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Lavagem da Rua 46,
means "The Cleansing of 46th Street"
in English, is an event produced by Silvana Magda’s
Viva Brazil Dance Company, Inc., a Not- for- Profit,
tax exempt, 501C3 organization that works in conjunction
with the Brazilian Day in New York. The mission behind the
Lavagem is to create a unique cultural celebration
experience in the Big Apple.
“The Cleansing of the 46th Street embraces the
responsibility to help expand the Brazilian culture in the
world’s capital” says the event producer and general
coordinator Silvana Magda. “We are fully involved in
this project to maintain our traditions and promote our
artists who of course, also have the particular
responsibility of strengthening the positive image of
Brazil abroad.”
A mystic tradition that started in the 18th
century in Bahia, when an image of Christ was
brought from Portugal and arrive in Brazil 1745. The
attribution of miraculous powers made Our Lord of Bonfim
an object of popular devotion.
It is believed that the Cleansing of Bonfim
was originated in the times when the slaves were forced to
wash the stairway of the Church for the Patron Saint’s
party.
Currently this traditional celebration
consists of an enormous procession that leaves the Church
of Conceição da Praia towards the Church of Bonfim, a
distance of 8 Km. Hundreds of baianas open the procession
and take, both in their hands and on their heads, vases
with flowers and perfumed water in order to wash the
stairway and cleanse the devotees.
The procession also
embraces all religions and creeds since Our Lord
of Bonfim, according to the religious syncretism in Bahia,
corresponds to Oxalá.
The Lavagem/Cleasing was brought abroad and reformulated
for the United States by Silvana Magda, with the support
of the Brazilian entrepreneur João de Matos.
This year, the Lavagem/Cleansing
unites diverse voices and rhythms to genuinely represent
the enchantment, the tradition of not
only Bahia but all the people. This glorious event
will celebrate the purification, the energy, the nature,
the unification of the people and the perpetuation of
peace.
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