Nearly 2.0 million faithful 2 million according to the Archdiocese of Guadalajara, gathered from beginning in the early morning hours in the main streets of Guadalajara to attend the procession of the Virgin of Zapopan, the second largest religious procession in Mexico.
For four months, the religious image of the Madonna visited the main churches in Guadalajara and returned October 12 to her basilica accompanied by a grand procession which each year attracts Catholics in this state and across the country, coinciding with the commemoration of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.
For five miles the Virgin of Zapopan, was accompanied by 23,000 dancers dressed in traditional indigenous Indian costumes, who with their native dances and songs recalled the first procession of the eighteenth century. Thousands of faithful of all ages made the journey barefoot, to reaffirm their religious fervor and to thank the Virgin of Zapopan for the miracles received.
Like every year, thousands of people spent the night sleeping outdoors near the Cathedral and in public parks and city squares located along the procession route, to reserve a spot closer to where the image passes by.
