Chiquita Festival at the Círio de Nazaré: diversity, struggle and devotion flanking the Theater of Peace

Abstract

This study sought to understand the meanings that emerge from the sociocultural, political and economic experiences of the Chiquita Festival, contextualized in the Círio de Nazaré, by intertwining devotion and fun. It was possible to identify peculiarities of the Círio de Nazaré and its relationship with other movements, not necessarily religious, having as protagonist the Chiquita Festival. This festival of diversity embraces the LGBT public, connecting leisure to important mobilizing movements for the rights of this community. Guided by field research, with participant observation, this article included an interview with 8 people, between 19 and 70 years old, between 2021 and 2022. The Foucauldian perspective of power stood out during the analysis of the material. In the considerations, it was possible to certify that the intertwining of aspects such as leisure and devotion makes the Chiquita Festival an important sociocultural and political symbol, with strong warnings in the fight for the rights of the LGBT community. Thus, the constant need for public policies in favor of the LGBT population became evident, including the maintenance of the benefits already acquired. It was also considered that the recognition of the Chiquita Festival, by the organization of the Círio, would be of great value as a strengthening in the fight against prejudice.