Maya underworld, Stephen Alvarez / National Geographic Magazine

Visa pour l’Image 2005

La religion maya a survécu à toutes les conquêtes, malgré plusieurs tentatives pour l’éradiquer, et les mayas demeurent 7 millions à pratiquer des rituels religieux vieux de plusieurs centaines d’années. Ils continuent à se rassembler dans des grottes pour vénérer leurs dieux comme le faisaient leurs ancêtres. Ils sont fiers de leurs cérémonies menacées de disparaître face à l’émergence du christianisme évangélique, c’est pourquoi ils souhaitent enfin, que le reste du monde sache.

<b></b><br />A Maya woman walks past a Roman Catholic Church in
Tumbula, Chiapas, Mexico. Inside the church is a Mayan long count
date written in an alcove. Traditional Maya religion has inadvertently
long found refuge within the Roman Catholic Church.
© Stephen Alvarez/ National Geographic Magazine

A Maya woman walks past a Roman Catholic Church in
Tumbula, Chiapas, Mexico. Inside the church is a Mayan long count
date written in an alcove. Traditional Maya religion has inadvertently
long found refuge within the Roman Catholic Church.
© Stephen Alvarez/ National Geographic Magazine

<b></b><br />A Maya shaman in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, will spend
his life training before he takes the revered ceremonial position of
Nabeysil of San Martin. He will be the only one powerful enough to
actually become San Martin during Maya ceremonies.
© Stephen Alvarez/ National Geographic Magazine

A Maya shaman in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, will spend
his life training before he takes the revered ceremonial position of
Nabeysil of San Martin. He will be the only one powerful enough to
actually become San Martin during Maya ceremonies.
© Stephen Alvarez/ National Geographic Magazine