There were no sacred cows in yesterday’s Mascaradas de Inocentes on Av. Huayna Capac; Castro, Obama and expats all get the lash

It was an evening of spoofs and satire at Tuesday’s Mascaradas de Inocentes parade. Politicians, government policies, television personalities, expats, and even the dead, were lampooned during the three-hour procession down Cuenca’s Av. Huayna Capac.

A wheelchair-bound Fidel Castro was part of the spoofing at Tuesday night’s parade of the innocents.

The parade, sponsored by the Cuenca Amistad Club and the Azuay journalists’ union, attracted a crowd estimated at 25,000 by police. Event sponsors offer prizes for best skits and costumes and attract entries from civic organizations, universities, neighborhoods and families.

Among those lampooned were a feeble, wheelchair-bound Fidel Castro, accompanied by U.S. President Barack Obama, in recognition of renewed relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Other politicians who got the raspberry included Cuenca Mayor Marcelo Cabrera and President Rafael Correa.

The late Mexican comedian and television star was also honored, or dishonored, depending on your point of view.

Gringos also got the lash, depicted in two skits as doddering and grotesquely overweight.

As always, the event was highlighted by men and boys in drag.

Most of the participants were from local universities, with UPS boasting the largest contingent, estimated at 600. The University of Cuenca had 400 while the University of Azuay had 250.

Photo credit: El Tiempo