contest entries A special event!

When I first spotted these or similarly dressed girls,they were atop

horses with equally flamboyant attires and being escorted by a festive

following of parents and friends from the village.Not knowing exactly

what was going on,I quickly shot a few frames as they went on their

way.I was informed that this parade was heading for a nearby town

where similar processions from other villages were also converging for

the ''happening''.Later,I travelled to the indicated place to find a

whole gathering of these dolled up young ones amidst a

large/happy/festive crowd.BOYS,I was told and the ceremony to which

they were conveyed was that of the passing rite of

circumcision.....and then.I fully realized the reason for the same

anxious look on all of their faces especially that the ''event'' was

but a few minutes away when I seized this image. Thank you for

reading the story behind this image-Laurent