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Thousands flock to Mexico City for one of Latin America's most spectacular annual festivities, the Day of the Dead parade, which commemorates the cycle of life and death.

While these celebrations coincide with the Christian All Souls observations in early November, they're anything but a solemn affair.

As well as revelling in colourful parades, festival participants gather at the final resting places of their departed relatives in loving celebration.

The origins of the festival are shrouded in mystery.

Experts disagree over whether 'Día de Muertos' is rooted in Christian customs or the pre-Columbian era.

Elements of ancient Aztec ritual could represent an unbroken lineage predating Hispanic Mexico or a 20th century movement reclaiming Aztec identity.

Regardless of the true origins, the festival's continual evolution's a point of pride for festivalgoers.

Unique in cultural significance, the festival's been recognised on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2008.

This has piqued international interest, drawing in tourists from far and wide to witness the spectacle, which has even featured as the opening sequence of the James Bond film 'Spectre'.

Photographs of the dead adorn home altars, and favourite dishes are left at the graves of the departed.

Meanwhile, it's become customary to present sugar skulls to friends and relatives, and for revellers to paint their faces with vibrant skull designs.

Tourist Sapeer Kadoch finds it holds a life-affirming quality.

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