The Inti Raymi is an ancient Inca religious celebration, the Incas worshiped their God: "The Inti or Sun". Formerly, the Inti Raymi lasted about 15 days, sacrifices and dances were presented to worship the "Sun God". The last Inti Raymi that was held with the presence of the Inca Emperor was in the year 1535; a year before the Spanish Conquest in the year 1536.
The history of this celebration has not been easy:
After being banned in 1572 by Viceroy Francisco Álvarez de Toledo, for going against their own Catholic customs, the celebration continued, but from a clandestine location, since no one wanted to face the ferocious punishment that they could have suffered if they were discovered in the middle of a pagan celebration.
In 1944, thanks to the writer Humberto Vidal Unda - who was in charge of pulling the social and political strings to restore the festival - and the artist from Cusco Faustino Espinoza Navarro - who developed the script for the staging - what was the largest religious festival of the old Tahuantinsuyo was resumed.
Inti Raymi takes place every year during the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, around June 21. During this festivity, homage is paid to Inti, the sun god of the Incas, as an expression of gratitude for the fertility of the land and good crops.
The celebration involves a series of rituals and ceremonies that take place in sacred places, such as the ancient Inca city of Cusco, in Peru. During the event are carried out traditional dances, music, theatrical performances and an elaborate ritual that includes the participation of priests and important figures of the community.
Currently, the Inti Raymi is a theatrical performance, thousands of people from Cuzco and from all over the world come together to this event that is one of the most relevant cultural and traditional manifestations in this part of the world. It is said that in this "Fiesta del Sol", they come together to ask the Sun god and Mother Earth or Pachamama (Quechua) that the heat, the sun and fertility accompany them in the following months.
On June 24, the festival takes place in three historical and important sites in Cusco:
- Qorikancha or Temple of the Sun, beginning of the Inti Raymi tour with the ceremony called "Greeting to the Sun". In this area the first rituals are performed.
- Plaza Mayor of Cusco or Huaqaypata, is the second point of celebration of Inti Raymi. Here the ceremony "Meeting of times and ceremony of the coca leaf" takes place, where the Inca and his entourage meet in the great ushnu or ceremonial stage. This staging is mostly visualized standing.
- Sacsayhuamán Esplanade, is the third epicenter of Inti Raymi and the central ceremony. You will be able to visualize the performance of the chicha rite, the ancient drink of the Incas and also the symbolic sacrifice of a llama.
The Inti Raymi is a celebration that seeks to keep the Inca culture and traditions alive, and has become an important tourist attraction in the region. In addition, it is recognized as one of the most relevant and colorful festivals in Latin America, attracting visitors from all over the world who want to witness this unique and significant cultural manifestation. The importance of this festivity transcends the economic and tourist, since it encourages the appreciation and maintenance of ancestral customs.
It is a perfect opportunity to be part of the Inca customs, live with the people of Cusco, try authentic food and learn a lot about the history of Peru.
