Macy’s parade goes off smoothly
THANKSGIVING: Security stepped up in NY following July 4 attack in Nice
SANTA Claus, giant cartoon balloons and whimsical floats were protected by sand-filled dump trucks and bomb-sniffing dogs as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade wound its way through the streets of Manhattan under heavy security.
The annual spectacle went off without a hitch on Thursday, with thousands of spectators and more than 3,000 police officers lining the streets amid an air of uncertainty about the possibility of an extremist attack.
“There are so many police officers out here you can’t help but feel safe,” said Sarah Bender, who brought her two young sons to watch the parade. “It’s a day to have fun, watch the balloons and celebrate with your family.
“You can’t spend your life worrying about what could happen.”
While authorities had said there was no confirmation of any threat, they stepped up safety measures in the wake of the July cargo truck attack on a holiday crowd in Nice, France, and a recent posting in an English-language Islamic State group magazine that called the Thanksgiving parade “an excellent target”. A Power Ranger’s balloon floating during York on Thursday. (Inset) Singer
Revellers cheered and yelled, “Thank you!” to officers along the route on Thursday, giving special attention to the New York Police Department (NYPD) marching band.
Spectators, sometimes, stood 10deep to see the parade and its signature giant balloons, including Ronald McDonald, SpongeBob SquarePants, Charlie Brown and other characters. Marching bands from across the country entertained revellers, as well as celebrity singers like Tony Bennett and Sarah McLachlan.
Annie Quinn travelled more than
in New three hours from Albany to attend the parade with her cousin and two sisters, all three dressed in turkey costumes, scoring prime front-row seats along the route.
“We sat here for hours, but it was worth it,” she said. “This was the best (From left) Students Pandav practising Odissi in
Thanks to a mushrooming Indian diaspora, traditional dance schools have popped up globally, piquing the interest of other nationalities, too.
Back here, the students said the West looked to India in search of spirituality, culture and history, which was why this classical art had gained international popularity.
“What is lacking, especially in the United States, is that they don’t have a rich cultural history. I think they want to find that piece of ancient history, that art form,” said Pant. “They’re leaning to India because parade I’ve seen in a while.”
But, amid the fun and high-fives, there was intensive security.
Officers with assault weapons and portable radiation detectors walked among the crowds, and more than 80 sanitation trucks filled with sand were parked at intersections and other places, acting as barriers against any kind of attack.
Police have used sanitation trucks as barricades before. But, the NYPD had said the trucks would play a bigger role at this year’s parade after the Nice attack, which killed more than 80 people.
Meanwhile, singer James Taylor has a Thanksgiving message for his fans: “Gratitude improves your attitude.”
The singer says in an email that giving thanks is the key to overcoming setbacks and dealing with reversals of fortune.
He writes: “To whom we give it is a big question, but just go ahead and do it. Gratitude is the way to an improved attitude, dude.”
Taylor then gets a little “spacey” in Thursday’s message, speculating about the possibility that other distant worlds in the cosmos might support life.
The 68-year-old musician, who lives in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, ends by saying: “To have been born in human form and consciousness aboard this unbelievably beneficent planet is an incredible stroke of luck. Dig it.” AP
AFP pic
and Rujuta
we’ve had the most ancient civilisations and that’s why India and its culture have become popular.”
Her guru, Raut, an award-winning dancer who has lived, taught and performed in Europe, the US and Japan, believes Indian dance transcends borders between people and countries.
“Today it’s music, tomorrow it’s costume, day after tomorrow it’s movement. It’s so graceful. There’s no end to it. It’s a vast treasure and it can be shared, and it will only spread and spread.” AFP