Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday 2016

Between Mardi Gras Indians’ Super Sunday, Congo Square Festival, the Class Got Brass battle of the bands, the Pelicans game and the live filming of Tyler Perry’s The Passion, they was plenty to do today but, for once, the choice was easy. The Indians’ elaborately hand-beaded and feathered suits, weighing up to 150 pounds, costing $3000 or more and taking up to a year to design, construct and bead are the most beautiful suits in the world. (For more about the history and traditions of the Indians, click HERE). The parade opened with the Hot 8 Brass Band and the Lady Buck Jumpers then became a stream of rich plumes and intricately beaded stories of the soul. 

Mardi Gras Indians 2013

There are so many things to love about this city and many of them can only be found here in New Orleans. Topping the list of marvels seen nowhere else in the world are the Mardi Gras Indians parading on Super Sunday. HBO’s Treme exposed these amazing craftsmen to the public but there’s nothing like watching the wind in the plumes and the glint of sun on beads as they dance and chant accompanied by drum beats. Tribes come from Uptown and Downtown to peacock for the crowds and war for who’s the “prettiest.” The upside to all the recent media attention is that the parade now has an official route with police escorts and permits. The downside is that now gobs of people with a camera or iPhone or iPad or phone  crowd around the Indians like paparazzi on Lindsey Lohan.

Mardi Gras Indians 2012

I’m what some call a “crafter.” As some of you readers know, I often crochet, knit, paint, make soap, jewelry and ornaments. In New Orleans, LOTS of people are crafters, even if only when it comes to costumes for Mardi Gras Day. This city is filled with creativity, imagination and skilled hands. But, the Mardi Gras Indians take crafting to a whole new level. They work on their suits for a year, investing up to $5000 on the exquisite plumes and beads that become their storytelling suits.

Cyril Neville and Monk Boudreaux

Sponsored by the Saints and benefiting the Young Leadership Council, Wednesday at the Square finished it’s 2011 series with a bang provided by the funky rock songs of Gravy and Cyril Neville‘s Tribe 13 featuring Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. I’ve seen Cyril sing and play drums many times but this was the first time I’d seen him play with his own group. I caught the last couple funky rock songs by Gravy before Tribe 13 took the stage.

Mardi Gras Indians 2011

Since moving here in 2009, I’ve attended at least 60 parades, seen hundreds of costumes, heard SO many bands and experienced many versions of New Orleans culture, but nothing has impacted me like the beauty of the Mardi Gras Indians. After nearly a straight month of Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s parades, the season crescendoed for me with the incredible sights and sounds of the plumed Indians and their attending bands. We’re deep into “you had to be there” territory, but I’ll do my best to capture it.