Indigenous culture festival on show in Mexico capital

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The rich cultures of Mexico's native peoples will be on show for 10 days in the principal square of the nation's capital as the "Festival of Indigenous Cultures" takes place.

The festival, now in its fifth edition, was inaugurated on Saturday in Mexico City's Zocalo, where around 1,000 expositions from 29 indigenous groups can be seen.

The exhibitions and displays cover a diverse array of topics including gastronomy, elaborate art, dances and ceremonial songs of some of the indigenous groups.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Secretary of Culture of Mexico City Eduardo Vazquez said this edition of the festival has made human movement its central theme to send a message that migration enriches cities, including the Mexican capital.

Mexico City's Zocalo. /VCG Photo

"Mexico City is the indigenous capital of the country and the continent; no other urban area has so many indigenous people speaking so many different languages," he said.

Though indigenous communities are found throughout the country, the majority are concentrated in the southern states of the country, such as Oaxaca.

Representatives from the Mazatec, Otomi, Nahua, Huichol, Maya and Tzeltal groups will be present at the festival.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency