Havana, January 27 (RHC) -- The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Raul Castro, and President Miguel Diaz-Canel led tonight the traditional march of the Torches in tribute to the National Hero, Jose Marti, on the eve of the 171st anniversary of his birth.

Illuminated by hundreds of torches, the march, led by young people and the people of Havana, departed from the steps of the University of Havana to the Forge Martiana, the historic site where José Martí was imprisoned at the age of 16, in the old Quarries of San Lazaro.

The president was accompanied by the president of the National Assembly of People's Power, Esteban Lazo; the Secretary of Organization of the Communist Party of Cuba, Roberto Morales, and Commanders José Ramón Machado, Ramiro Valdés and Guillermo García.

The March of the Torches was held for the first time at midnight on January 27, 1953 by genuine representatives of the so-called Centenary Generation -led by the then young Fidel Castro- to commemorate the birthday of Martí, the most universal of Cubans.  (Source: Prensa Latina)