Saint:
Our Lady of Mercy (La Virgen de las Mercedes).
Day of the Week: Sunday. Thursday is also popular.
Colors and Collars (Ilekes):
His color is the purest white. The collar is made up of all white beads. A
variation on the collar is 21 white beads followed by a coral bead repeated to
make up the desired length.
Sacrificial Animals:
Female goats, white chickens, white canaries. In cases of grave illness, he will
accept a white female calf.
Sacrificial Foods: Yam, rice flour paste, corn meal dumplings and black
eyed peas. He hates alcoholic beverages. The only spice that Obatala likes is
cocoa butter. He drinks chequete. His water comes from the rain. His favorite
fruit is the sweet soursop (guanabana).
Herbs: Amansa Guapo, Chamise (wild cane), madonna lilies, calla
lilies, cotton, purslane, almonds, white hamelia, white elderberry, white
peonies, sweet basil, sweet soursop, wild mint, marjoram, jimson weed, blite,
goosefoot, African bayonet, yucca, witch hazel and sweet balm among others.
eguere egun, san diego blanco
Ornaments: Obatala's image must be made of white metal or silver. In one
hand, he holds a crown. A sun, a moon, four wristlets, a walking stick with a
clenched fist, a half moon and a coiled snake; all made out of silver. Two ivory
eggs.