La Bajada

The culminating religious event of the August festival days in San Salvador is "La Bajada" which took place on August 5. La Bajada, "the descent,” commemorates God in the person of Jesus Christ descending to participate in the world. The day features a procession in which the statue of El Divino Salvador, dressed in purple robes, is carried through the streets of San Salvador to the Metropolitan Cathedral. At the cathedral, the figure of Christ disappears into a giant blue globe, representing the entire world. After a few minutes El Salvador reemerges, this time dressed in white to represent the transfiguration. The statue emerges to the applause and cheers of thousands of the faithful who throng to the square in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral in San Salvador.

See a photo gallery of La Bajada.