Puno is a mountain town located high on the altiplano of Peru, seated on the banks of Lake Titicaca, which, at 3,870 meters above sea level, is the highest navigable lake in the world. It is known as the Folkloric Capital of Peru, for its elaborate festivals and processions, especially that of the Virgin of the Candelaria celbration. During the eighteen days of the Festival of the Virgin of the Candelaria, several hundred musical and dance groups gather together to celebrate the Mamacha Candelaria, as she is known to the local indigenous population.  The festivities take place during the first two and a half weeks of February and include feasting, fireworks, a religious mass, and dancers in costume parading through the streets of the city of Puno.

The main day of the festival is February 2nd, when the elaborately decorated virgin statue is paraded through the town in a procession comprised of priests, altar boys and  church-goers. Troupes of musicians and dancers take over the city, twirling and jumping throughout the streets. They are elaborately costumed and masked, and present a spectacular sight to the onlooker.
The festival of the Virgin of the Candelaria is a celebration related to the agriculture and mining activities that are the mainstays of this region; the Quechua and Aymara people both exert an influence on the traditions, music, culture and language on display during the celebration.

One of the most interesting dances is the Diablada, or Devil's dance, which legend says was started when some miners who were trapped in a cave-in were taken to hell by scores of demons; they then threw themselves on the mercy of the Virgin of the Candelaria; she rescued them and they performed this dance in homage to her greatness.

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