New Delhi, July 4 -- In one of Mexico's most unique and enduring traditions, Mayor Daniel Gutierrez of San Pedro Huamelula symbolically married a female caiman as part of a vibrant ceremony that blends indigenous culture with centuries-old legend.

The ritual, which has been practised for more than 230 years, is believed to bring peace, unity, and abundance to the region.

Held during the town's annual patron saint festivities honouring San Pedro Apostol, the symbolic marriage draws on the ancestral histories of the Chontal and Huave people. The caiman, affectionately named Miguelana Estela del Mar Zavaleta Ramirez, represents the Huave princess, while the mayor assumes the role of the Chontal king.

According to local legend, a royal mar...