The Inti Raymi Celebration is an annual festival held on June 24 each year in the Peruvian city of Cusco. The day marks the beginning of the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and is a tribute to the Inca Sun God Inti. The event brings thousands of visitors to the ancient capital and is one of the most important days of the year.
The celebration is held at the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman and features a re-enactment of the original Inti Raymi festival held for hundreds of years. The celebration was banned after the Spanish conquest of the region, but returned in much of its former glory. While there’s no seating available for visitors, there’s plenty worth standing for here.
Festivities begin with the arrival of the four suyos of the Inca Empire, who hold court in front of the Inca Temple of the Sun for all to see. After invoking praise for the Sun God, the procession moves to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas for a ceremonial reading of the sacred coca leaf, said to be able to foretell the fate of the Inca Empire for the coming year. Then it’s onward to Sacasayhuaman for a full re-enactment of the traditional festival, featuring a ritual sacrifice of a llama. Though somewhat appalling by Western standards, it’s been a part of the Inca culture for thousands of years.
Afterward, the area comes alive with a beautiful display of panpipes, horns and drums. The celebration is open to visitors, but it’s important to stand back and respect the local traditions rather than try and partake. The Inti Raymi is a terrific look into the cultural norms of the Inca Empire.
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