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Long vehicular traffic, widespread marriage ceremonies, breath-taking sight-seeing of nature and elaborate entertainment were the major spectacles at Kwahu during the Easter celebration. But many people said in terms of patronage, it was a low-key Easter as compared to the previous years� celebration of the occasion, and the reason was not farfetched � lack of money. Kwahus are noted for their elaborate celebration of Easter, and the occasion has assumed international character over the years but with the prices of everything doubling during the period, money played a crucial role in patronage. Vehicular traffic Nevertheless, there was long vehicular traffic on top of the Kwahu Ridge, especially at Mpraeso, where the atmosphere was buzzing with music from loud speakers along the streets. The traffic situation was more intense on Saturday as many Kwahu citizens and visitors climbed the mountain to celebrate Easter. But for the heavy presence of police personnel who controlled the flow of vehicular traffic, the situation would have been unpleasant. The police also maintained physical presence in many parts of the Kwahu towns to maintain law and order. In some instances, the police arrested suspected pick pockets and other criminals who sought to take undue advantage of the situation. The police also impounded unregistered vehicles and motorbikes which were being used during the period. Paragliding Festival Many of the vehicles headed for the top of the Odweanoma Mountain at Atibie for the Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival, which is a major attraction for holiday revellers on the Kwahu Ridge. The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Julius Debrah, had officially opened the event on Good Friday for a smooth take-off, but after 43 flights, the event was cancelled around 3:30 p.m. due to bad weather which was followed by a downpour. And when flight resumed on Saturday, with a bright, conducive weather, many more passengers had the opportunity to fly from the Odweanoma Mountain, 2500 feet above sea level, under the guidance of 15 pilots from the US, Peru, Thailand, Belgium, Japan,among others. Charles Kirsten, an American pilot, and his passenger, Dan Smith, a Welsh, were both first-time flyers at the Kwahu Easter Paragliding Festival, and when they landed safely at the Nkawkaw Park, they were excited about the experience. �It was awesome,� Mr Smith, an engineer based in Kumasi, told the Daily Graphic. For his part, Mr Kirsten, who has been flying for 18 years, described his experience at Kwahu as �fantastic�. He said it was unfortunate that flights were cancelled on the first day but that was based on one cardinal principle of flying: �We�ll love to be on the ground and wish we are in the air than to be in the air and wish we are on the ground�. Mountain expedition For many people who did not have the guts or GH�200 to fly, an expedition down the Odweanoma Mountain to see a canopy-shaped rock and a cave was an alternative opportunity to explore nature. But that also did not come cheap because it required a great deal of courage. Descending the mountain is breathtaking, savouring the beauty of nature and the Nkawkaw township beneath, but ascending it is a very challenging task that is surely not meant for the faint-hearted. The Gyaasehene of Teacher Mantey, near Suhum, Nana Yaw Boame, defied the prestige of royalty to descend and climb the mountain. �I never knew about such thing. The rock (canopy) and hole (cave) are wonderful nature of God,� he remarked. As soon as Kenneth Nikoi, a teacher at Abetifi, emerged at the top of the mountain with a walking stick in hand, he exclaimed: �I have extended my age by 10 years�. He expressed the desire to undertake such expedition every year in order to exercise his body and keep healthy. Marriage ceremonies Away from the Odweanoma Mountain, one other major event on the calendar of Easter celebration in Kwahu is marriage ceremonies. It was as though Saturday was set aside for the purpose of contracting marriages, as cheers and appellations greeted marriage couples in many houses across Kwahuman. Social jams For a large number of people, especially the youth, the interest was not marriage ceremonies; it was all about social jams. Mpraeso appeared to be the nerve centre of activities during the day, as almost every space along streets were turned into open air music studios. The drinking spots at Mpraeso and many other towns were equally jamming with music and fanfare. But in the night, the centre piece of action appeared to have shifted to Obomeng where the �boyz-boyz� and �girlz-girlz� jammed and unleashed their own brand of Easter celebration.