Indian visitor captivated by 'colours and camaraderie' of Carnival in Jamaica

Eyes wide, phone in hand and a constant smile of disbelief, 69-year-old Tanuya Joshi stood along East Kings House Road in St Andrew on Sunday,captivated by the colours, costumes and energy of Carnival in Jamaica.

The retired headmistress from India said she was witnessing something she had never seen before - all the colours, costumes and camaraderie on display.

Joshi, who is from the Dehradun District in Uttarakhand, is wrapping up a month-long visit to Jamaica and chose to end her trip by experiencing Carnival for the first time.

She told THE STAR her visit had been awesome, and when she learned the festivities would take place on the streets for all to see, she knew she could not miss it.

Joshi said family members working at the Indian High Commission were eager to ensure she experienced a true Jamaican celebration, for which she was deeply grateful. When she was handed a small Jamaican flag, she excitedly waved it as the bands passed.

"This is amazing to see, I am floored by all the ladies in their beautiful costumes dancing and just enjoying themselves. They seem so free and so happy," she said.

She added that the vibrant colours reminded her of India's multi-coloured saris, noting that both cultures celebrate colour as an expression of identity and joy. "In many ways, Jamaica is similar to India as both cultures embrace the vibrancy of colours because it is an expression of our personalities."

- Nicola Cunningham