<P> In Trinidad & Tobago, Carnival lasts months and culminates in large celebrations in Port of Spain on the three days before Ash Wednesday with Dimanche Gras, J'ouvert, and Mas (masquerade). Tobago's celebration culminates on Monday and Tuesday on a much smaller scale in Scarborough . Carnival combines costumes, dance, music, competitions, rum, and partying (fete - ing). Music styles include soca, calypso, rapso, and more recently Chutney soca . </P> <P> The annual Carnival steel pan competition known as the National Panorama competition holds the finals on the Saturday before the main event . Pan players compete in categories such as "Conventional Steel Band" or "Single Pan Band" by performing renditions of the year's calypsos . </P> <P> "Dimanche Gras" takes place on the Sunday night before Ash Wednesday . Here the Calypso Monarch is chosen (after competition) and prize money and a vehicle awarded . The King and Queen of the bands are crowned, where each band parades costumes for two days and submits a king and queen, from which an overall winner is chosen . These usually involve huge, complex, beautiful well - crafted costumes, that includes' wire - bending' . </P> <P> J'ouvert, or "Dirty Mas", takes place before dawn on the Monday (known as Carnival Monday) before Ash Wednesday . It means "opening of the day". Revelers dress in costumes embodying puns on current affairs, especially political and social events . "Clean Mud" (clay mud), oil paint and body paint are familiar during J'ouvert . A common character is "Jab - jabs" (devils, blue, black, or red) complete with pitchfork, pointed horns and tails . A King and Queen of J'ouvert are chosen, based on their witty political / social messages . </P>

What is a main part of the winter carnival