Guadeloupean carnival is a cultural phenomenon organized throughout the whole territory for about two months. The biggest days being the Shrove days. Renowned as one of the best carnivals in the world, it brings together thousands of spectators from all walks of life, every year. It exposes original and colourful costumes of dancers and musicians of different groups.
Carnival season starts on Epiphany Sunday and parades take place in the streets every Sunday until the peak and end of the carnival season. On Ash Wednesday, and to mark the end of the season, carnival-goers are dressed as mourners and a 5-meter high puppet dressed as a king is burned in a public square at Pointe-Ã -Pitre. It is Vaval, the king of the carnival.