Three Wise Men (Cabalgata de Reyes) Parade - Madrid, Spain

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Three Wise Men (Cabalgata de Reyes) is Europe’s largest parade dedicated to children, and held in Spain. On the evening of 5th Jan 2007, children lined the streets of Madrid to watch a wide array of floats and Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band. The parade has been celebrated for over 60 years and each year continues to become ever more popular. The parade purely focuses around children and the receiving of gifts by the Three Wise Men.

Every city district in Spain hosts a Three Wise Men Parade, with the largest parade being held in Madrid City Centre. In total Madrid holds thirteen parades, all finishing by 6pm so that visitors can make their way to the largest parade in the heart of Madrid. The all Indian Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band was proud to be involved in the parade and was the only international group that had been selected over twelve other bands from Europe and the United States of America.

The parade Production Director, Silvia Jimeno and Event Coordinator, Vicente Piqueras had selected Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band as the key attraction because of its uniqueness. Silvia Jimeno, Production Director of the parade said “it is important that floats and artists appeal to the thousands of children, whilst promoting mixed cultures. Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band was ideal for the occasion, Indians dressed in Scottish kilts and living in London, is a truly magnificent fusion of cultures”.

The Parade had thirty six floats, of which only four were musical groups. In total, there were four sections to the parade, and Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band lead the third section, children’s tails; Jack and the Bean Stalk and 1001 Nights: Sultan, Aladdin, Ali Baba and The Forty Thieves and Sinbad the Sailor.

Police and Security Officials estimated that a record 1 million people, many of them children, crammed Madrid’s most famous street Castellana, to view the fantastic spectacle. Floats travelled along the parade route scattering a mammoth 10 tonnes of sweets into the crowd of children, with over 12 million sweets given to visitors. The Parade set off at 7pm and with the grand finale closing at the Fountain of Cybele by 9pm.

Over sixty television and twenty radio channels, broadcasted the event worldwide. The entire parade was broadcasted live on the three major Spanish TV Channels; Tele Madrid, TV International and Chanel Four. Vicente Piqueras, Event Coordinator said “……the crowds loved Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band, especially when they played Indian music. When speaking to other parade officials, they all claimed that The Band was the highlight of the event. I had visited the band in their Temple in Golders Green, London during the planning stages, and had the opportunity to speak to HDH Acharya Swamishree. Upon hearing the band and seeing the congress at the Temple, I was very impressed. Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band is a very unique musical group and we would love to have them here again next year”.

Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band will continue with its series of worldwide performances honouring Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa during His Centenary year, with its next public performance to be held in Mumbai, in April 2007.

© Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan