With a call to honor living cultures and recognize the heritage of indigenous peoples, Governor Rocío Nahle García inaugurated the first Yolpaki, Joyful Heart Cultural Gathering with a parade, attended by 2,500 people.
During the opening ceremony, the Governor emphasized the importance of choosing the port as the venue, as it represents the gateway for all the cultures that gave rise to the mestizaje (mixed cultures), thanks to which roots, traditions, customs, and gastronomy have been enriched.
“Everyone came here, the African people, and many others from other countries, who gave rise to the mestizaje. However, our roots, our people, our customs, our food have been enriched,” she explained.
1,168 people were part of the contingents that departed from the south, in homage to the Olmecs as the mother culture, and ended in the north, led by the Sotavento region. The President was accompanied by representatives from each region, wearing a typical jarocha costume.
“We showed Veracruz, Mexico, and the world the richness, from the Huasteca to the Olmec zone. We honor them, we recognize them; Today we make them visible, but above all, we respect them,” said the head of the Executive Branch, accompanied by the Secretary of Culture, Xóchitl Molina González.
The tour included dance, musical, and ritual performances such as the Moorish dances of Texistepec and Malinche de Oluta; the old men of Catemaco; balloon-carrying groups from San Andrés Tuxtla; black branches, son jarocho, mojigangas, huahuas, quetzales, Totonac, Chinantec, Mazatec, danzón, Afro-Mestizo carnival, Huastec huapango, and traditional trios, among many other cultural expressions.
The heart of the gathering took place in the Malecón Macroplaza, where cultural activities, workshops, artistic performances, gastronomy, and craft exhibitions took place over three days:
Traditional Knowledge Forum, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Medicine, cooking, ritual, and folk art workshops, from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 4:00 PM
Artistic presentations by historical, pre-Hispanic, mestizo, and contemporary section, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Popular Veracruz music concert, starting at 10:00 PM.
Yolpaki is a declaration of identity, a sowing of memory, and a harvest of pride shared by all regions of the state.
Source: veracruz.quadratin
