The contemporary body painting of the indigenous people of the Gran Nayar is an eminently ritual practice and, therefore, ephemeral. The body is decorated in a special way only for certain occasions, since human beings, from this sacred makeup, temporarily become certain beings from the other world. The most important aspect in understanding the general significance of Cora and Huichol body painting is to locate them within their mutual relationship as symbolic counterparts of a dualistic system.
According to the native cosmogram, the predominant axis corresponds to the east-west, since it is the daily route of the Sun through the celestial vault. The north-south axis is secondary, since it represents the seasonal transit of said star on the horizon. The Huichols occupy the eastern -upper- part of the mountain indigenous territory, while the Coras inhabit the western -lower part. Father
During the period of the spring equinox, the death of the Sun at the hands of the forces of darkness and its subsequent resurrection and triumph over them is celebrated. In this way, in the theatrical-dance performances of the current Holy Week (xumuabikajetse), the Coras -as western, watery and dark beings- have to emphasize the plot part of enemies and victimizers of the Sun. For this reason, the males of each community are transformed during the three "holy days" into beings of the underworld, painting their bodies next to water sources (rivers, streams, wells).
The Huichols keep their bodies clothed and only decorate their cheeks and shins with bright uxa paint, a root brought from Wirikuta, in San Luis Potosí.
During the period of the spring equinox, the death of the Sun at the hands of the forces of darkness and its subsequent resurrection and triumph over them is celebrated. In this way, in the theatrical-dance performances of the current Holy Week (xumuabikajetse), the Coras -as western, watery and dark beings- have to emphasize the plot part of enemies and victimizers of the Sun. For this reason, the males of each community are transformed during the three "holy days" into beings of the underworld, painting their bodies next to water sources (rivers, streams, wells).
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