Faith and tradition mark the 38th edition of the Círio Fluvial Boat Decoration Contest
Created in 1986 by journalist Carlos Rocque, then president of the Paraense Tourism Company (Paratur), the Círio Fluvial was born with the aim of honoring the Queen of the Amazon and, at the same time, promoting religious tourism in Pará.
The 38th edition of the Círio Fluvial Boat Decoration Contest – Carlos Rocque Award – took place on the morning of this Saturday (11), during the festivities of the Círio de Nazaré. The event, promoted by the state government through the State Tourism Secretariat (Setur), brought together hundreds of boats that accompanied the Fluvial Pilgrimage, one of the most traditional expressions of faith during the Nazarene season.
The ship Garnier Sampaio, from the Brazilian Navy, carried the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Nazaré through the waters of the Guajará Bay, on a route of about 18 kilometers – approximately 10 nautical miles – connecting the new Tourist Hydroviary Terminal of Icoaraci to the Escadinha da Estação das Docas, in Belém.
The Secretary of Tourism of Pará, Eduardo Costa, emphasized the cultural and identity importance of the fluvial pilgrimage. "It is part of the identity of the people of Pará, it is the culture, it is the tradition that comes to the fore and the pride of being from Pará. At a time of high tourist season in the state, when hotels are at full capacity, we have the opportunity to showcase our riches, gastronomy, culture, and hospitality," highlighted the head of Setur.
The evaluations of the boats were conducted by a panel of five judges: the sacred art specialist Max Santos; the president of ABAV-PA, Alex Flávio; the interior designer and owner of Donna J, Débora Goldenberg; the professor of the Tourism course at UFPA, Alessandra Arnund; and the tourism expert, ceremonialist, and master of ceremonies, Luciana Mendes.
For judge Luciana Mendes, the experience was remarkable. "The experience of participating as a judge in the boat contest of the Fluvial Pilgrimage was unique in my life! It was my first time and it was very emotional. Even though I am not Catholic, I respect and admire everything that the Círio represents for the people of Pará. Moreover, I am a tourism expert, and the tourist relevance of the event is undeniable. There were boats of different sizes and types, with a huge variety of decorations and expressive audiences. I am very grateful to Setur for the opportunity and happy to experience all the energy of this moment up close!" she stated.
The president of ABAV-PA, Alex Flávio, also highlighted the uniqueness of the Fluvial Pilgrimage. "The fluvial pilgrimage is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable of the Círio. When we talk about the Amazon, we automatically think of forests and rivers — and this pilgrimage is exactly in that context. We manage to show visitors the vastness of our rivers and forests in a procession of faith. Participating in a pilgrimage on the water is yet another of the many unique experiences that tourists only live during the Círio de Nazaré," he emphasized.
Regulations and categories
Created in 1986 by journalist Carlos Rocque, then president of the Paraense Tourism Company (Paratur), the Círio Fluvial was born with the aim of honoring the Queen of the Amazon and, at the same time, promoting religious tourism in Pará. Since then, the pilgrimage has become one of the most striking expressions of faith in Pará, consolidating itself as the fifth oldest in the circuit of Círio pilgrimages.
The Carlos Rocque Award recognizes and values the decoration work of the boats and the effort of their owners and decorators, who contribute to the beauty and grandeur of the Círio Fluvial.
The judges evaluated criteria such as religious decoration, crew posture, adherence to schedule, route of the procession, navigation safety, and compliance with the Port Authority regulations, assigning scores from 1 to 10 in each item.
The boats compete in two categories: "Regional Boats" which includes wooden or steel hulls with two or three decks, usually used for passenger transport in the Amazonian localities; and "Other Types of Boats" composed of ferry boats, barges, pushers, yachts, speedboats, sailboats, fishing boats, among others. Three boats will be awarded in each category. The winners will be announced on the day of the award ceremony, on a date yet to be defined.
This year, more than 250 boats participated in the procession in the waters of the Guajará Bay. All were registered and qualified with the Port Authority, complying with the safety regulations established by the Brazilian Navy and displaying the nautical flag of identification for the contest.
