The procession of Señor de los Milagros in Cusco passed by our house last night. Peruvians worship Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles) as it is believed he protects them from harm. An excellent explanation of the tradition from Kleph blog:
According to tradition, in 1651 a slave who had converted to Catholicism painted the depiction of Christ on the cross on the wall of a building in the outskirts of Lima where new devotees to the faith gathered to pray.
When a devastating earthquake struck the city four years later the entire building collapsed except for the wall adorned with the painting. Over the next several decades, the image became associated with miraculous incidents. More and more people, particularly the descendents of slaves, began to worship at the site.
This concerned both the church and Spanish authorities and, in 1671 the image was ordered destroyed. According to legend, workers were not able to do so. But, for whatever reason, officials eventually relented and built a proper church on the site – the church of Las Nazarenas.
When another huge earthquake struck Lima in 1687, the chapel was destroyed but, once again, the wall adorned with the painting remained standing. This cemented the importance of the image to the faithful and church leaders ordered a painting of the image to be taken out in procession that October – the tradition that continues to this day.
Señor de los Milagros
Señor de los Milagros, Cusco 2009
Procession of Señor de los Milagros in Cusco
Here in Cusco the celebration of Señor de los Milagros is less elaborate than the mes morado (purple month) celebration in Lima. I imagine the simpler celebration in Cusco reflects the fact that Señor de los Milagros is native to Lima and Cusco has other typical celebrations of Señor de los Temblores during Holy Week (Semana Santa) and Señor de Huanca during the month of September.
Life in Peru 
En Lima odio esta cosa. Causa demasiados problemas de cierre de avenidas, tráfico y embotellamientos en buena parte del centro de la ciudad. Que lo hagan pero bien lejos o sólo los domingos 😛
Tampoco me gusta el color morado.
El SR. De los Milagros tiene que seguir saliendo a las calles de Lima para limpiarlas de gente tan NEGATIVA como tu que “odian” todo hasta esta ellos mismos.
Exacto! El senor de los milagros tiene que seguir saliendo para los miles de fieles que lo aclaman, la visita que hace en su recorrido al hospital Loayza es bien emotivo, yo lo vi ahi y los pacientes terminales son los que tienen prioridad ahi. Extrano verlo, ya no vivo en Peru pero todos los anos me acuerdo de El.
Se trata,de respetar las preferencias de todas las personas,si es cierto causa algunos problemas de transito,pero,yo siempre iba el 18 de Octubre todos los anos,desde hace 20,no vivo en Peru,hace dos anos estuve en la prosecion,creo en Jesucristo,perJesus es muy milagroso,ten fe,y respeta a todas las peronas,somos iguales,pero con diferentes inclinaciones o gustos…