Hola! If you are game for a visual extravaganza, then head off to Mexico to witness the annual Guelaguetza dance festival. Held in Oaxaca, a UNESCO world heritage city the fiesta combines the ancient celebration of the corn goddess, Centeotl, and the Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is celebrated on two consecutive Mondays in July on a hill called Cerro del Fortín. Hence, it is also known as the Lunes del Cerro (Mondays on the Hill).
Oaxaca is home to several ethnic tribes, which send delegations to the event to showcase their diverse indigenous cultures. Gaily-attired men and women dance merrily to scintillating music before an admiring public. After the performance, the dancers shower gifts like local fruits, herbs, crafts etc. on the crowd. The festival also features colourful parades, stalls selling local cuisine and handicrafts and other events like plays and concerts.
The Guelaguetza is the people’s way of ensuring the continuity of their heritage in the modern age.