Taking place in the city of Tarija in Southeast Bolivia, the Great Festival of Tarija is a spectacle of colorful costumes, religious traditions, and mass participation. The festival, which begins on August 16 and ends on the second Tuesday of September, is more than a month long.
During the colonial period when people prayed to saints to cure epidemics, and diseases and to protect their loved ones, a Frenchman named San Roque and descendant of the Christian Kings of France, San Roque was born to a wealthy city governor in 1295. After the death of his parents, San Roque distributed the wealth he inherited to the poor. He then traveled to Italy with a pilgrim's habit and staff to help sick people.
An epidemic of leprosy ravaged the city of Tarija. To calm the anguish of the relentless scourge, those interested in the cures of the French requested the help of St. Roque. It is believed that the outbreak ended shortly thereafter so that to this day pilgrims renew their pledges to St. Roque and make their pilgrimage.
At this festival, processions visit the cathedral, temples, and churches in Tarija and the pilgrims show their devotion through dances, music, and prayers. The believers dress in colorful costumes as they parade the saint's image around the city. Their costumes represent the victims of leprosy that had infected the city many years ago.
The locals decorate temples and streets on which the procession passes. They also organize sports and cultural events. Thousands of people will be gathered on the final night to dance and sing at the foot of the Iglesia San Roque Tarija. The Tarija festival is characterized by regional crafts, traditional dishes, and an absence of alcohol.
The days of celebration of this cultural tradition are important since they signal the end of the winter dry season and the beginning of agricultural production. The festival is founded on religion and faith, which is preserved and transmitted within families and within the Catholic community.
This tradition has been maintained for generations. As a result, Tarija is recognized for all its culture, for all the folklore, and for the religiosity that accompanies this great display of faith. The festival is of great significance to the people of Tarija, and is a major celebration.