Santiago Hosts 13th Carnival Honoring Víctor Jara and Littré Quiroga

Original article: Santiago: Invitan al 13° Carnaval en Homenaje a Víctor Jara y Littré Quiroga

On Sunday, September 27, starting at 3:30 PM, the 13th edition of the Carnival in Tribute to Víctor Jara and Littré Quiroga will take place in the Clara Estrella neighborhood of Lo Espejo.

The event is presented as «an opportunity to transform memory into a living space of gathering, art, and community; a place where remembering, sharing, and creating together allows us to strengthen the bonds that hold us together.»

«In these times when arts, culture, and memory face profound challenges marked by precariousness, lack of recognition, and often attempts at invisibilization and denial, we deeply believe that collective gatherings remain a fundamental tool to create and build new paths,» organizers of the Carnival stated.

Parades to the Memorial

The call has attracted various parades from across Santiago, including the Carnavalera Chinchintirapie School, the Comparsa sin Cabeza, Tinkus Yuriña, and the giant puppet of Víctor Jara, among others.

«A parade will set off from outside the cultural space, winding through several streets of the Clara Estrella and Santa Olga neighborhoods, leading to the memorial of Víctor Jara, Littre Quiroga, and unidentified disappeared detainees,» the organizers indicated.

A strong turnout is expected: with all the parades and cultural space team members, approximately 500 participants will be taking part, including musicians, dancers, and performers.

«It’s important to remember that Víctor Jara and Littré Quiroga were killed in September 1973 and found alongside other unidentified bodies next to the Metropolitan Cemetery, in a brutal attempt to silence their voices and instill fear in the populace. However, we refuse to forget. Keeping their memory alive, along with that of so many victims of the dictatorship, is an ongoing and collective mission,» organizers emphasized.

«In this context, we believe it is essential to gather in the streets, through arts and community organization, to make visible, denounce, and affirm that we do not forget. Thus, the carnival transforms into a space of living memory, creation, and resistance, where present and future generations can meet and recognize themselves,» they stressed.

The Importance of Memory

Let us remember that in 2015, cultural and social organizations from Lo Espejo achieved the establishment and recognition of the Memory Site in homage to Víctor Jara and Littré Quiroga, at the location where their bodies were discovered.

The memorial has become a place of pilgrimage, tribute, reflection, and education, and now the community continues working towards its transformation into a Park of Memory.

«As part of this vision, in 2023 we held a community day where we planted 300 trees, in an event full of emotion, participation, and collective commitment. Currently, this space is still being cared for and beautified by the community, strengthening its significance as a place of gathering and memory,» highlighted members of cultural space La Feria.