The Guelaguetza of the Sea, a new event for the annual Fiestas de Noviembre, kicked off Friday with a well attended parade.
During an opening ceremony at the Agencia Municipal, Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara said the celebration gives locals the opportunity to proudly live their traditions, culture and roots while sharing them with visitors.
The parade started from the Adoquín with the participation of 20 delegaciones or dance groups from several Mixtec, Chatino, Zapotec and Afro-Mexican towns of the coast of Oaxaca.
These delegaciones included the Canasteras [basketweavers] of Puerto Ángel, and groups from San Pedro Pochutla, Collantes, Río Grande, San Juan Colorado, Puerto Escondido, Santiago Llano Grande, Santa María Tonameca, San Andrés Huaxpaltepec, El Tomatal, Santa María Colotepec, El Ciruelo, Santa María Huatulco, San Pedro Mixtepec, Villa de Tututepec, Pinotepa Nacional, San Juan Cacahuatepec, Santa Catarina Juquila and Putla Villa de Guerrero.
While the main Guelaguetza celebrated in Oaxaca city brings together delegaciones from different peoples and regions of the state every summer, the first ever Guelaguetza of the Sea summoned towns from all over the Costa region of the state. On this occasion, a Tuxtepec dance group representing the neighboring Cuenca region was invited as a special guest.
The parade was joined on its way through Puerto by residents and visitors alike before concluding at the Agencia Municipal.
Along with the Guelaguetza del Mar, the state government has organized a series of cultural activities throughout the month, open to residents and visitors of Puerto.
At Zicatela Beach, officials saw the opening of the Expo Económica Promoción Región Costa, offering visitors five pavilions with more than 60 artisans exhibiting their crafts, along with agro-industrial products, mezcal and coffee producers and a food court.
The exhibition will be open through Sunday, starting at 4 pm each day.
In the Agencia Municipal, the state Ministry of Culture (Seculta) inaugurated the Exhibit of Mixtec Codices Replicas, while the Zicatela Clean Beaches headquarters hosted a Plastic Arts Workshop. Both activities will continue until November 15.
The presentation of the poetry book “Los Cuerudos” by Fernando Amaya is scheduled at Plazuela Zicatela on November 10, followed by a cinematographic exhibition at Punta Zicatela on the 11th.
There will also be an Exhibition of the Purple Snail Dye, part of an Artisan and Gastronomic Fair on November 11.
From November 16 to 30, the Plastic Arts Workshop will move from Zicatela to Parque el Idilio, as will the cinematographic exhibition, to be held at Bacocho Beach on the 26th.
The month-long celebrations and events of the Fiestas de Noviembre has just started. A full schedule of official events can be consulted here, while smaller venues will likely organize their own entertainment. Share those that pique your interest the most in the comments section below.
With reports by Agencia Oaxaca MX
