Newsletter June 2008

June 24th, the shortest day of the year in the Andes and the Southern Hemisphere, marks the commencement of the Sun God’s new cycle. To celebrate the winter solstice, the second largest festival and the most impressive historical show in South America is held in the ancient Inca hub of Cuzco. Inti Raymi or ‘The Festival of the Sun’ is a week-long celebration with events each day that include: daytime shows, street fairs, dancing in the square and live concerts from famed Peruvian musical groups. The main attraction, a magnificent reenactment of ancient tradition, takes place on the 24th. Participants join together to portray Incans who once assembled to pay homage to their Sun God while enjoying a generous feast of meats, cornbread, chicha, and coca tea. The sacrifice of llamas are arranged to ensure plentiful crops for the following year.

The ancient, yet highly developed Inca civilization understood astronomy and knew that on the day of the solstice, the sun was farthest away from earth. The solstice ushered in the dry season, bringing the possibility of food shortage. Thus, the Incas congregated in Cuzco to pay tribute to the Sun God and beg for his return.

The day begins in the Qorikancha Square in front of the Santo Domingo Church, constructed over the ancient Temple of the Sun. Here, the Sapa Inca – emperor - summons blessings from the sun. Subsequently, Sapa Inca is transported on a golden throne to the ancient fortress of Sacsayhuamán accompanied by elaborately clothed high priests, court officials, nobles and others.

The streets are filled with music, prayers, and dancing while women sweep the passage to eradicate evil spirits. A massive crowd anticipates the arrival of the parade in Sacsayhuamán, where Sapa Inca rises to the sacred altar along with each of the priests and representatives of the Suyos: the Snake (world below), the Puma (life on earth), and the Condor (upper world of the gods). There on the altar, Sapa Inca delivers a speech in the native language of the Incas, Quechua.

In the main square a white llama is sacrificed as an offering to the gods in exchange for fertile soil as well as light and warmth from the sun. The blood stains are then read by the high priests to predict the future of the Incas. Later, stacks of straw are set ablaze as celebrants dance around the flames in honor of Tawantinsuty, the Empire of the Four Wind Directions.

Inti Raymi concludes with a procession back to Cuzco where Sapa Inca and his wife, Mama Occla, rest upon their golden thrones while officials bestow blessings onto spectators, marking a new year on the Inca calendar.

During the Spanish conquest of Peru, these ceremonies were forbidden because they were considered pagan and oppositional to the Catholic faith. As a result, Inti Raymi went underground until 1944, when the chronicles of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega were employed to facilitate the resurrection of the festival.

Today Inti Raymi is a full-fledged production with a cast of 500 actors and an audience of around 110,000 consisting of both locals and foreign tourists. Hotels are booked and restaurants are jam-packed during the week of the festival. The ceremony’s rising popularity even led American business magnate, Bill Gates, and Hollywood actress, Cameron Diaz, to last year’s events. This year will introduce French, English and Spanish translation devices in an endeavor to present attendants with the opportunity to fully experience and appreciate the ancient Inca festival.

Source:

About.com

Wikipedia.org

Livinginperu.com

Quechuanetwork.org

PAST NEWSLETTERS:

• Newsletter May 2008
• Newsletter April 2008
• Newsletter February 2008
• Newsletter January 2008