DIABLADA

La danza de la diablada es símbolo del Carnaval de Oruro que muestra una cosmovisión profundamente entroncada con el culto andino mismo que se originó en la colonia como una representación de la lucha entre el bien y el mal. Los Diablos y Lucifer bailan dirigidos por el Arcángel, las figuras del Cóndor y el Oso hacen gala de su destreza en la danza, mientras las Ch'ina Supay bailan en filas dinámicas, estas características han hecho que este sea muy popular más allá de nuestras fronteras.

Se cuenta que probablemente en el siglo XVIII, cuando los mineros de Oruro declararon Madre protectora a la Virgen de la Candelaria, bailaban de diablos precisamente para no provocar el enojo del TIO de la mina, “ser sobrenatural”, y dueño de los metales que puede proporcionar grandes riquezas o causar la muerte en los socavones, en cuyo homenaje surgió la danza de la Diablada.
Los bailarines visten trajes de colores vivos, exuberantes con formas suntuosas que hacen de ella un mestizaje lleno de riqueza.

Arani festividad de La Virgen la Bella

A 62 kilómetros de la capital cochabambina se encuentra la población de Arani, un pueblo enorgullecido por el sabor y tamaño de sus panes aquí se festeja del 24 al 25 de agosto la fiesta de su Santa Patrona, la Virgen La Bella. Esta fiesta congrega a peregrinos que llegan de las diferentes provincias y parroquias. La Virgen la Bella, de rostro moreno y facciones de belleza autóctona, recibe con los brazos abiertos a miles de agricultores que pedirán una mayor producción agropecuaria.

Los peregrinos subirán una empinada cuesta hasta el calvario, en la que están localizadas catorce estaciones.

En cada estación, los devotos se detienen un momento para lanzar una pequeña piedra a la cruz del camino, como señal de pedir perdón por las faltas cometidas.

Otros devotos se acercan al “banco de la Virgen” para golpear la roca y sacar pequeños fragmentos que representan el “préstamo” recibido de la virgencita, a condición de que el próximo año se devuelva lo prestado con su respectivo interés.

Ya en la cumbre del calvario, la mayor parte de los devotos compran “casas”, challan y disfrutan el ritmo de la diana y las cuecas que interpreta algún grupo de músicos o una pequeña banda.

El día de la fiesta -25 de agosto- se celebra una misa solemne, luego la procesión por la plaza principal, acompañado por los danzarines y la banda de músicos, para finalizar con una fiesta familiar de encuentro y alegría. Los devotos degustan el helado casero y los bizcochos especiales.

El 25 de agosto es la “kacharpaya”, es decir la despedida de la Fiesta de la Virgen.

SPECIAL OFFER TO CELEBRATE THE ANIVERSARY OF COCHABAMBA

Join BOLIVIA CULTURA and explore the wonders of Torotoro National Park. Humajalanta Cave; one of the most beautiful canyons you will ever see and the local museum Pachamama Wasi.

Trip leaves September 12th, for more information call 452-7272 or contact reservas@boliviacultura.com

THE SECOND CRETACEOUS PARK IN BOLIVIA

Approximately 2,500 kilos of clay are being moulded to give life to one of the most feared species of predatory dinosaurs that existed on earth. The Carnotauros lived from the Inferior Jurásico to the Superior Cretácico Period approximately 65 million years ago.

This time the giant model of the Carnotauros (eight meters long and four and a half meters tall) will be for National Park Toro Toro, which thanks to the existence of a variety of prehistoric dinosaur tracks and other marine fossils, is becoming the second Cretaceous Park in Bolivia and a tourist destiny of paleontological importance.

Some of the different types of dinosaurs proposed for the cretaceous park are: Apatosaurus, Gallimimus, Avimimus, marine turtles and giganotosaurus, the biggest of them all which will measure about 35 meters in length.

Once constructed these models of prehistoric species will be located in seven different areas of the park where remains of dinosaur tracks and fossils have been identified. These areas include: the entrance to the cavern of Umajalanta, Races Pampas, the Wayllas hill, the stone bridge, the turtle cemetery and the vista point for Torotoro canyon.

THE SECRETS OF TIWANAKU

Pachakuti: The Return of Balance
DVD directed by Miguel Montaño

This DVD explores concepts such as complementariness, community values, spiritual animism, reciprocal economies, health, education and communitarian justice all important aspect of the Tiwanakun culture.

In order to better understand these concepts the viewer is presented with a comparison between Western and Andean cultures. The DVD illustrates the enormous differences between the two cultures and reveals a cruel truth: “that western philosophy has been gradually extinguishing to the Andean culture”.
During a ceremony on the 21 of January of 2006, in the Ceremonial Center of Tiwanaku, the Council of Amautas of Bolivia and Andean first nations requested that their ancestors enlighten Evo Morales Ayma, who had been recently elected President of Bolivia, enabling him to restore the values of indigenous cultures and govern for all Bolivians.

This DVD is available in our office for 25 b’s.

Holy Week

Holy week is a time for reflection and meditation for those who celebrate this religious festival.

Many of the small villages in Cochabamba, especially in the “Valle Bajo” start the celebration with Holy Thursday. In Charamoco, Itapaya, Parotani and other villages people begin going to the churches at mid-day to help in preparing the altar of Santo Sepulcro. On Holy Friday the devout fast until mid-day and then eat 12 different traditional dishes such as: potatoe soup, Jak’alawa, Sajta de papalizas, Ch’uma de lacayote, Sopa de Pan, Arroz con Leche, Ají de Vainitas y Dulce de frutas. These are based on the traditions of our ancestors.

At midnight on Saturday is the Glory Mass for which people bring a stick or some firewood to light a fire in the door of the church. Finally on Sunday the last day of holy week the family gets together to prepare another traditional plate and drink some chicha.

Special Offers- Bella Vista “Parque Amboro”(10 th to 12 th April)
Cost: USD125.-
- Misiones + Pantanal Boliviano (08th to 12th April)
Cost: USD350.-
- Concepcion Misional (10th to 12 th April)
Cost: USD125
- Torotoro (09 th to 11th April), incluye cannoning en el Vergel (Cañon de Torotoro)
Cost: USD94.-

CARNAVAL 2009

Carnival in Bolivia is a without a doubt the most popular of the Bolivian festivals. Each region of the country celebrates carnival in their own manner. These festivals are the best demonstration of our folklore and traditions. The biggest carnival festival is in Oruro and has been declared by UNESCO as Cultural Patrimony of Humanity”.

The traditional legend is that in 1789 the Virgin of the Socavón (loosely translated as mine shaft) miraculously appeared in the largest sliver mine in Oruro. Since this time the festival has honoured the virgin and even today the most important parts of the festival of take place in front of the at the shrine of the Socavón.

The preparations for carnival take place all during the year with uncountable ceremonies and rituals. The largest of these celebrations takes place in Oruro when thousands of dancers take to the streets accompanied by large brass bands and dance for kilometres. The main dance is the diablada but one will also see morenada, caporals, suri-sicurus , la llamerada, la kullawada and Tinku as well as dozens of others.

Come with us to experience this unforgettable event Saturday 21 of Februrary.

Cost: $ 70
Contact: info@boliviacultura.com or call 452-7272