Día de Muertos is celebrated in the Eiteljorg Museum

Indianapolis, Indiana – In Hispanic culture, Día de Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead, is a significant holiday that respects the departed while encouraging empowerment and community.
With poignant exhibits honoring departed loved ones via offerings, Saturday’s Eiteljorg Museum celebration celebrates life and remembrance.

Alisa Nordholt-Dean, vice president of education and public programming of the Eiteljorg Museum, stated, “I have been here at the museum for a very long time.” It’s exciting to watch how this program has developed over time. For over ten years, we have collaborated with Nopal Cultural and Arte Mexicano en Indiana. About 500 people participated in our first program, and it has since expanded rapidly.

Through colorful displays, energetic folk dancing performances with Ballet Folklorico Mosaicos, and live music by an all-female band, Mariachi Sirenas, the celebration serves as a reminder of the strength found in the Circle City community, inspiring others to support one another and take pride in their shared heritage.

According to Nordholt-Dean, “We saw over 5,000 last year, and at the previous count here a few hours ago, we were already at about 4,000.” “We therefore intend to surpass those figures this year.”

The Catrina Parade, which featured more than 60 beautifully attired participants, was organized in large part by Mujeres Connectadas, one of the event’s community partners.

According to Catrina Parade participant Llona Reynolds, “Just the makeup took about two hours.” “It took me a while to make the wings, but everything else we had was prepared and finished. In order for it to open, we had to gather all the feathers and construct a frame with a pulley system. My husband is an absolute genius!

For participants like Reynolds, the vibrant parade creates a tangible sense of solidarity that goes beyond simple celebration, he said. Día de Muertos provides a strong forum for fostering communal ties.

Reynolds stated, “It’s not just about the Day of the Dead.” It’s all about empowering women, then. We all support one another. We all help each other out, even fixing each other’s costumes. We carry glue in your bustier and help each other out!