In the Oaxacan region of Isthmus of Tehuantepec Several Velas are held, a kind of festivals in which the inhabitants, who come from different cultures, dance their most traditional dances. There is no lack of music such as the famous regional theme "Son Bioxho", whose music is played with a drum, the shell of a turtle and a reed flute.
The sound of "La Tortuga" is practically a ritual in Isthmus. It has meaning since it represents the collection of turtle eggs carried out by the huaves of the region. Another hymn is the "Sandunga", the Tehuan son par excellence and whose first performance dates from the year 1850 when it was performed as lounge music at the National Theater of Mexico. In 1853 Máximo Ramón Ortiz wrote it and took it to Tehuantepec.
And continuing with the sandungas, the most important candle in the Isthmus is precisely "Vela Sandunga" that has been celebrated since 1953 in Santo Domingo de Tehuantepec on the last Saturday of the month of May. In the town there are parades of allegorical cars, folkloric acts, exhibitions, gastronomy samples and fireworks are launched.
The "Guendalizaa" is the most important festival of all the folkloric events that take place. It is the feast of the indigenous union and takes place every March 22, the anniversary of the revolt of the indigenous peoples before the Europeans who subjected them to all kinds of humiliations. The indigenous people named their authorities on March 22, 1660 and to celebrate it they dance typical dances of each indigenous community.
Photo via: Government of Oaxaca.