Lightning strikes and destroys the Voladores de Papantla football post in Puebla (Video)

MEXICO CITY (apro).- After a lightning strike during a severe thunderstorm, the hojancho (wood that serves as a central axis) was completely destroyed in the town of Pinahuista in the municipality of Cuetzalan del Progreso, Puebla.

In a video shared on social media, fragments of the pole can be seen scattered near where it was placed. Some residents also noticed a large piece on the ground.

? || A lightning bolt struck the pole of the Dance of the Flyers in Pinahuista, Cuetzalan, during a thunderstorm. The incident occurred on July 7 and was captured by neighbors. pic.twitter.com/LucCA0SsgX

— Cinco Radio Official (@laredcincoradio) July 9, 2025

Local media reported that lightning struck the Hojancho tree during a storm that hit Cuetzalan on July 7. They noted that replacing it will be complicated because it was 30 meters long. Furthermore, replacing it involves performing a traditional ritual.

So far, no one has been reported injured by the lightning strike that destroyed the stage of the traditional Cuetzalan Flying Dance.

An ancient tradition: the flyers in Cuetzalan

Since pre-Hispanic times, the dance of the flyers—whose focus is respect for nature and the search for harmony—has been practiced in various communities of the Totonac and Otomi ethnic groups (not only in Papantla, although its flyers are highly recognized), with elements that vary from town to town, such as clothing.

According to the National Institute of History and Anthropology (INAH) in Cuetzalan, the voladores wear red pants decorated with fringes, while their tops are white shirts. On their heads, they wear a headdress with feathers that link the dancers to birds.

What is the ritual of raising the flying stick like?

This is a ritual to prepare the flyers' main tool, the wooden pole. It is passed down from generation to generation.

It is done with the trunk of a tree, which must be at least 30 meters tall. The most commonly used trees are pines. The act of felling the tree is accompanied by flute and drum music, to ask the forest for forgiveness for taking the tree's life.

Before the felling begins, the dancers circle the pole, starting with their faces east, marking each of the cardinal points. The tree is the fifth point; the center. Once the tree has fallen, the pole is cleaned of branches and bark. It is then moved.

Before using it, they proceed to attach the ropes that serve as a ladder; prepare the tip to accommodate the rotating mechanism; and place a small wooden frame so the flyers can rest their feet while sitting on the frame.

An offering is placed in the hole where the pole is placed, intended to ensure the dancers' lives. Once the pole is in place, the rotating apparatus is attached and the ropes are tied to it.