Among the Diablitos: Photojournalism from Oaxaca's Most Enchanting Carnival
Each year, in the Zapotec artisan town of San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca, the boundaries between ritual, celebration, and myth dissolve during one of Mexico's most captivating Carnival traditions. For several days, the streets fill with masked devils, brass bands, mezcal-fueled revelry, and hand-carved figures that seem to step directly from the imagination of the town's renowned alebrije artists.
Rooted in a rich blending of Indigenous symbolism and Catholic tradition, Carnival in Tilcajete is at once playful and profound—a living expression of transformation, community, satire, and ancestral memory. This gallery documents the people, masks, ceremonies, music, and spontaneous moments that bring the celebration to life, offering a glimpse into a festival where art walks the streets and the ordinary world is temporarily turned upside down.
A special thank you
to the wonderful artists and friendly people
of San Martín Tilcajete!
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