Saints Revel With Super Bowl March In Downtown New Orleans

February 9, 2010 8:41 p.m. EST

New Orleans, LA, United States (AHN) - Two days after capturing its first Super Bowl title in franchise history, New Orleans is celebrating the victory Mardi Gras-style.

A sea of traffic was reported everywhere as bundled-up supporters await the start of the Saints victory parade.

At around 4:30 p.m. outside the Superdome, where the parade began, the crowd broke into a frenzy as the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Band played the Saints unofficial anthem: "Halftime (Stand Up and Get Crunk)".

Dozens of floats, rarely seen together in a single parade, were borrowed from the area's top Mardi Gras krewes.

Apart from about 12 marching bands, Saints players, coaches and staff members joined the parade that was showered by confetti

Heading the parade on the initial float were team owner Tom Benson and Rita Benson Leblanc.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees and other players, who threw beads as the floats trudged through the congested parade routes, rode on the second float.

Early dismissal by most schools and many workers being let out of work early to witness the historic event contributed to the overflowing crowd.

The festive mood is fitting recognition for the impressive 31-17 defeat of the Indianapolis Colts, which capped just the ninth winning season in the Saints' 43-year history.