In Suriname it is tradition to set of pagara’s at every last day of the year. The pagara is a long ribbon of red firecrackers, developed by the Chinese long time ago. Through the years the shooting of pagara’s becomes a national event and it attracts a lot of tourists.
The festivities start at 10 in the morning with small groups of youngsters walking trough downtown Paramaribo playing the Kawina music. When the clock hits eleven, the stores and companies roll out the pagara’s. It is a competition tot roll out the longest pagara.
From 11.30 the first fireworks lit and this will go on to 14.00 hrs. After that the whole commercial district is covered with a red blanket. In the meantime tourists and locals together are eating, drinking, and dancing towards the evening and night, smoothly flowing into the large street parties.
Arround 23.00 hrs most locals will run of to their residents where they celebrate the New Year in homey atmosphere. After that they will enjoy the New Years parties until daybreak.
By Edward Troon
http://www.photoblog.com/photocactus/
