They build ‘mega aguachile’ to support those affected in Culiacán

México City.– Preparation and sale of an aguachile weighing more than one ton, drum and mariachi, are part of a massive event held in the center of Culiacán, Sinaloa to raise funds to support musicians and members of the restaurant industry affected by drug violence in that city.

The activity called “Let’s pull with the band” began around 11:00 a.m. this Thursday. Álvaro Obregón Avenue, the main road in the first square of this capital city, from Antonio Rosales to Miguel Hidalgo, was closed for what organizers considered to be “taking the streets again”, after more than two months barricaded in their homes due to the insecurity unleashed by drug trafficking groups.

“We are going to rebuild ourselves. There are more of us who are good, there are more of us who have to contribute to supporting our children, our families, our grandchildren. All together like today, today is a day of joy. We have been locked up for 70 days, with fear, with terror,” chef and businessman Miguel Taniyama expressed at the temple. “Today is a day that we broke that part, today we are happy, today we are eating like culichis. Today we are going to live. Courage!” added the also university teacher and president of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry ( Canirac) in Culiacán.

Interviewed by local journalists, Taniyama indicated that with the help of students from the Faculty of Gastronomy of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS), an aguachile weighing more than one ton was made, which is sold to attendees to raise resources that will be used to purchase groceries to help families in the aforementioned sectors.

Each half liter costs 100 pesos and the lines to purchase this traditional Sinaloa dish are dozens of people, which has been considered a success. It is estimated that around 4 thousand people will benefit from this. “It is the day to build peace, to take to the streets again, it is the day to have a moment of joy, it is time to send a positive signal after 70 days. Sorry for closing Obregón, but I think it was necessary. We met an army of citizens, of students, of academia, of businessmen, is wanting to rebuild. There are more of us who are good, it is an army and this army will undoubtedly grow,” added Miguel Taniyama. The activities of this gastronomic-musical event will last until 5:00 p.m. this day. One of those that caught the most attention was the one performed by more than 200 musicians, who with drums, clarinets and trumpets, lined up in front of the Culiacán Cathedral, sang “El Sinaloense.” There was no shortage of dancing and singing from the hundreds of attendees. “To forget a little about the sad reality that we already live,” said a woman who came with her husband to support the cause in favor of musicians, waiters, restaurateurs, chefs, businessmen, among others, whose economy has been disrupted by casualties or zero sales, even closures due to the wave of violence that to this day has not stopped. Banners addressed to Governor Rubén Rocha are hung on the bars of this cathedral, urging action against violence and also the search for missing persons in Culiacán such as the young Jesús Tomás Félix, whose mother has gone on hunger strike in that place to demand his appearance alive. In addition, a mass was held against violence in the entity and for peace and opportunities for Sinaloans; Band and mariachi groups set the scene for the event where other snacks are also sold. However, while some show the desire to survive this day, others, like “El Balbina”, a restaurant in Culiacán, announced to their customers that they will close. “Full of nostalgia, today we say goodbye to you. We close our doors, but we hope this is just a pause,” the establishment posted on social networks.