Puno keeps on celebrating Virgen de la Candelaria festival

(14 February, 2012)

Virgen de la Candelaria festival, held in Peru’s southeastern Puno region to pay homage to its patron saint, continues with the 48th contest of mestizo dances and costumes.

These activities will start at Enrique Torres Belon stadium and will continue through the streets of the city.

On Wednesday, February 15, some sicuris and zampoña groups will entertain the visitors. On Saturday, the celebrations in honor of the patron of Puno will be held in each neighborhood.

This is the most important festival of faith and devotion in the Peruvian Altiplano that gather, like every year, some 40,000 dancers and 9,000 musicians from the entire region.

Said festival has given Puno the title "Capital del Folklore Peruano" (Capital of Peruvian Folklore) and it is considered one of the three most important religious festivals in South America.

Fuente: Andina Noticias