Celebration of Mayan Culture and Heritage
Joaquín Díaz Mena, Governor of Yucatán, inaugurates the State Altar Exhibition
- Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena led the inauguration of the State Altar Exhibition, reaffirming commitment to Mayan culture and roots.
More than 70 offerings, crafted by municipalities, state departments, higher education institutions, and civil associations, were showcased at the State Altar Exhibition in Mérida’s Plaza Grande, uniting Yucatecan families and preserving a deeply rooted cultural tradition.
Cultural Significance and Participation
- The event attracts thousands of local, national, and international visitors interested in learning about and experiencing Mayan customs.
- The exhibition features aromatic incense, pib, hot chocolate, floral decorations, candles, sweets, and other elements that honor the memory of loved ones and strengthen Mayan cultural heritage.
Speeches and Recognition
Governor Díaz Mena, accompanied by Wendy Méndez Naal, President of Yucatán’s DIF, expressed his joy in witnessing this tradition that highlights Mayan cultural values.
Fabiola Loeza Novelo, General Director of the Mayan State Culture Institute (Indemaya), described Janal Pixan as an act of cultural memory, identity, and resistance, representing deep love for ancestors and guiding the spirits of the departed.
Patricia Martín Briceño, Secretary of Culture and Arts (Sedeculta), emphasized the government’s dedication to preserving traditions and disseminating cultural heritage, making such significant expressions possible for Yucatecans.
Pok Ta Pok Demonstration and Cultural Recognition
Promoting Pre-Hispanic Practices
After cutting the ribbon, Governor Díaz Mena watched a Pok Ta Pok (Mayan ballgame) demonstration at Plaza Grande’s flagpole, aiming to revive this pre-Hispanic practice linked to war and honor.
Awards and Symbols of Unity
The president of the Yucatecan Association of Indigenous and Traditional Games and Founder of the International Ancestral Ballgame of Maya Sport Federation presented Governor Díaz Mena with a commemorative medal from the XXVI National Encounter of Indigenous and Traditional Games and Sports, acknowledging his support for preserving these cultural expressions.
Pok Ta Pok players Giovanni Manuel Hernández Zapata, Óscar Emiliano Chi Chan, and Ángel Bek Chi, captains of their respective teams and winners or finalists in various international tournaments, gifted the Governor a signed conch shell symbolizing unity and recognition.
Exhibition Tour and Collaboration
Collaborative Efforts in Preserving Traditions
Following the ribbon-cutting, Governor Díaz Mena toured the altars in Plaza Grande, crafted by municipalities, state departments, higher education institutions like the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the Technology Institute of the West, along with civil associations participating in this collective expression of identity and tradition.
Notable Attendees
The Governor was joined by Mérida’s Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada, other mayors who participated in the exhibition, Erika Beatriz Torres López (Magistrate and President of the State Superior Court and Judicial Council), Wilmer Manuel Monforte Marfil (President of the State Congress’ Governing Board and Political Coordination), Alejandro Cuevas Mena (President of the Legislative’s Directive Board), Verónica Farjat Sánchez (Representative of Senator Verónica Camino Farjat), and Julián Díaz Méndez, the Governor’s son.
