Mexico City, Mexico - Hundreds of clowns belonging to various clown associations made their annual pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady Guadalupe in Mexico City on Monday to pay their respects to the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint.

More than 600 other pilgrimage marches crowded the streets around the Basilica on Saturday, the Virgin's official holiday, so the clowns waited until Monday to offer their own, unusual march.

Pedaling tiny bicycles, turning somersaults and waving wooden clapboard noisemakers, the contingent made its way down the four-kilometer boulevard that leads from downtown Mexico City.

Wearing their red plastic noses, striped shirts, outsized shoes and bald wigs with pride, the clowns sang a song in honor of "La Guadalupana," as the Virgin is known, as they marched.

Mexican clowns have been making the pilgrimage for over 30 years to attend a mass in honor of the saint and call for her protection in the coming year.