In Bolivia the Oruro carnival once again amazed with its majesty

teleSUR English

Unlike other carnivals, the Oruro Carnival is a three and a half kilometer pilgrimage, dancing, to the sanctuary of the Virgen del Socavon. Our correspondent Freddy Morales tells us the details. teleSUR

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:03 In Bolivia, the Oruro Carnival once again

00:24 does so amaze with its majesty variety of dances,

00:26 multicolored costumes, and joy.

00:28 Unlike other carnivals, the Oruro Carnival

00:30 is a 3 and 1/2 kilometer pilgrimage

00:32 dancing to the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Socavón.

00:35 Our correspondent, Freddy Morales, tells us the details.

00:38 It is said that the Oruro Carnival began like this,

00:41 as a procession that evolved into a pilgrimage,

00:44 and this pilgrimage into dance and music.

00:47 The devotion we have towards Mamita del Socavón,

00:50 the Saturdays of pilgrimage are for her.

00:53 We dance in devotion for her, for every favor

00:56 she fulfills for us, because we are believers.

01:00 I come every year.

01:02 The Little Virgin always fulfills me.

01:04 Greetings for my family.

01:07 My faith to Mamita del Socavón, who gives us life and health,

01:12 and we will continue dancing until Mamita

01:15 gives us life and health.

01:16 But above all, because we have faith.

01:19 This carnival performs 20 dance specialties

01:23 as the local authorities of the event

01:25 say, which are performed by more than 50,000 dancers, men

01:30 and women who dance for 3 and 1/2 kilometers

01:33 to reach the shrine of the Virgen del Socavón.

01:36 Spectacular.

01:37 We once a year travel from Chile,

01:40 because we are from Chile.

01:41 It is incomparable.

01:42 We brought our daughter for the first time,

01:45 and she was fascinated.

01:46 It is something that does not compare to any carnival.

01:50 It is majestic, as they say, in honor

01:52 of the Virgin del Socavón.

01:54 It's something expected every year in Bolivia,

01:57 nationally and internationally, because we

01:59 expect 100% Bolivians in the Carnival of Oruro,

02:03 where all the dances are 100% Bolivian.

02:07 We come from La Paz.

02:08 It is a very nice tradition.

02:09 All the dances are very elegant, very nice.

02:12 We are having fun.

02:14 Long life, the carnival.

02:16 The most ancient and classic dances

02:18 have a religious and social feeling,

02:21 like the Diablada, whose origin is

02:23 lost in the time before the Spanish colonialism.

02:26 But when this took place, it meant once again

02:29 that the struggle between good and evil--

02:32 in the end, the archangel Gabriel,

02:35 guided by the Virgin, defeats the demons,

02:38 and together they enter the Catholic Church.

02:42 To thank her for all that she gives us,

02:44 this pilgrimage is a promise to offer,

02:47 through dancing, our gratitude, our faith,

02:50 strengthened in the affection towards the Virgin,

02:53 happy to come at her feet.

02:57 After 20 years, we are still on pilgrimage

03:00 for the little virgins of Socavón, always for Mamita.

03:04 In this state, the pilgrimage.

03:06 Or the Morenada, which relieves the transfers of slaves

03:10 from Africa on foot to the mines of Potosi,

03:13 on the high plateau, at 4,000 meters above the sea level,

03:17 with almost no oxygen.

03:18 Their tongues hang out of their mouth,

03:20 and their eyes bulge out of their socket.

03:23 The rattle reproduces the sound of the chains

03:26 the pilgrimage concludes on their knees

03:28 before the image of the Virgin.

03:31 Tiring, very tiring.

03:32 It is four kilometers, very strong march

03:35 to get here with masks, to arrive at the little virgin.

03:38 But we fulfilled a new year.

03:41 It is my first year dancing, but it is a very nice experience.

03:45 I feel very blessed by the Virgin of Socavón.

03:48 Very happy to be three years old.

03:51 Are you going to continue?

03:53 If the little virgin allows me to do so, of course I will.

03:56 Each dance has a meaning.

03:58 And here are represented the indigenous dancers

04:01 of the Amazon and the main customs

04:03 of various people of Bolivia.

04:05 By 50,000 dancers, nearly 20,000 musicians distributed

04:10 in 70 bands, this cultural expression

04:13 has been recognized by UNESCO as oral and intangible heritage

04:18 of humanity.

04:19 [SPEAKING SPANISH]

04:22 Bolivia.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended