FESTA DO VÃO MOLEQUE: RELIGIOSIDADE E IDENTIDADE ÉTNICO CULTURAL

Abstract

This research has had as its aim to analyze the religious Moleque s Fest which takes place in the rural area of Vão do Moleque in September. This area is part of a community living in Kalunga Historical Site, which is located in the Northern region of Goiás State, near the municipalities of Cavalcante and Terezina de Goiás. This community has traditionally celebrated religious festivities all over the region, these are followed by a calendar in which many saints are honored. In this study we have come up with the hypothesis that the tradition of Moleque s Fest is constituted in a meaningful space of creation and preservation of the identity of Kalunga living in Moleque. This group, historically, has been struggling to guarantee their rights, for instance, land tenure and education. In addition, through the fest, they try to preserve their cultural and religious traditions and customs. Thus, we can consider that the festivity contributes to collective organization and ethnical identity preservation of the local population.