They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but photographic images only hint at the commotion that occurs when 10,000 pilgrims congregate in Chapala to manifest spiritual allegiance with La Virgen de Zapopan.
As the beloved statuette was welcomed to town last Sunday morning, more than dozen magnificently outfitted ritual dance troupes led the long procession along Avenida Madero to the sounds of steady drumbeats, twittering flutes, blaring conch shells, jingling rattles and hundreds of clattering feet.
Festive musical notes emanated from marching bandas, mariachi troupes and a drum and bugle corps. Sky rockets boomed in the sky, church bells clanged and scores of motorcycles lining the street revved engines.
From the altar set up near the waterfront human voices rose in song, prayer and fervent cheers for La Reina del Lago.
The tumultuous ambiance of a typical Mexican religious celebration goes on steroids when the precious Virgin comes to bless our lake. This year the faithful attested to a mission accomplished as a downpour washed over Chapala the following morning, resulting in the cancellation of the customary nautical procession to Alacrán Island.