More than a thousand faithful celebrate "la Santa Muerte"

With dances and prayers, more than a thousand people arrived at the main temple of the "Santa Muerte" in Santa María Coatepec, in Tultitlán, for the eighth pilgrimage in honor of "The Skinny Girl."

The faithful arrived at this area in the State of Mexico from different parts of Mexico.

Some people placed in front of the massive 72 feet statue of the deity offerings of flowers, fruit, candles, and other gifts, thanking the "Santa" for the graces bestowed upon them, while others came asking for her help.

The head of the temple, "Godmother" Enriqueta Vargas was responsible for organizing the pilgrimage, which departed from nearby Coacalco.

"La Santa" is venerated in Mexico and the Southwestern United States, despite opposition by the Catholic and Christian churches.

She appears as a female skeletal figure, clad in a long robe and holding one or more objects, usually a scythe and a globe.

Santa Muerte has many counterparts in the Americas, such as the skeletal folk saints San La Muerte of Argentina and Rey Pascual of Guatemala.