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On July 16, Villavicencio celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Fiestas Patronales de la Virgen Del Carmen), the patroness of the diocese, with deep devotion.
The day is marked by various religious celebrations, beginning early in the morning with the traditional dawn rosary, where the community welcomes the feast day with songs and prayers in the streets.
Throughout the day, multiple masses are held, the main one taking place in the afternoon, followed by the traditional vehicle parade.
As Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the patron saint of drivers in Colombia, it is customary for taxi, truck, bus, and private car drivers to celebrate by decorating their vehicles with ribbons, balloons, and images of the Virgin Mary.
During the procession, drivers sound their horns. In Villavicencio, the parade goes from the Metropolitan Cathedral to Los Fundadores Park, along the road to Bogotá.
The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Fiestas Patronales de la Virgen Del Carmen) not only holds profound spiritual significance for believers but also serves as an occasion to strengthen community bonds, especially among the transportation community, and to preserve the religious traditions of Villavicencio.
