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Trinidad and Tobago Carnival: Part 6 – Dimanche Gras

9 February 2010 4,727 views 9 Comments
This entry is part 6 of 10 in the series Trinidad and Tobago Carnival

Trinidad and Tobago Carnival

This post was originally published on February 6, 2007.

Dimanche Gras takes place on the Sunday night before Ash Wednesday. Here the Calypso Monarch is chosen (after competition) and prize money and a vehicle bestowed. Also the King and Queen of the bands are crowned, where each band to parade costumes for the next two days submits a king and queen, from which an overall winner is chosen. These usually involve huge, complex, beautiful costumes.

For a historical look at this annual event visit Terry Joseph’s article “Dimanche Gras”

SIGHTS:

Singing Sandra, Calypsonian

Singing Sandra dressed in white singing ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ in the Calypso Monarch competition (2003)

The compositions performed on Dimanche Gras night tend to be socio-political commentaries on the issues of the day (both local, regional, and international)

Chalkdust “My Hart and I” (Calypso Monarch 2009)


SOUNDS:

Queen of the band competition 2006 at Queen Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, CARIBBEAN. The performer is Peter Minshall’s “Daughter of Tan Tan”. Viewed from the now demolished North Stand.

TASTES:

Trinidad Pelau

Bertie’s Trinidad Pelau (my father usually makes 2 ‘big pots’ of pelau that last us through Carnival Sunday to Ash Wednesday). Carnival is not a time to be slaving over a stove daily!

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9 Comments »

  • veron said:

    that pelau looks utterly scrumptious. My kind of food… a complete meal in itself!

    # 7 February 2007 at 9:00 am | link
  • Sarina said:

    it’s the ultimate one-pot meal i think lolz :D also one of our national dishes :D

    # 7 February 2007 at 10:53 am | link
  • Beenzzz said:

    The pelau looks so good. I’m getting so hungry just looking at the picture!

    # 7 February 2007 at 11:49 am | link
  • Sarina said:

    aww! you so kind!! :D wait.. now i’m getting hungry too :P

    # 7 February 2007 at 12:27 pm | link
  • MeltingWok said:

    wow, the rice looks really gooood :) Are they regular long grain rice, or glutinous sticky rice ?

    # 10 February 2007 at 6:54 am | link
  • Sarina said:

    it is regular long grain rice :) preferably parboiled :) one can also use brown rice :)

    # 10 February 2007 at 9:43 am | link
  • anusha said:

    Dimanche Gras is a huge celebration in trinidad and most enjoy it

    # 10 February 2009 at 4:11 pm | link
  • lisa said:

    make
    sure and have a good
    2010 dimanche gras

    # 21 January 2010 at 3:51 pm | link
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    # 9 February 2010 at 2:59 am | link

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