The Mystical Dances of The Bolivians In Rome (Part Two)

“Two things I admire:
the harsh law above me
and the starry sky inside me.”
(Orides Fontela)

 

Bolivia Carnival. Via dei Fori Imperiali. Rome, 14 February 2016

Our journey continues in the dances of the Bolivia Carnival.

Let yourself be carried away by their circular movements, from your armchairs to the historic streets of Rome, where armies and Roman emperors once marched back from their conquest campaigns, to the streets of Oruro, for one of the most important events for culture Bolivian.

Bolivia Carnival. Via dei Fori Imperiali

On Carnival of Oruro (from Wikipedia):

The Carnival of Oruro is a religious and cultural festival in Oruro, Bolivia. It has been celebrated since the 18th century. Originally an indigenous festival, the celebration later was transformed to incorporate a Christian ritual around the Virgin of Candelaria (Virgin of Socavón). The carnival is one of UNESCO's Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Throughout the festival, more than 48 groups of folk dancers specializing in 18 different folk dances perform a pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Tunnel every Saturday of the carnival in a traditional parade. The traditional Llama llama or Diablada became the leading traditional dance of the festival.
The modern festival demonstrates the ongoing pagan-Catholic blend of religious practice in the region. The carnival starts with a ceremony dedicated to the Virgen del Socavon. Marching bands compete simultaneously in the grotto of Pie de Gallo on Sunday, which is the greeting to the Virgin. The highlight of the festival is the three-day-and-three-night parade of 48 groups of folk dancers over a four-kilometer route to the sanctuary of the tunnel. Three days prior to this Saturday pilgrimage, people visit the symbolic pagan condor. A week after the pilgrimage, they visit the snake south of the city, the toad to the north and the ants to the east.
The pilgrimage culminates in the enactment of two medieval-style didactic or mystery plays. The first is about the Spanish conquest and the other revolves around the classical battle between good and evil, with the Archangel Michael ultimately triumphing over the Devil and the Seven Deadly Sins. The latter play was introduced by Catholic clergy in 1818.
In all, there are over 28,000 dancers, about 10,000 musicians in 150 bands, 400,000 visitors stretching over four miles. The bands themselves have a national festival on the Monday before Carnival weekend, that is aired on Bolivian television and its attended by the President of Bolivia and government authorities.

Reccommended video: The Carnival of Oruro 

 Italian version