Aves

The Virgin of Candelaria
during 18 days, the city of Puno, nestled on the shores of Lake Titicaca at an altitude of 3,870 meters above sea level, becomes the Folk Capital of the Americas. Thefestival gathers more than 200 groups of musicians and dancers to celebrate the Mamacha Candelaria. For the first nine days, the mayordomos (those in charge of organizing the festivities), decorate thechurch and pay for Mass, banquets and fireworks displays. On the main day, February 2, the virgin is led through the city in a colorful procession comprising priests, altar boys, the faithful, Christiansand pagans carefully maintaining the hierarchy. This is the moment when the troupes of musicians and dancers take the scene, performing and dancing throughout the city.

The festival is linked tothe pre-Hispanic agricultural cycles of sowing and harvesting, as well as mining activities in the region. It is the result of a blend of respectful Aymara gaiety and ancestral Quechua seriousness. Thedance of the demons, or diablada, the main dance of the festival, was allegedly dreamed up by a group of miners trapped down a mine who, in their desperation, resigned their souls to the Virgen de laCandelaria. The dancers, blowing zampoña pan-pipes and clad in spectacular costumes and outlandish masks, make their offerings to the earth goddess Pachamama. The most impressive masks, for theirterrifying aspect, are those of the deer fitted with long twisted horns similar to the Devil, and Jacancho, the god of minerals. During the farewell, or cacharpari, the dancers who fill the streetsfinally head to the cemetery to render homage to the dead.

durante 18 días, la ciudad de Puno, ubicada a orillas del Lago Titicaca, a una altitud de 3.870 metros sobre el nivel del mar, se convierte enla capital folclórica de América. El festival reúne a más de 200 grupos de músicos y danzantes para celebrar a la Mamacha Candelaria. Durante los primeros nueve días, los mayordomos (los encargados...