UJ #17 - Traditional Peru

LimaTours
outfits, the angels and the devils come face to face in a
stunning choreography that depicts the confrontation of
good and evil, of the Andean and the mestizo. The cast
of the celebration can amount up to 500 people, among
which there are the caporales or diablos mayores, the
arcángeles, the chinas diablas, the diablezas, the diablos
menores, and the musicians.
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Musicians posing
while waiting for
the parade to
begin. Thousands
of them flock to
Puno.
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The Friday after the parade, music fills the city as the
rest of the bands arrive, coming together to play songs
throughout the night. On Saturday, the Virgin is once
again celebrated in a morning mass, and around 3pm,
the dance troops congregate in the main square and
prepare for the final evening celebration. Dressed in
their wonderful outfits, participants dance the night
away, and fireworks light up the sky until dawn.
Sunday brings with it the Grand National Dance Troop
Competition. After months of practice, thousands of
THERE ARE 300 DIFFERENT DANCES
IN THE CITY OF PUNO, WHICH IS
CONSIDERED THE “CAPITAL OF
PERUVIAN FOLKLORE.” OVER 40
THOUSAND DANCERS AND 9 THOUSAND
MUSICIANS ARRIVE TO THE CITY EACH
YEAR DURING THE CELEBRATION OF THE
VIRGIN OF CANDELARIA.
dancers take the stage in the Enrique Torres Belon
Stadium, competing for honour and recognition. Locals
and tourists come together to enjoy a day dedicated to
art, and revel in the glory of one of the most culturally
significant representations in the country – a tradition
that has been passed down through generations.
The Fiesta de la Candelaria is an expression of our faith
and essence as Peruvians. Many people travel to Puno not
for the festivities, but rather, because of their devotion to
the Virgin, which they manifest through their art.
The Waka
Waka, a dance
performed in
honour of the
Virgen de la
Candelaria.
The dancer’s movements embellish
the festival’s performances.
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