“INTI RAYMI”, the millenary feast of the Sun.

“INTI RAYMI”, the millenary feast of the Sun.

16/05/2023

Inti Raymi is one of the most important and beautiful celebrations in Peru. It has a great cultural and spiritual relevance for the Andean peoples, especially for the Cusco people, who consider it the most important festival of the year.
This festivity means "Festival of the Sun" in Quechua, has its origins in the Inca Empire and is celebrated every June 24 in Cusco, the ancient capital of the empire. This celebration takes place in honor of the sun, which the ancient Incas considered a very important deity and the origin of life.

The main ceremony is held in the Sacsayhuamán fortress, where the ancestral ritual is recreated in which homage was paid to the sun and thanks was given for good harvests and the fertility of the land. The celebration includes music, dances, songs, traditional clothing, and a procession of the Inca priests.

Origin of the festivity

The festival of Inti Raymi has its roots in the time of the Inca Empire, and is celebrated in honor of the sun god, Inti, who was one of the most important deities in the Inca religion. Originally, the festival took place in Cusco, the capital of the Empire, in the fortress of Sacsayhuaman.
The celebration began in the morning with a procession from the Coricancha, the temple of the sun in the center of the city, towards the Sacsayhuaman fortress. The emperor and Inca priests led the procession, followed by a multitude of people dressed in colorful costumes and carrying offerings.
Once in Sacsayhuaman, religious ceremonies were held in which chicha (alcoholic drink) was offered and sacrifices of animals such as llamas, guinea pigs and other auquénidos. Then there was a dramatization of Inca history, which included reading the quipus (knotted ropes that were used to count and record information) and gold and silver objects were offered.

Inca sacrifices

With the arrival of the Spanish and the conquest of the Inca Empire, the Inti Raymi festival was prohibited and replaced by Christian festivities. However, in the 1940s, a movement to revive the celebration began, and in 1944 the first modern Inti Raymi party took place in Cusco. Since then, the celebration has grown into a major cultural and tourist event, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.

Living each moment of the Inti Raymi

Nowadays, the ceremony focuses on honoring the sun and nature, as well as remembering the customs and traditions of the ancient Incas. During the ceremony, various theatrical performances are performed that recreate scenes from the life of the Incas, including the reading of the coca leaf, offerings to Pachamama, and the presentation of the priests and Inca rulers.
Musicians, dancers and actors who dress in traditional Inca costumes also take part in the ceremony. The most important part of the ceremony takes place in the Saqsayhuaman esplanade, where priests make offerings to the sun while coca leaves are burned and wind and percussion instruments are played. The ceremony culminates with a procession to Cusco's main square, where a parade of traditional costumes and Andean music takes place.

Part of the Inti Raymi cast

The main day of the Inti Raymi Festival in Cusco is divided into three moments and important places:

1.    Ceremony of "Salutation to the Sun":

It is carried out in the Qorikancha or Temple of the Sun, it is the beginning of the Inti Raymi route, in this area the first rituals are carried out. Approximate duration 1 hour.

"Sun Salutation" Ceremony

2.    The Meeting of the "Cuatro Suyos":

It takes place in Cusco's main square, the Plaza de Armas. Representatives of the four regions of the Inca empire arrive in Cusco to pay tribute to the Inca. The representatives are dressed in traditional costumes and carry offerings for the Inti Raymi. In the square, the Inca and his royal court receive them amid songs and dances. Here the ceremony "Meeting of times and coca leaf ceremony" takes place, where the Inca and his entourage meet in the great ushnu or ceremonial stage. Approximate duration 1 hour.

Inca entrance to the Plaza de Armas

3. Main Ceremony:

After the Encounter of the Four His, the Inca and his royal court head towards the Sacsayhuamán Fortress, the third epicenter of the Inti Raymi. The Inca and his court take center stage, while the priests make offerings to the sun and the earth. The reading of the quipu, a system of cords and knots that was used to record the history and statistics of the Inca Empire, is also carried out. You will be able to visualize the chicha rite, the ancient drink of the Incas and also the symbolic sacrifice of a llama. Approximate duration 2 hours

Ceremony at Saqsayhuaman

The first and second performances are free, so make sure you go early as there will surely be a large crowd of people. The third staging requires the purchase of electronic tickets on the EMUFEC website.

The highly acclaimed and long-awaited Central Ceremony

The Inti Raymi ceremony in the fortress of Sacsayhuamán is one of the most important parts of the celebration. It is an emblematic place and represents the place where the Incas adored the sun. The ceremony starts at noon and is a recreation of the original ceremony that took place during the Inca empire.
When the actors representing the Inca and his entourage arrive at the Saqsayhuaman esplanade, an offering ceremony to Pachamama or Mother Earth is held. Coca leaves are burned and offered to the earth as a symbol of thanks for the food she provides and to ask for her blessing for the next harvest.

