LA DIABLADA DE PÍLLARO, Ecuador, 2018

A ritual of rhythm, masks, and memory — where joy becomes resistance.


The "Fiesta de la Diablada" is a popular festival occurring every year, the first week of January in Píllaro, in the province of Tungurahua - Ecuador.
According to local legend, the devils in the parade recall the arrival of Christianity in the Americas — a powerful symbol transformed into joyful rebellion.

Men of indigenous communities become devils for a few days, wearing large handcrafted masks, dancing, jumping, and parading through the town 
with rhythm and laughter.
Each carries a doll, a handkerchief, or a bottle of liquor — gestures passed down through generations.

This is not just a festival, but a living memory: a ritual that embodies identity, resistance, and the strength of cultural continuity.



Technique: 35mm film photography
 




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