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Erongaricuaro, Michoacan, was a town in turmoil when I visited, with the political parties in open conflict. The water spirits don’t really care about that and need to be attended to on their own. This festival was a long walk, or truck ride, up into the mountain above the town. My brother James and I walked most of the way with everyone else and then hitched a ride with a family the last kilometer. The picture of the lake from the spring gives an idea about the climb, since the town is almost at the level of the lake. The spot was just wonderful and it is understandable why the spirits live there. The spring was redirected and plumbed to supply water to the town. The men cleaned the site and repaired a small leak in the tube. There was a mass at the site and then a meal and music. As is the custom at these types of festivities, we were invited to eat along with the townspeople. I was rather surprised that no one had on traditional costume. Apparently only the older people in the town wear traditional costume.
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