The Carnival of Oruro is a more than 2000 year old religious celebration that, through creativity, continuity, and ritual, came to constitute a model of "Masterpieces of Oral Heritage and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (UNESCO). The Ito festival was transformed into a Christian ritual, the Virgin of Candelaria (Virgin of Socavón) on 2 February and the traditional "Llama llama" or "Diablada", became the leading traditional dance and Oruro in Bolivia. Throughout the festival involving more than 48 sets in 18 specialties folk dances they perform their pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Tunnel every Saturday of Carnival in the traditional "Input".
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Celebrated in Oruro, the folklore capital of Bolivia, the carnival marks the Ito festival for the Uru people. Its ceremonies stem from Andean customs, the ancient invocations centreing around Pachamama (Mother Earth, transformed into the Virgin Mary due to Christian syncretism) and Tio Supay (Uncle God of the Mountains, transformed into the Devil). The native Ito ceremonies were stopped in the 17th century by the Spanish, who were ruling the territory of Upper Peru at the time. However, the Uru continued to observe the festival in the form of a Catholic ritual on Candlemas, in the first week of each February. Christian icons were used to conceal portrayals of Andean gods, and the Christian saints represented other Andean minor divinities. The ceremony begins forty days before Easter.
Legend also has it that in 1789, a mural of the Virgin Mary miraculously appeared in a mineshaft of the richest silver mine in Oruro. Ever since, the Carnival has been observed in honour of the Virgen de la Candelaria (Virgin of the Candle Mass) or Virgen del Socavon (Virgin of the Mineshaft). The most important elements of the Carnival now occur in and around the Sanctuaria del Socavon (The Church of the Mineshaft).
The carnival starts with a ceremony dedicated to the Virgen del Socavon. Marching bands compete simultaneously in the grotto of Pie de Gallo on Sunday, which is the greeting to the Virgin. The highlight of the Carnival is conducted over three days and nights, with fifty groups parading through the city over a route of four kilometres.
The procession culminates in the enactment of two plays, reminiscent of medieval mystery plays. One is about the Spanish conquest. The other revolves around the classical battle between good and evil, with the Archangel Michael ultimately triumphing over the Devil and the Seven Deadly Sins. The enactment of the latter was introduced by Catholic clergy in 1818.
We present the multiculturalism of pre-Inca peoples, pre-Hispanic times, hunters, lake, agricultural, livestock and other highland lowland. From ancient times Jururu (Uru Uru), Oruro today was a religious pilgrimage center of the Andean world, to the "Sacred mountain of the Urus" which had called Wakas protective deities, or achachilas apus, these deities were Jampatukollo (Hill Toad ), Argentillo Arankani (Hill Lizard), Viper (Quwak), the condor and Wakallusta (Resbaladero Idols) among others. After the conquest of the Inca Empire, they tried to introduce their religion by making a demigod WariDesam evil and sacred Apus waka or pest Ñusta petrified by the Inca. So they should worship the Urus pachacamaj only represented by Inti.
From the Spanish conquest and colonization resulted in a unique religious syncretism of acculturation with Huari (Wari), synthesized in the "Uncle" it looks like the devil Universal and next to the Pachamama, the Ñusta who became the "Virgin of the Tunnel".
The celebration takes place in the city of Oruro, which is considered the Folk Capital of the carnival of Oruro Bolivia. still living pagan and Catholic religion, showing to the world their unique religious syncretism, three days prior to Saturday's pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the tunnel by the 48 sets, people visit the condor and a week later, the snake south of the city, toad north and east of the sand (ants). The Oruro Carnival of the term structure rainy highlands (jallupacha) that begins with the rituals of worship November related to the dead in "All Saints" (Next week the first treat of the Carnival), a period that extends until February (Entry of pilgrimage to Our Virgin of the Tunnel).
An international jury of public figures, convened by the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), proclaimed in the Carnaval de Oruro as "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity." On May 18, 2001, the proclamation was broadcast from Paris, France. The international jury chaired by writer Juan Goitisilo. The artistic, cultural, academic and government was represented by President of the Republic of Mali, Alpha Oumar Konare, the Kabaka of Uganda, His Majesty Ronald Muwenda Mutebi il, Princess Basma Bint Talal of Jordan, the Bolivian singer and Zulma Yugar Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes. The Carnival of Oruro to be a combination of over 28 000 dancers, about 10 000 players in 150 bands, street dance with a stage full of over 400 000 local and foreign viewers in nearly four miles away, in a unimaginable meeting of children, women and men who sing, dance and work, in honor of Our Lady of the tunnel, patroness of miners and Queen of the folklore of Bolivia. I get to become a radiating center of music and dance of devils, morenadas, foremen, tuffs, tinkus, etc. and thus constituted a "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity."
The historical importance in which gravito Oruro and its great cultural and religious influence make the carnival a natural setting that reflects the multiculturalism of the different areas of Bolivia within 416 miles of city blocks. The groups represent various indigenous dance forms, and are accompanied by several bands. Over 28000 dancers and 10000 musicians participate in the procession that lasts 20 hours. The dances include:
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