Staging in the Sacsayhuamán esplanade

Then, the Inca and his entourage head towards the place where the main ceremony will take place. There, the Inca invokes the sun and the Inca gods in Quechua, the ancestral language of the Incas. The Sapa Inca offers a series of offerings to the sun, including chicha, an alcoholic drink made from fermented corn, and coca leaves. After the offerings, a ceremonial dance and a re-enactment of the history of the Inca Empire take place. The ceremony ends with the burning of fireworks and the return of the Inca and his procession to Cusco.

Schedule of the Inti Raymi 2023

On June 24 in the morning hours this Inca tradition begins, beginning its first staging in the Qoricancha or Santo Domingo Temple, then we go to the main square of Cusco and finally we go to the Saqsayhuaman esplanade where the staging. Scene lasts about 2 hours. Finally, this festival of the sun will end around 3:30 p.m. , although it can extend a few more minutes.

Let us remember that this ceremony is carried out in Quechua, the original and ancestral language of the Incas.

BEGINNING:

09:00 am Qorikancha Temple (Av. El Sol).

CEREMONY:

10:30 AM Hawqaypata Square (Main Square of Cusco).

MAIN CEREMONY:

01:45 PM Chukipampa - Sacsayhuaman esplanade.

The essential role of the Inca and Coya

The choice of the actors who play the Inca and the Coya in the Inti Raymi ceremony is a rigorous process and very important for the celebration. In general, the actors who play these roles are chosen by the Cusco authorities, who look for people who have a physical appearance similar to that of the ancient Inca rulers and who have acting and acting skills that allow them to play the roles effectively. .

La Coya and the Inca elected

In the case of the Inca, a person is sought with an imposing figure, with a height and physical bearing that resembles that of the Inca rulers of yesteryear. In addition, someone who has knowledge of Inca history and culture, as well as acting skills to accurately portray the character, is sought. As for the Coya, a beautiful young woman is sought who can portray an Inca queen with elegance and grace.

Once the actors have been selected, a process of preparation for the ceremony begins. Actors receive training in traditional music and dance, as well as Inca history and culture. They are also taught the protocol and etiquette to follow during the ceremony, including how to walk, talk, and behave in the presence of the Inca and other dignitaries. In this way, it is ensured that the representation of the Inca and the Coya is as authentic as possible and that the ceremony has a high level of quality and solemnity.

6 Curiosities about Inti Raymi you should know

1. The Inti Raymi originated in the Inca Empire, when Emperor Pachacútec ordered the construction of the temple of the sun or Coricancha in Cusco. There, a ceremony was held in honor of the god Inti, the father of the Incas and the creator of all that exists. The Incas believed that the sun weakened during the winter and that they needed to offer sacrifices and offerings to it in order for it to regain its strength and protect their crops.

2. The Inti Raymi was banned by the Spanish during the colony, since they considered it a pagan practice and contrary to Christianity. However, the Andean settlers continued to celebrate Inti Raymi in a clandestine and symbolic way, mixing it with Catholic elements such as the feast of San Juan Bautista. The Inti Raymi was officially recovered in 1944 by a group of intellectuals from Cusco who wanted to revalue the Inca culture and its historical legacy.

3. The current Inti Raymi takes place in three main settings: the Coricancha, the main square of Cusco and the fortress of Sacsayhuamán. There the Inca ceremony is recreated with actors dressed in typical costumes and autochthonous music. The main character is the Inca, who represents the emperor Pachacútec and is chosen from among the descendants of the old noble families of Cusco. The Inca performs a ritual to thank the sun, asks for the prosperity of his town and offers a white llama as a sacrifice.

4. The festivity involves hundreds of actors who represent Inca historical characters, such as the Inca, the Coya (queen), priests and nobles. All of them wear elaborate costumes and traditional headdresses that recreate the ancestral clothing.

5. The festivity has an impressive scenic production, with music, dances, processions and speeches in Quechua, the ancestral language of the Incas. Every moment of the ceremony is carefully choreographed and represents an important aspect of Inca culture.

6. The Inti Raymi is a festival that attracts thousands of domestic and foreign tourists every year, who want to live a unique experience and learn more about Andean culture. In addition to the main show, there are many complementary activities such as craft fairs, cultural exhibitions, musical concerts, and gastronomic tastings. Inti Raymi is an opportunity to enjoy the diversity and wealth of Peru.

We hope you have enjoyed this post about Inti Raymi and have found out some curiosities about this very special festival. If you dare to visit Cusco during Inti Raymi, we recommend that you book your accommodation and tickets in advance, as there is usually a lot of demand. We also advise you to bundle up well, as it is cold at this time of year. And above all, that they have fun and learn a lot about this wonderful culture. Until next time!

Panoramic View of Ceremony