The Notting Hill Carnival began today with the colourful and messy J’ouvert parade – a Caribbean tradition
Revellers took to streets, throwing paint, mud, chocolate or powder at each other while dancing to music
It is said the tradition recognises the need of humans to let go of daily worries, if only just for a short time
Later in the day, young performers with flamboyant costumes danced to music in the Children’s Parade
Revellers have taken to the streets of the Notting Hill Carnival at sunrise today to celebrate an ancient Caribbean tradition with a splash of colour.
Just on sunrise at 6am, early morning partygoers threw a streety party – and then threw paint, mud, chocolate, powder and even oil at each other while dancing to music.
Known as the J’ouvert celebration – derived from the French term Jour ouvert, meaning ‘opening of the day’ – the event is a traditional procession that still takes place in countries such as Trinidad & Tobago.

It is said the tradition recognises the need of humans to let go of daily worries, if only just for a short time.
The parade comes as police officers with special skills for recognising the faces of offenders will be monitoring the carnival in a crackdown on crime.
The ‘super-recognisers’ will be inside a CCTV control room seeking out both offenders committing crimes and anyone with bail conditions which ought to stop them from attending the event.
It is one of a number of measures the Met will be taking to ensure visitors from all over the country can stay safe and enjoy themselves during the carnival, which will be marking its 50th anniversary on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.
After the colourful Caribbean tradition, another parade was held in the morning for Children’s Day, and Monday will be the traditional Grand Finale.
The force will also be trialling a facial recognition system to help identify wanted offenders, by using cameras which scan the faces of those passing by and flag up potential matches against a database of custody
Police tips for staying safe at the carnival include:
Checking public transport in advance using the TfL website to avoid stations which may be closed or exit-only;
Going with the flow of the crowd, instead of against it, even if police mark out a longer route. Officers will also be handing out maps of the area at the event;
Having a set meeting place in case you lose family or friends, rather than rely on mobile phones;
Avoiding bringing valuables or too much cash and always being conscious to keep them out of sight, to avoid tempting opportunistic thieves;
Staying alert all the way home, even when the party is over.
After the early morning J’ouvert parade, the colourful street scenes continued with a Children’s Parade.
Performers with amazing costumes marched the streets of Notting Hill with flamboyant styles on display as they danced along the carnival route to the hypnotic rhythms provided by the mobile sound systems or steel bands.
Police have also asked people to be on the lookout for a missing teenager, who they believe may attend the carnival.
Veronica Sbircea, 15, was last seen around Brixton Road in south London on the afternoon of Thursday July 28.
Veronica, who sometimes goes by the name of Rachel, went missing from Kettering, Northamptonshire, but is originally from London. She is described as white, 5ft and with long straight black hair and brown eyes.
Detective Inspector Stuart Hitchon of Northants Police said: ‘It’s very concerning that for someone who is very active on social media and was seen on public transport several times in the 24 hours before she went missing, there is absolutely nothing since.
‘This clear absence of any activity is very worrying and we really need her to make contact.’


More pictures: http://lailamedia.com/photos-from-notting-hill-carnival/

More Photos: http://lailamedia.com/photos-from-notting-hill-carnival/

Wow lovely.today is my birthday.show me love

Missed watching this every summer.

Nice and colourful


Happy birthday queenoflafia. Just go Nasarrawa

Shikina