Devotees celebrate Santo Domingo in Managua
Managua, Aug 4 (EFE).- Hundreds of devout Catholics took to the streets of Managua on Thursday to celebrate the image of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, which once a year tours the former eastern neighborhoods of the Nicaraguan capital.
The parishioners gathered at the Santo Domingo church in the north of Managua to take a tour of about 10 hours through some popular neighborhoods that a century ago were located in the east of the capital.
That included the crowded Oriental Market which, covering 106 hectares is considered the largest in Central America, and with its more than 20,000 fixed establishments, attracts more than 100,000 people per day.
On the route, the image of Santo Domingo is carried by the faithful who make promises in exchange for favors.
Although it is a tiny image, about 18 centimeters tall, it stands out from the crowd because it is “dressed” in some 600 red and yellow flowers, according to the organizers.
The image toured the streets amid revelry with philharmonic music and firecrackers, while the crowd asked for and paid for miracles.
The festivities in honor of Santo Domingo take place between Aug. 1-10 and usually attract more than half a million people, according to the Managua Mayor’s Office. EFE
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