… Paseo de los Pixanes full of gods and catrinas
… They recreate ancestral ritual of cleaning bones
… «Nohoch Altar» is dedicated to indigenous leader Jacinto Canek
… Cocomes and Itzáez led the Mayan Ball game
More than five thousand visitors, including national, international and folksy tourists, accompanied Governor Layda Sansores San Román at the Day of the Dead Festival in Pomuch, «a place that lives for its dead.»
She accompanied by the mayor of Hecelchakán, José Dolores Brito Pech; the president of the State DIF Board of Trustees, Laura Sansores San Román; and the director of the Pablo García Foundation, Carlos Ucán Yam; Upon her arrival, the Governor witnessed the traditional Paseo de los Pixanes, in which characters such as Xibalbá, Ah-Puch, La Catarina de Holoch and Santa Muerte participated.
For more than an hour, the participants walked on the main avenue of Pomuch, from the cemetery to the main park, accompanied by children dressed in skulls blowing whistles as a call to the souls in their day, and women with flowers and offerings walking in silence behind a float adorned with marigold flowers and candles, which in the center carried the photo of Jacinto Canek, a Mayan indigenous leader by race, who led a rebellion for the political and religious rule of the Mayans in Yucatán.
The more than five thousand attendees enjoyed the re-enactment of the traditional ancient ritual, «cleaning bones,» which is of utmost importance for the Mayan inhabitants of the region, because only in this way can they pay tribute to their dead.
Minutes later, Sansores San Román walked to the main altar «Nohoch Altar» dedicated to the indigenous leader Jacinto Canek, there in an atmosphere covered with incense, flowers and candles, the Governor witnessed the delivery of the Hanal Pixán to all the faithful departed , while a group of Pumuchense women prayed and asked for the eternal rest of souls.
Then, with a dance for the gods, to the rhythm of the drum and with torches in hand, the Cocomes and the Itzáez began the Mayan ball game ritual «Pok ta Pok», which fulfilled the function of resolving conflicts of various kinds: lawsuits for land, taxes, commercial controls, among others.
To close the celebration, the cultural and artistic festival, Pomuch VIVE! in which various local artistic personalities and private companies participated.
Also present were the Secretary of Culture, Eutimio José Sosa Espina; that of Education, Raúl Pozos Lanz; of Tourism, Mauricio Arceo Piña; and the attorney general, Renato Sales Heredia.
