Overview

• During the Feria de la Manzana in Santa María Coyomeapan, Puebla, a sudden gust of wind almost sent a caporal tumbling from over 20 meters atop a ceremonial pole
• His fellow voladores grabbed him mid-ritual and allowed the troupe to finish the performance without further incident
• This near-miss followed a June collapse of a deteriorating mast in El Águila, Veracruz, which injured five performers during their descent
• The millenary ritual, rooted in Totonac, Nahua and Otomí traditions, features four dancers spinning down by rope as the caporal remains atop playing flute and drum
• Civil protection and cultural authorities have faced renewed calls to inspect wooden masts and reinforce safety without undermining the ceremony’s authenticity