On arrival at Pool 1 at the Caura River, Guardian Media was greeted with the inevitable question, “you all drinking something or what?”
We politely declined but did have a request from the group of barebacked gentlemen standing next to their rather large speaker. A song request to be exact. And while the turnout of river-goers was far from spectacular when Rasika Dindial’s mega Christmas hit “Jing ah Ling” pierced through the barrier of the other chutney songs being played simultaneously, the resulting reaction from those who were there was polarising, to say the least.
The younger generation looked aghast and hung their heads as if to say they had come to the river to escape that particular tune while their parents and the older ones at Caura promptly got up to dance and replenish their Styrofoam cups.
But while Dindial’s omnipresent chutney parang may divide opinion, the dozen or so families at the Caura River, by common consent would agree on their purpose for being there. Family and togetherness. Because while where they were was important, who they were with was also significant.
“Every Boxing Day I like to come up in the river, invite my friends and family to make a nice river lime for my birthday,” said Alvin Jaisarie.
“That is a big priority for me, I am a very family-oriented person, I love to have everyone together to lime together,” Jaisarie added before quickly excusing himself to add a large bowl of duck to the smoking pot.
Nearby, Savitri Kallicharan and her family were preparing to leave. They are habitual early bathers at the river. Kallicharan explained what keeps them coming back every year.
“When we make our cook and sit down here there’s nobody to trouble us because it’s all families, we have a family here next to us another family and everyone together enjoy themselves,” Kallicharan said before inviting Guardian Media to share a meal with them.
Again, we politely declined after someone earlier had accused us of being part of a previous media crew that allegedly, “eat out all we duck and didn’t put we in the papers.”
Across the river, Ricky Ali was visiting his family from Miami. Ali said they usually choose the Lopinot River for the Boxing Day get together, but Caura has deeper pools, and they were not disappointed with the change in location. Ali said it’s important for him to have days like this while he can.
“Bro this is the best because you can’t do it when they’re gone, so we have to do it now. You cannot say ‘shudda’ or ‘cudda’ when they’re gone,” Ali said.
And while for many there, a trip to Caura River is a family heritage, for Freeport resident Randy Gobin yesterday was his first time at the popular spot, and he told us December 26, 2024, will see him right here again.
“First time I’m coming here in my life and it’s the best experience. I literally saw a youth man run in the clear water and grab a fish, I love it! This is going to be a tradition. We came here for togetherness, somewhere nice and peaceful where we can enjoy ourselves and meet nice people. I will always come back here now,” said Gobin.
