Returning to Atotonilco

Before Easter I wrote about Senor de la Columna's procession and arrival at the San Juan de Dios church. Today he will be returning to Atotonilco. I guess I have never been to the San Juan de Dios church on his departure day but today on my trip to the mercado, I noticed the booths that had been set up all around the church. I walked over to check it out.

The church was full although no service was being conducted. Everyone was kneeling in prayer. The smell of the wilting bouquets and burning candles was heavy, almost like liquid. The spiritual feeling was overwhelming. I sat down and let the moment flood into my senses. Some of the people had stopped in from their daily routines and some appeared to have come a long way to pray to Senor de la Columna. There was a long line of people, mostly women, waiting to go to confession. The church was quiet, dark and solemn.

Outside the church the sun was brilliant and the street was filling up with temporary tiendas. One one side of the street the tiendas were full of religious objects and on the other side of the street the tiendas were preparing food for the pilgrims who would accompany El Senor de la Columna back to Atotonilco.

I had the holga lens on the digital camera and I am glad that I had my camera with me.