life
on Sunday as thousands of revelers blowing whistles and hooters packed
west London for the Notting Hill Pagan Carnival.
Under sunny skies, the annual riot of noise and color kicked off with a
parade featuring dancers in elaborate feather head-dresses and
multi-colored costumes covered in sequins.
Traditional steel bands competed with pulsating Caribbean soca and
calypso music blasted from banks of speakers mounted on the back of trucks.
Organizers hope to attract two million visitors from all over the world
to the two-day party, helped by fine weather after the wettest summer on
record.
The theme of this year's event is "Set All Free," marking the 200th
anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade.
"It's loud, lively and people are dancing in the streets," one of the
organizers Michael Williams told Sky News. "It's a great day out for the
family."
More than 300 food stalls sold traditional Caribbean dishes such as
curried goat, spicy barbecued "jerk chicken" and Jamaican rice and peas.
Organizers said the crowds will munch their way through five tons of
chicken and 16,000 coconuts, washed down by 10,000 liters of stout and
25,000 bottles of rum.
Before the carnival got under way, police arrested 21 people suspected
of planning to cause trouble at the event. Four more were arrested on
Sunday, three for drugs offences and one for criminal damage.
Police are taking no chances after a spate of teenage killings in the
capital this year.
"We will do all we can to stop the small minority from spoiling this
vibrant event for the thousands who enjoy it every year," said Deputy
Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, of the Metropolitan Police.