A parade of hooded faithfuls marched to the beat of drums down a cobblestone street during the early hours of Thursday morning (April 2), as part of the Procession of the Fogareu in central Brazil.

Amid centuries-old buildings and churches, torches lit the route of the Passion re-enactment procession.

The event, evocative of a medieval European village, takes place in the colonial city of Goias. The hooded participants, referred to as Farricocos, are central to the traditional annual observance of the Passion of Christ as part of Easter celebrations.

The characters dress in colorful robes with pointed hoods, representing Roman soldiers, who, followed by the crowd, set out as if in a hunt for Jesus Christ.

The Procession of the Torches has been held in Goias since 1745. Originally held in Spain and Portugal, the tradition was brought to the site by a Spanish priest.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. VARIOUS OF FOGAREU PROCESSION OR PROCESSION OF THE TORCHES

2. HOODED PARTICIPANT CARRYING PENNANT WITH IMAGE OF CHRIST PASSING THROUGH PROCESSION

3. FAITHFUL WATCHING EVENT

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PARTICIPANT, ENZO MOREIRA, SAYING:

"It was incredibly hard. This is my first year participating. I could feel the emotion of the event. It's exhausting, but in the end it's very rewarding to finish it."

5. PARTICIPANTS DRESSING FOR PROCESSION

6. PARTICIPANTS MAKING FINAL ADJUSTMENTS TO COSTUMES

7. PARTICIPANTS PREPARING FOR PROCESSION

8. MUSICIANS PLAYING DRUMS

9. FAITHFUL WATCHING EVENT

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PARTICIPANT, SORAICA SANTIAGO BUENO, SAYING:

"It's incredibly emotional and rewarding. You are working for God, especially today in the torch procession. It was a gift to be invited to participate."

11. PERFORMER ON STAGE

12. HOODED PARTICIPANTS ON STAGE

13. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS WITH TORCHES

14. PARTICIPANTS WITH TORCHES IN PROCESSION