Eduardo Leal

Documentary Photographer
   
Bolivian Dreams
Location: Macau S.A.R., China
Nationality: Portuguese
Biography: Eduardo Leal is a Portuguese documentary photographer usually based in Macau, China. Previously he worked for several years in South America. He graduated in Journalism at Escola Superior de Jornalismo (ESJ) and has a Masters in Photojournalism... MORE
Public Story
Bolivian Dreams
Copyright Eduardo Leal 2024
Updated May 2016
Location La Paz, Bolivia
Topics Celebrations, Conceptual, Documentary, Hope, Photography

Linked to the celebration of the harvest and the arrival of the rains in the La Paz region, the Alasitas Festival is the feast of the dreams for Bolivian people.

Every year on the 24th of January Bolivians believe that if they acquire something they want in a miniature format, this will be a seed that represents their dreams and it will grow throughout the year until the dream turn into a reality.

The miniatures are then blessed by the Ekeko figure, the God of abundance and prosperity for the people of the Andean Altiplano.  

Goods/dreams that can be found as miniatures are household items, food, computers, construction materials, houses, cars, university diplomas, money - even a husband or a wife.

After all, the Bolivian dreams are not so different than anyone else's.

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