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The Feast Day of St John the Baptist is celebrated in the Philippines every year. In the village of Bibiclat in Nueva Ecija province, people transform themselves into "taong putik" (mud people) by covering themselves in mud and wearing costumes made from dried banana leaves. This tradition represents the way John the Baptist disguised himself when he baptised Jesus Christ. Hundreds of devotees perform the annual rites in the hopes of receiving blessings and having bountiful harvest in their farming which coincides with the feast day of their patron saint.
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in PhilippinesShow all 12 1 /12In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines Filipino devotees covered in mud and dried leaves carry an image of Saint John the Baptist during a procession in a pagan religious tradition to mark the 'Taong Putik' (Mud People) festival and the Feast of Saint John the Baptist in the village of Bibiclat, Aliaga township in Nueva Ecija province
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines A Filipino covered in mud and dried leaves walks in a field in a pagan religious tradition to mark the 'Taong Putik' (Mud People) festival and the Feast of Saint John the Baptist in the village of Bibiclat, Aliaga township in Nueva Ecija province
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines Hundreds of devotees perform the annual rites in the hopes of receiving blessings and having bountiful harvest in their farming which coincides with the feast day of their patron saint, Saint John the Baptist
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines A Catholic priest sprinkles holy water on devotees covered in mud and dried leaves in a pagan religious tradition to mark the 'Taong Putik' (Mud People) festival and the feast of Saint John the Baptist in the village of Bibiclat
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines A boy covered in mud and dried leaves receives communion during a holy mass in a pagan religious tradition to mark the 'Taong Putik' (Mud People) festival and the Feast of Saint John the Baptist in the village of Bibiclat, Aliaga township in Nueva Ecija province
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines Residents prepare to make the rounds of houses to ask for candles after covering their faces with mud and donning dried banana leaves to celebrate the Feast Day of St. John the Baptist at the village of Bibiclat
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines The unique annual tradition, which dates back to the 1940's, is being observed to pay homage to Saint John the Baptist, whom they claimed saved the lives of residents of this village
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines Filipino devotees attend a holy mass in a pagan religious tradition to mark the 'Taong Putik' (Mud People) festival and the Feast of Saint John the Baptist in the village of Bibiclat, Aliaga township in Nueva Ecija province
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines Local participants light candles as they mark one of the Catholic nation's most colourful religious festivals
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines A candle vendor sits next local participants covered in mud and wearing costumes made from banana leaves as they take part in a religious festival in honor of St. John the Baptist, also known locally as the "mud people" festival in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija province
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines Catholic devotees react as they are blessed by a priest during a holy mass to mark the 'Taong Putik' (Mud People) Festival and the feast of Saint John the Baptist at the farming village of Bibiclat nera the town of Aliaga, Nueva Ecija province
In pictures: The Feast Day of St. John the Baptist celebrations in Philippines Philippines Residents use banana leaves and mud to cover their bodies during a religious festival in honor of St. John the Baptist, also known locally as the "mud people" festival in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija province
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