Visitors flocked to the Pyramid of the Sun on 20 March in Teotihuacan, raising their hands to greet the sun during spring equinox celebrations. In order to receive the first rays of the sun and to gather energy for the year, tourists and locals alike trekked up the imposing pyramid in the sacred city of Teotihuacan, located north of Mexico City.

The spring equinox occurs in the middle of March and marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere. Local visitor Jaime Ramos said he had gone up the pyramid to feel the energy and connect with a forgotten past.

"It's nice for us to follow this culture which is very much ours, which we've forgotten, but it's really cool to come, climb up and feel the good vibes up here," Ramos said.

"It's a very important cultural place. And I think it represents the ancient culture of Mexico which is very interesting and very important," Julie Parker of the United States said.

Many wore white clothing which is tradition at the annual event and some took part in peaceful meditations. The name Teotihuacan, "The Place Where Men Become Gods," was given by Aztecs who inhabited the area 700 years after the city was abandoned around 600 AD.

Experts believe that The Pyramid of the Sun was probably a fertility symbol built around 80 AD and shaped like a mountain to counteract the evil influence of two nearby volcanoes known to have gone through unusually violent eruptions at the time.

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