Monday, 12th June 2006 (3675 views)

The Bolivian festival known as Gran Poder, which translates to 'Great Power' gripped the capital city of La Paz over the weekend.

The festival itself, also known as the 'festival of gold', took place in the streets of the South American national capital and is an annual event that allows residents to display their social prestige through a public display of their gold jewellery.

The ceremony has its roots in Catholicism and the 4.4 mile parade through the city centre was succinctly summed up by one jewellery artiste:

"The more gold you've got on, the more money you have," Modesto Quispe told Reuters.

Women dancers, or 'cholitas', who take part are known to spend thousands of dollars each year in order to present themselves in the best possible light.

Security for the festival is at a premium in this display of opulence in what is one of the continents' poorest countries.

 

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