UJ #17 - Traditional Peru

LimaTours
THE ORIGINAL INTI RAYMI SCRIPT
WAS WRITTEN IN QUECHUA
AND MEANT TO BE PERFORMED
BY 600 PEOPLE. THERE ARE
CURRENTLY AROUND 800
ACTORS FROM CUSCO WHO
PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT.
In 1572, however, Viceroy Francisco de Toledo put an
end to all Inti Raymi festivities, claiming that the pagan
celebration interfered with Catholicism. It was not until
1944 that the government decided to recuperate the
ancient tradition, turning it in to an amazing spectacle
full of colour and symbolism. The event’s current script
is based on the description found in Inca Garcilaso de la
Vega’s book, Comentarios Reales, and thus, the modernday
Inti Raymi began in Coricancha. During the Inca
Empire, Coricancha was the most important Sun Temple
in Tahuantinsuyo, where the Inca and the nobles would
leave their offerings and partake in private worship.
After invoking the Sun, the Inca and his entourage make
their way to the Main Square atop a wagon. The women,
adorned in colourful outfits, sing sweet songs in Quechua
and leave a trail of petals as they walk, marking the path
of the royal and his crew. Then, once arriving in the plaza,
the “meeting of two epochs” takes place between the
Inca and the actual mayor of Cusco, symbolizing the evereternal
presence of the Inca legacy in the city.
Finally, the hundreds of actors arrive at Sacsayhuaman,
a stunning archaeological site with an impressive view
overlooking the city of Cusco. The priest stands on
the ushnu – or central ceremonial platform, awaiting
the arrival of the Inca himself, upon which the main
ceremony will begin. Surrounded by the people of the
four suyos, dressed in the typical clothes and dancing
their traditional dances, the Inca toasts to the Sun,
simulates the sacrifice of a llama in gratitude to the
gods, and then lights a new fire that will accompany the
community for the year to come.
If you are looking to visit Cusco, Inti Raymi is one of the
most special dates to do so. It is during this unique and
unforgettable time that the city’s Inca spirit is more alive
than ever.
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