Hands of a Baiana woman seen during the Afro-Brazilian spiritual cleansing ritual performed in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

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Hands of a Baiana woman seen during the ‘popcorn bath’, an Afro-Brazilian spiritual cleansing ritual performed in front of the St. Lazarus church in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 30 January 2012. Every year on the last Sunday of January, the religious festival of Saint Lazarus takes place on a hill where the chapel of the same name was built in the 18th century. Faithful, of both the Catholic and Candomblé religions, dressed in the traditional white, usually undergo a purification cleansing ritual (banho de pipoca). As both Saint Lazarus and Omolú are related to diseases and healing, followers bring votive objects made of wax as a demonstration of gratitude and faith. The celebration ends with the festive Catholic Mass during which the elements of African mythology are present.

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Size: 5316px × 3544px
Location: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Photo credit: © Jan Sochor / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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