Bolivia’s mix of Roman Catholic and indigenous traditions are on display across La Paz as thousands of costumed dancers perform during the annual feast of the Great Power, a raucous street party that celebrates a rendering of Jesus Christ with native features and outstretched arms.
Brass bands marched and onlookers cheered over the weekend as the dancers performed elaborate routines in their quest for prizes.
The gathering of faithful fun-seekers traces its origins to a religious painting from the 17th century that depicts the Christian savior — El Senor del Gran Poder, or The Lord of the Great Power — with indigenous Andean features.
Religious believers began parading the image through poor neighborhoods in the upper reaches of Bolivia’s capital in the 1930s. The quiet, candle-lit processions eventually morphed into a full-blown dance festival that spilled into the wealthier valley below.
Revelers of the Los Tinkus dance troupe perform during the annual parade in honor of “El Senor del Gran Poder,” or “The Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 30, 2015. The weeklong celebration is the city’s largest festival and a major showcase of Andean folklore. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Today, the weeklong celebration is the city’s largest festival and a major showcase of Andean folklore. It has become so big that Bolivia is offering the Carnival-like event as a candidate for recognition by UNESCO.
The 62 dance troupes that began performing last weekend reflect Bolivia’s mix of traditions. Women in traditional bowler heats pounded down the street alongside people dressed as conquistadors, men prancing in brightly colored ponchos, and dancers with painted faces performing ceremonial Inca steps. The most prestigious troupes boast foreign diplomats and local politicians as members.
As many as 20,000 performers prepare for months, practicing moves, searching for flashy jewelry and embroidering elaborate outfits worth as much as $20,000 apiece. After the festival begins, hired bodyguards watch over the dancers to prevent robberies.
The individual troupes are often financed by a single leader. This year, Jose Gabriel Nina sponsored a group of men who wore giant masks and heavy handmade suits covered in pearly beads. They paraded down the street performing a traditional dance that is supposed to evoke the slaves who toiled in Andean mines under Spanish masters.
“The Lord of Great Power has given me blessings. I’ve spared no expense here because this is an act of faith,” Nina said.
In the poor neighborhood where the festival was born, street vendors compete for attention, offering food as well as herbs, potions and llama fetuses to be used as offerings to the Pachamama, a pre-Colombian native Earth mother figure revered in Bolivia.
Click on any image to launch the gallery.
Devotees prepare a statue of “El Senor del Gran Poder,” or “The Lord of Great Power”, before participating in the traditional “Fiesta del Senor del Gran Poder” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 28, 2015. Thousands of dancers and faithful gather every June to show their devotion and to thank the gods, and for blessings from throughout the year. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Masks of La Morenada dance, are piled up before the traditional “Fiesta del Senor del Gran Poder” or “The Feast of the Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Craftsman Andres Pari works on a metal mask for the dance of La Morenada, before the traditional “Fiesta del Senor del Gran Poder” or “The Feast of the Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 26, 2015. As many as 20,000 performers prepare for months in advance, practicing steps, searching for flashy jewelry, and embroidering elaborate outfits worth as much as $20,000 apiece. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Masks for the dance of La Morenada, sit in bags ready to be unpacked and used in the traditional “Fiesta del Senor del Gran Poder” or “The Feast of the Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
A craftsman prepares a costume for the dance of La Morenada before the traditional “Fiesta del Senor del Gran Poder” or “The Feast of the Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 22, 2015. Religious believers began parading the image of Jesus Christ through poor neighborhoods in the upper reaches of the capital of La Paz in the 1930s. The quiet, candle-lit processions eventually morphed into a full-blown dance festival that spilled into the wealthier valley below. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Shoes that are part of La Morenada dance costumes, sit ready to be used before the traditional “Fiesta del Senor del Gran Poder” or “The Feast of the Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Craftsmen prepare the costumes to be used in the dance of La Morenada, before the traditional “Fiesta del Senor del Gran Poder” or “The Feast of the Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Revelers chat in the street during the annual parade in honor of “El Senor del Gran Poder,” or “The Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
A woman aids a performer to put on a dance costume before the start of the traditional “Fiesta del Senor del Gran Poder” or “The Feast of the Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
A woman paints the face of a dancer before participating in the traditional “Fiesta del Senor del Gran Poder” or “The Feast of the Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 30, 2015. Today, the weeklong celebration is the city’s largest festival and a major showcase of Andean folklore. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Revelers of the Los Catedraticos dance troupe perform during the annual parade in honor of “El Senor del Gran Poder,” or “The Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Musicians of the Poopo de Oruro band play during the annual parade in honor of “El Senor del Gran Poder,” or “The Lord of Great Power” in La Paz, Bolivia, May 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Spotlight is the blog of AP Images, the world’s largest collection of historical and contemporary photos. AP Images provides instant access to AP’s iconic photos and adds new content every minute of every day from every corner of the world, making it an essential source of photos and graphics for professional image buyers and commercial customers. Whether your needs are for editorial, commercial, or personal use, AP Images has the content and the expert sales team to fulfill your image requirements. Visit apimages.com to learn more.
Written content on this site is not created by the editorial department of AP, unless otherwise noted.
AP Images is the world’s largest collection of historical andcontemporary photos. AP Images provides instant access to AP's iconic photos and adds new content every minute of every day from every corner of the world, making it an essential source of photos and graphics for professional imagebuyers and commercial customers. Whether your needs are for editorial, commercial, or personal use, AP Images has the content and the expert sales team to fulfill your image requirements. Visit apimages.com to learn more.
View more posts
One thought on “Bolivia Festival Merges Catholic Native Culture”
AP Images Blog 
One thought on “Bolivia Festival Merges Catholic Native Culture”