Ajijic’s beloved Virgen del Rosario was carried home after a five-year absence on Tuesday, April 30 amid a tumult of fanfare and devotion.
The festivities were motivated by the reopening of the stone chapel standing at the northwest corner of the village plaza, the official residence of Our Lady of the Rosary. The 18th-century building was closed to the public after severe structural damages and risks of collapse were discovered in 2019. The antique statue of the Virgin and the companion figure of San Sebastián were immediately moved to the San Andrés parish for safekeeping.
Tuesday’s celebration began with a send-off Mass at the San Andrés Parish, followed by a procession winding through the center of town. The Virgin was placed on a huge bier adorned with floral bouquets and candelabras, hoisted by a team of burly men. The San Francisco drum and bugle corps, the Aztec danzantes from San Juan Cosala, a local marching band, rocket men armed with 300 cohetes, and scores of pilgrims joined the entourage.
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