The "Candelaria" feast fully justifies Puno's claim to the title of Folklore Capital, for its wealth of dances, ornamentation and sumptuous costumes.  This party is uninterruptedly celebrated for more than 30 years. It convokes many communities and dance groups of the whole south area of Peru and foreign delegations who are presented in big artistic competitions arriving with their own musical groups and dramatize in beautiful choreographs in parades by the streets and contests in the stadium of Puno The feast of the "Virgen de la Candelaria" begins on the eve of the 2nd of February and last until the first Sunday after that day, and ends one week after continuing with the celebration of the Carnivals. On February 9th the folklore parade is celebrated. The groups, which paraded days before, on the 2nd, now return for a procession before the Virgin, who will gaze them from the atrium of the church. Then, folk groups set off through the city, dancing tirelessly until sunset. At the end of the week the feast ends in the cemetery, for the paying of respects of the dead.