UJ #17 - Traditional Peru

MAY | PILGRIMAGE TO THE SANCTUARY OF
THE LORD OF QOYLLORITI
Diego Oliver
Peru is known for both its natural and cultural wealth.
The traditions and festivities that we celebrate today
are the culmination of many different customs from all
over the country, some native and others brought in by
View of the
sanctuary of the
Señor de Qoylloriti
amongst the
mountains. The
pilgrims camp
in the nearby
surrounding areas.
immigrants and slaves who looked to maintain ties with
their own, personal stories.
Local syncretism can be seen in religious traditions
that bring together Andean beliefs with those that
were imported and imposed by the Spanish. Looking to
eradicate idolism and to evangelize the natives, Spanish
conquistadors and priests forebade “pagan” celebrations
upon their arrival. Nonetheless, locals managed to adapt
their beliefs, replacing deities and gods of nature with
the religious characters brought from Europe. Their
worship continued disguised under a different name.
Each ‘nation’
shares its
traditional
dances.
The celebration of the Lord of Qoylloriti in Cusco is a clear
example of this union between the original native beliefs,
with those later imposed and eventually adopted. What
was originally done in honour of fertility in pre-Hispanic
times is now considered one of the most feverous
religious pilgrimages in the country, as over 10 thousand
people hike up the sacred Ausangate Mountain carrying
Diego Oliver
crosses and dressed in extravagant, colourful outfits.
The legend of its origin dates back to 1780, when the
government decided to ‘christianize’ the ritual in attempts
to neutralize the indigenous revolutionary uprising. It was
then that the story of Marianito was born. Marianito was
a young boy, son of local peasants, who was herding his
sheeps near Sinakara when a mysterious, light-skinned
boy appeared, to whom Marianito offered food and
shelter. One day, this strange boy re-appeared with
tattered clothing. Marianito, wanting to help, offered to go
to Cusco and search for a similar cloth in order to repair
the broken clothes. Upon arriving and inquiring about
The grand
procession
to the foot
of the Apus.
Diego Oliver
Corn, fruit, and
bread are some of
the offerings made
during ceremonies.
An example of
Andean syncretism.
IN 2004, THE CELEBRATION AND THE
SANCTUARY WERE DECLARED NATIONAL
CULTURAL HERITAGE OF PERU. THEN, IN
2011, UNESCO NAMED IT AN INTANGIBLE
CULTURAL HERITAGE.
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Diego Oliver