Thames Festival 2009
NG is going to take part for the 2nd time in the Thames Festival Parade.
Launched in 1997, The Mayor’s Thames Festival has grown to become London’s largest free open-air arts festival, and is now in its twelfth year.
Every year key London roads are closed to traffic for the Thames Festival’s spectacular finale event, the Night Procession, with over 2,000 musicians, dancers, performers and masqueraders come from across the country and the world with lanterns, illuminated costumes and fantastic structures. The Procession takes place on Sunday 13th September 2009, starting at 7.15pm on Victoria Embankment, travels east crossing the Thames at Blackfriars Bridge, and finishes behind the Royal National Theatre and Southbank Centre.
More information on the Night Carnival procession here
This year will be New Generations 2nd year and promises to be another spectacular one aswell.
Our theme this year is “La Madre Monte Y El Mohan”
Charactors of Colombian Myths
The Mohan (or Muan) is one of the best known legends in Colombia. The name stems from that which the Spaniards used to give to the tribal priests, especially those in Cundinamarca and Boyaca (2 “states” within Colombia, they are called departments not states though). Later the peasants called the creature that guards the river by the same name.
He is considered the deification of the priests, who were persecuted in the times of the colonization. They fled to the mountains, caves and secret places where the tribes worshipped their gods. There the priests were transformed into these creatures.
It is told that the Mohan is a cannibal. He likes to eat children, especially infants. First he sucks the milk out of them then he roasts them over a fire of dead leaves. Likewise he loves beautiful young women, particularly recently engaged ones. He chases them and takes them to the river where he guards his treasure, he has large quantities of gold rings, nose rings, precious stones and other jewels.
Additionally people affirm that the Mohan is mischievous, and commonly steals bait off of fisherman’s hooks, or the hook itself. Also attributed to him are the swellings of the rivers and flooding. He likes to drown people, usually those who swim by themselves in solitary lagoons. This is why he is considered a form of water guardian.
Tobacco and salt are two of his weaknesses, and can be used to defend yourself against him. Those who have seen him often say that he is smoking, and he stays far away from salt.
Physically this character is described two ways, some say he is a giant, covered with hair, red eyes, and burnt skin. His teeth are yellow.
Others describe him as an old mossy tribesman, also very furry, but like a dwarf, black haired and dark skinned.
On a personal note my mother and her brother swear that when they were children they walked down to a river to draw water and saw a little furry man, smoking, who beckoned to them. They turned to leave, and when they turned back he was gone in a matter of seconds. My grandmother told them to carry salt in their pockets after that. If you throw salt on him, he transforms into a small gold idol.
Come Join us and have a fantastic time and amazing fun
