INAUGURAL MAZAHUA CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2016
IXTLAHUACA, STATE OF MEXICO
On 19 November, H.E. Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, Ambassador of Malaysia to Mexico and his delegation received a warm welcome from the Hon. Lic. Juan Carlos Bautista Santos, Mayor of the Municipality of Ixtlahuaca and his spouse, Madam Marina Sanchez López as well as officials of the municipality. The Ambassador was the guest-of-honour of the 1st Mazahua Cultural Festival - a festival dedicated to Mazahua indigenous community where a display of booths was set up showcasing indigenous handicrafts, clothing and food, photo art galleries and traditional dances for the delight of visitors and the local community. Malaysia also set up its photo display of places of interest.
In his remarks (delivered in Spanish) to nearly 300 people, the Ambassador expressed his gratitude and excitement of being part of the first-ever Festival for the indigenous community in Ixtlahuaca. The Ambassador highlighted the existing cultural education collaboration through the ongoing students exchange programme between Malaysia and Mexico as well as promoted ´Malaysia - My Second Home’. An indigenous welcoming ceremony was specially performed for the Ambassador and his delegation, where a Mazahua leader conducted a Mazahua ritual, followed by the Aztec dances and other traditional dances from the neighboring state of Michoacán as well as Malay traditional dance performed by the Nusantara Group - a locally trained Mexican dancers from Ixtlahuaca University.
Thereafter, the Mayor was gracious to take the Ambassador to the former’s office for a tour of the Municipality Building. A town of 250,000 population, Ixtlahuaca is a city located in the northwest of the state of Mexico and 94 kms to the west from Mexico City; having agriculture as its economic mainstay. The visit by the Ambassador raised Malaysia’s profile in the state of Mexico, particularly Ixtlahuaca.
Embassy of Malaysia
Mexico City
MEXICO
22 November 2016
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Cutting the inauguration ribbon of the Mazahua Gallery |
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Mazahua Welcoming Ceremony |
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H.E. Mohammad Azhar Mazlan giving his remarks |
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H.E. Mohammad Azhar Mazlan and Hon. Lic. Juan Carlos Bautista Santos with Nusantara Dance Group |
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(L-R) Ms. Yessenia Salgado Servin, Hon. Lic. Juan Carlos Bautista Santos, Queen Mazahua, H.E. Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, Mazahua Princess, Madam Marina Sanchez Lopez, Ms. Rosa Martha Rivera Melgoza at Mayor’s office. |
