In front of thousands of guanajuatenses and visitors the Governor waved her handkerchief to signal the opening of the floodgates of the La Olla Dam
In front of thousands of guanajuatenses and visitors the Governor waved her handkerchief to signal the opening of the floodgates of the La Olla Dam
Guanajuato/Gto News
The Governor of the People, Libia Dennise Garcia Munoz Ledo, led the traditional opening ceremony of the floodgates of the La Olla Dam, in Guanajuato City.
Before thousands of people and as tradition dictates, Libia Dennise and the Mayor of Guanajuato, Samantha Smith Gutierrez, waved a handkerchief to signal the opening of the floodgates and release the water from the dam.
The waterfall was enlivened by the State Band, which played the notes of “Waltz on the Waves” by renowned Guanajuato composer Juventino Rosas.
The Governor then toured Paseo de la Presa Avenue and the Florencio Antillon Garden to socialize with attendees, as she offered fruit flavored water and the traditional guacamayas.
The opening of the floodgates of the Olla Dam dates back more than two centuries and represents not only the release of the contained water, but also the symbolic renewal of the City, a reunion with its roots.
The history of this tradition dates back to the 18th century, when the dam was built between 1741 and 1749, as a solution to the water shortage suffered by the city.
This event has become a huge popular celebration, bringing together thousands of families around Florencio Antillon Park, the San Renovato Dam, and the riverbank. There’s live music, rides, traditional snacks, socializing, and an atmosphere of shared pride.
This tradition is part of the festivities honoring Saint John the Baptist and Saint Ignatius of Loyola, festivities that have been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Guanajuato in 2013.
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