A crowd of young people gathered Saturday in front of San Lorenzo Cathedral at Plaza Cerro Corá for the first "aura farming" competition held in Paraguay. The phenomenon, which migrated from social networks to public spaces, has already occurred in countries like Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Mexico, but was banned by a mayor in one Honduran city.
The so-called "battles" involve gestures, poses, and creative movements, such as the "six seven" dance, where participants compete to demonstrate attitude, charisma, and style. The term "farming" comes from video game language, derived from English "to farm," meaning to accumulate points, while "aura" symbolically represents presence and charisma. During the contests, competitors must maintain composure to avoid "losing their aura," the moment when they lose focus or laugh, leaving them without aura.
Among participants who stood out on social networks was "Pablito, el más capito," plus youth dressed as Spider-Man and others accompanied by their pets. A video shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed the crowd movement during the event.
Father Pedro Celestino Brítez, parish priest of San Lorenzo Cathedral, reflected on the phenomenon and noted that behind the seemingly superficial expression lies a deep human need to be seen and recognized. He stated there's no problem with gathering, dancing, and having fun, as long as these activities are healthy and don't involve drugs, alcohol abuse, violence, or humiliation.
Pediatrician Robert Núñez also spoke in favor of the battles, arguing it's preferable to see youth socializing outdoors, laughing and building bonds, rather than spending all day isolated with cell phones. He encouraged parents to support youth expression, emphasizing that these interactions help in personality development and learning coexistence.
The event in San Lorenzo, which gathered mainly teenagers and Generation Z youth, occurred without incidents, marking the official arrival of this global trend to the country.