LA PAZ, Bolivia — The annual Andean religious festival, celebrated this weekend in Bolivia, is typically known for its vibrant atmosphere, providing a temporary escape from the country’s chronic political challenges by highlighting Bolivia’s diverse cultural folklore.
However, this year’s festival, known as the Great Power and centered on a 17th-century depiction of Jesus Christ, has taken on a more reflective tone, mirroring the nation’s ongoing economic and political struggles.
In La Paz, festival attendees observed a solemn moment of silence before the start of the traditional dances. This act was a tribute to the six lives lost in recent violent confrontations between demonstrators and police, including four police officers and two civilians.
One of the civilians, an identified student who demonstrators claim suffered a violent assault by police, succumbed to his injuries just before the festivities began.
The country’s unrest escalated after its electoral authority barred former President Evo Morales — a pivotal figure in the nation’s politics — from running in an upcoming presidential election. His supporters have been active in protests, many of which resulted in clashes with law enforcement, prompting the deployment of military forces to the region of Llallagua.
In response to the turmoil, La Paz city officials suggested delaying the festival to respect the collective grief of the Bolivian populace. Nonetheless, festival organizers moved forward with the event, which is anticipated to generate $68 million, a much-needed influx for an economy grappling with its toughest crisis in four decades.
Acknowledged by UNESCO for showcasing the blend of Roman Catholic beliefs with Indigenous Andean traditions, the festival pays homage to El Señor del Gran Poder, a revered image of Jesus Christ with Indigenous features. The event, occurring roughly eight weeks after Easter, includes dance as a form of spiritual devotion and prayer.
This year, prayers focused not only on spiritual aims but also on tangible needs such as economic revival and peaceful unity. “Devotees are asking for economic recovery, as well as for peace and unity among Bolivians in this time,” said Father Saul Mamani, who led the ceremony.
Economic challenges affected the festival’s grandeur, as evident by scaled-back costumes and a shift from traditional gold jewelry to more affordable alternatives. Jorge Rodríguez, a participant, emphasized the financial strain on performers, noting the 60% increase in costume costs, which prevented many, including half of his group, from participating.
Festival planners managed to engage about 70,000 dancers, 20,000 fewer than the previous year, and were unable to sponsor prominent regional musicians.
Each year, a well-to-do La Paz merchant, known locally as a ‘qamiri,’ assumes the costly responsibility of funding parts of Gran Poder. This year, Edgar Apaza, the selected merchant, claimed that despite saving all year, his budget was tighter than ever due to the nation’s economic situation.
Bolivia’s inflation rate reached 9.81% in early 2025, the highest in over ten years, stoking public frustration over President Luis Arce’s economic policies as many citizens find it increasingly difficult to meet their basic needs.
Plácida Quispe, a veteran costume embroiderer at the festival, reported a slump in sales and opted to rent out her creations instead due to lowered demand. “There is no business,” she lamented. “People want to celebrate, but they cannot afford to pay the price.”