The largest festival in the district of Sapallanga, in honor of the Virgin of Cocharcas, began with preliminary activities in which dozens of faithful devotees arrived at the main church of the district to participate in the traditional changing of the mantle.
With great faith, the faithful began the procession from Fidel Miranda Avenue (Tres Esquinas area) until they reached the parish. Along the way, the faithful townspeople waited with great eagerness and devotion for Mamacha Cocharcas with altars and carpets in her honor. Once in the church, a presentation of folkloric images was held by various associations that danced the chonguinada, negrería, colla and carachaqui.
“The greatest miracle is that each cloak or detail is a person’s gratitude towards the Virgin, for having received a grace from Mamacha Cocharcas. For me, that is the clear reflection of the blessing she poured out,” said Enrique Campos, parish priest of the Sapallanga district.
For his part, Miguel Paitán, mayor of the district, mentioned that during the central days they plan to receive 80 thousand faithful, including locals, nationals and even foreigners. He also added that on Monday, August 26, the invitation will be made in the city of Lima together with the Minister of Culture, Leslie Carol Urteaga, in order to make more people aware of the different activities in honor of the Virgin.
The 16 neighborhoods, 3 populated centers and 1 annex of Sapallanga are preparing in this way to begin the month of the patron saint of the Mantaro Valley.
The Virgin of Cocharcas now wears the mantle from 1985 to continue the tradition. The pilgrimage, which will take place on August 31, is an 8-kilometer walk from Huancayo
