Aya Huma, Diablo Huma in Spanish, or K-Ay in Caranqui is a figure in Ecuadorian indigenous culture. Its origins lie in Caranqui mythology, which recounts a journey of initiation. Colloquially in Ecuador, the figure is described as a being who bathed in a waterfall for three days to strike a pact with the devil, thereby acquiring the power and fighting skills needed for the contests they must undertake. The name Diablo Huma in spanish links the figure to Cañari mythology and the initiation rites associated with the practice of Catequil Today, the Aya Huma part of traditional dances in festivals; his popularity has spread to other regions, leading to the use of this symbol in various contexts such as representing Ecuadorian folklore, the connection to nature, and the Equator due to the mask's two faces, designed so as never to turn away from the sun. Solar symbolism and its relationship with the Equator are very common in the country; such as the eight-pointed star representing the "direct sun" shining over the Equator as depicted in both informal settings and state emblems. The costume worn to portray the figure consists of a long-sleeved cotton shirt (either white or black) hand-embroidered with Andean iconographic motifs, along with jeans covered by zamarros (traditional leather chaps); leather boots are generally worn as footwear. The character's most distinctive feature is the double-faced mask. According to oral tradition, each face represents a phase of the day: daytime and night time. The mask features 12 horns, symbolizing the months of the year.