El Señor del Monte - Jocotepec Jan 2010

Every year, about the second week in January,

mi pueblito celebrates El Señor del Monte - the Lord of the Mountain.

Yesterday was the last day of the festival

marked by the procession of El Señor through the pueblo in the evening.

There is a beautiful icon of El Señor that resides above the church altar 
364 days a year —  and 21 hours.  
For those other 3 hours He is taken down from the altar

and carried by noble men of the village, around and through the pueblo, 
in a procession.  

Step back, here it comes!

The clanging bells announced the emergence of El Señor through the church doors;

carried by the noble men.

Out into the street, and around the town they went.

There were Indians from nearby pueblos,

some with metal plates on their feet, doing syncopated dances.

Many of the people in the procession, and some of those watching along the roadsides,

traveled here by chartered buses from far away pueblos.

The buses are now parked along the highways and outlying roads.

Some of the devotees have special needs and ask El Señor

to grant their prayers by walking the procession on their knees.

Family members lay folded blankets out in front of them to kneel on.

Some elect to do it without!

 

  

El Señor brings up the end of the procession.  
He is followed by a pickup with loudspeakers
and someone praying and singing.

The bystanders then step in and follow the throng back to the church.

The crowd, as usual, was staggering.

 After that?

Well, for some, an outdoor Mass begins when El Señor returns to the church.

For others, its party time.

The plaza and the whole town centro was ablaze with lights, booths,
games, food, tequila, and rides.

The hand of God giveth 

 The hand of God taketh away.