Iconic Pepino draws Bolivia’s carnival to a close
La Paz, Feb 26 (EFE).- The mischievous Pepino, one of the emblematic characters of the carnival in La Paz, danced for the last time Sunday before returning to his coffin to symbolically close the festivities and carnival celebrations in Bolivia.
This “tempting” Sunday, the comparsas of dozens of ch’utas and cholitas from La Paz, other important characters of the La Paz carnival, prepared their best costumes to accompany the picaresque Pepino, a character based on a cucumber, in his last dance of this carnival.
The event began in the crowded Plaza Garita de Lima where Pepino, in a red and yellow suit danced, jumped and greeted the people who were waiting to say goodbye to the character from the La Paz carnival.
Upon getting closer to the General Cemetery, Pepino refused to re-enter his coffin, but had no other option than to say goodbye to the troupes of dancers and other carnival characters for his symbolic “burial,” which represents the end of the festivities of this holiday in the country.
The coffin was taken to the door of the General Cemetery while he tried to get out of it to continue doing his latest pranks and the coffin was left there.
Then the troupes of dancers began to show their best numbers during the tour in which there was no shortage of other cucumbers that jumped from one side to the other foaming at passers-by and children, while the elegant ch’utas wore their masks and colorful costumes. These are characterized by having many colors and embroideries.
The ch’utas danced next to their cholitas, the Aymara women who raised their colored skirts with turning on their axis, typical of this dance.
“We have to enjoy this moment and wait until the next year, it is a festivity in which perhaps we all say goodbye to Cucumber excited for all that we have experienced in this party and we hope that next year he will return with the same joy, revelry and enjoy,” Evelyn Silva, one of the dancers who has participated in this event for at least five years, told EFE.
About 25 groups of these emblematic characters made their way through the parade, which on this occasion did not have as many spectators as they usually do every year.
The Pepino represents the mischief, joy and debauchery characteristic of carnival, while the ch’uta and the cholita introduce Aymara customs into the party, such as gratitude to Pachamama or Mother Earth for its fruits.
In other departments, such as the Cochabamba power plant, the “Corso de corsos” is carried out, another activity that also bids farewell to the carnival in Bolivia that began on Feb. 18. EFE
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