Local indigenous group Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotzin celebrated their 14^th anniversary with a two-day event surrounded by other Kalpulli members from across Texas and Mexico. The groups’ gatherings incorporated traditions dating back to Aztec (Mexica) celebrations.

The events began April 4 with a traditional sacred sweat lodge known as temazcal, which originated with the indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica. The term temazcal originates from the Nahuatl language from the words teme (to bathe) and calli (house), or from the word temazcalli (house of heat).

As each member arrived, they placed a lava rock on a mount that heats the stones until they are blood red. Once the rocks were ready, the ceremony began. As each member entered the temazcal, they placed their forehead against the entrance of the dome-like structure. The fire holder, who maintains the stones as well as controls the fire, used a pitchfork-like tool to carry a burning stone to a captain inside the temazcal. Each member repeated a sacred chant as the burning stone entered the structure, and each stone was placed into a fire pit dug in the center. Once one set of stones were brought it, the ceremony began and ended with the entrance is opened to release the steam. The ceremony is repeated for times with fresh stones to the four corners, representing the four cardinal directions, north, south, east, west.